Is my neighbor neglecting his goat?

Terry W · #21 07/27/06, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loda Farm

No, what he is doing is not right. I am not sure why in the world he even has the goat if he isn't milking her. The way he is treating that animal is cruel. You should turn him in, as by Ohio law, all animals even livestock need some sort fo shelter from the elements.

Laura

Really? The Code I have here, states only that pet animals need clean, sanitary healthy conditions, access to water and shelter-- the only thing about dairy animals9specifically, cows) is that they not be fed anything that makes the milk unpalatable-- Ohio Code---permits a rather high level of neglect/abuse on "farm" animals

but yes-- the animal is being neglected/abused, by ETHICAL and MORAL criteria.

heck, I am the type of person-- it could be arranged for that goat to just dissappear some night--if'n i knew where it was
go ahead and offer to buy her-- for about 25 dollars-- I have a building plan here for a calf hutch that uses two pieces of plywood and a two by four thatwould make a shelter plenty big enough for a goat-- I have two sheep in one--

crystalniche · #22 07/27/06, 07:46 AM

I couldn't stand seeing and knowing that poor goat is being treated that way. At the very least she needs a shelter. Even a large dog house would be good for her. I've seen goats with large dog houses and they would lay in them to get out of the weather. I would think that the laws would have something about shelter. Tieing up a goat is asking for trouble too. The hot sun can be deadly without shade.

There are people here who keep their calves out in all kinds of weather without shelter and it always breaks my heart to see them standing all hunched up, ribs showing badly in the sleet and snow. I've never done anything about it except felt badly tho.

Patty0315 · #23 07/27/06, 09:32 AM

Its the middle of summer and the goat has shade. She has food and water. There is nothing wrong with tying a goat out.

How do you know she is not being milked ? I have some that "look" full shortly after being milked. Milking once a day is OK.

Is she skin and bones ? If not she is getting wormed and enough to eat.

Not everyone has the options to keep animals they way some of us do.

moonspinner · #24 07/27/06, 10:41 AM

Tartan, you didn't mention food. Does this goat simply graze, does she have hay or grain? Is she watered enough? How long is the tether? Most goat people will tell you never to tie out a goat unless supervised. That goat deserves something to protect her from the elements. What's so tough about your neighbor building a simple lean-to or putting out a dog house for her? What kind of person is he? Do you ever talk to him? If he's approachable might be nice to just casually mention it. BTW, does he have other animals?

dosthouhavemilk · #25 07/27/06, 02:17 PM

We do not generally tether and I normally am against it due to predator concerns. We do have one goat currently who is tethered 24/7. She's near the milking barn where my father is a good 8-10 hours a day. She has shelter, she has fresh water, minerals, etc. Where she is currently she can stick her head in the window and talk to Iris, her buddy. When she can't she can call to the other goats and can see the heifer calves. We are in the town limits so the only predators, really, are stray dogs, and we killed the only one in 10 years to kill any of our goats. She is in quaranteen until she tests free of CAE and CL. If she doesn't, she is headed to the sale barn. She is handling it better than a lot. A lot really depends on the individual goat.

Have you taken some time to talk to your neighbor? Ask him about his thoughts on goat care and if they don't seem up to par maybe mention taht you had read somewhere about another way of doing it. Doing so in a non-aggressive nor accusatory manner could go quite a way for the circumstances.

RedTartan · #26 07/27/06, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

To tie an animal out without access to shelter is considered abuse here and grounds for charges of neglect. Laws there may vary. Personally I woudnt do that to one of my animals . Does the goat have access to water at all times?

There's a bowl out there. It's light-weight plastic though, very easy to tip...

fishhead · #27 07/27/06, 05:40 PM

You could always go over to "talk goats" as an ice breaker. Who knows maybe you end up leading one home someday.

