I knew better...

Jcran · #1 07/25/10, 11:07 PM

We went on a family camping trip and I had a nice kid stay at the house and watch the animals. I am careful to have t-post toppers on all the fenceline so nobody gets hung up or stabs themselves on a t-post. All my animals have plastic break away collars except Gloria, who came back to us from being tied out at a house where she kept breaking away and running to us. We LOVED LOVED LOVED ole Gloria, a commercial boer cross