RedTartan · #28 07/27/06, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonspinner

Tartan, you didn't mention food. Does this goat simply graze, does she have hay or grain? Is she watered enough? How long is the tether? Most goat people will tell you never to tie out a goat unless supervised. That goat deserves something to protect her from the elements. What's so tough about your neighbor building a simple lean-to or putting out a dog house for her? What kind of person is he? Do you ever talk to him? If he's approachable might be nice to just casually mention it. BTW, does he have other animals?

The only food available is high grass. The tether is 12 - 15 feet long. It's just occured to me that she has some protection in that right now she's tethered right next to his dog kennel (a chain link enclosure holding his 3 dogs.) It's possible he's counting on them to drive away anything that may come near. She's not obviously thin and appears healthy other than being engorged.

My neighbor is very friendly. I think he has the goat because he and his family like to have a lot of animals around. They also have carrier pigeons, rabbits, chickens, the 3 dogs, a couple of outdoor cats, and the goat. All this on half an acre.

He's actually got her tethered on his property line and she's grazing on my land.

I just moved here from a suburb. Many of you would consider me a yuppie transplant. That's why I won't question my neighbor's actions. I'm new here. I just wanted to find out if this was okay. Now I can see that some people consider this an acceptable way to keep a goat, that it's been done this way by many people over many years. I won't keep my goats without a shed, but if he wants to, okay.

If she starts to look thin I will bring it up to him.

Thanks all,

RedTartan

bumpus · #29 07/27/06, 05:52 PM

.
The goat is a brush goat it's not a pet and has plenty to eat and drink and in no danger. The man is taking good enough care of his goat.

You are just over reacting.

bumpus
.

goat^farmer · #30 07/27/06, 06:46 PM

I was reading your post an here is how I feel about this subject.

1. The neighbor should be reported to the law or whoever in your state checks on animals because that to me is animal abuse or neglect.
2. A goat should NEVER EVER be tied out like that due to the goat could get tangled up in its chain and choke to death. All kinds of predators can kill her or if she gets spooked bad enough and tries to runs she might break her neck.
3. A goat needs shelter at all times to get out of the rain, snow, sleet, hail and all the to other elements.
4. A goat needs to be milked 1 to 2 times a day so a doe will not be in pain or it may cause mastitis in her udder.
5. Again NEVER EVER leave a goat tied out 24/7 because it is only being mean to the animal and neglected plus a goat isn’t happy unless they can run free an play.

Pet or no pet a goat doesn't deserve to be chained up like that.

Now on becoming a goat owner you better really study up because there is lots of stuff to know about owning a goat. Need to know as much as can about goat care, health, feeding and breeding and if you plan on milking later. You need to know how to treat a goat incase of an emergency comes up. Need to find a vet that knows how to treat goats too.

Signs of neglect or abuse is to me:
Animal tied out in all kinds of weather without food, water and shelter. Animals need all of this to make a life worth living not being tied out with a chain. Being tied out with a chain is awful for a animal to live on . Goats need all kinds of space to run and play. They are not for just using as a mower or etc..
Is the goat very thin and looks unhealthy? If so that is also consider neglect or abuse too.

Here where we live you have a animal tied out like that you could get arrested for that.

Others may think an animal is just an animal an does not have no feelings but that is not true at all.

I maybe a hillbilly but animals care is number one here.

Others may disagree with me but just the way I feel..

RedTartan · #31 07/27/06, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bumpus

.
The goat is a brush goat it's not a pet and has plenty to eat and drink and in no danger. The man is taking good enough care of his goat.

You are just over reacting.

bumpus
.

I agree. He is taking good enough care of his goat. I'm not over-reacting. I'm not reacting at all. I was investigating. It appears that everything is "good enough" so that's that.

Anything more is opinion.

RedTartan

mpillow · #32 07/27/06, 07:15 PM

milk could be fed to dogs----if he wanted to milk---or you wanted to milk...

You might split calf raising too on a good dairy goat....shame to waste good milk IMO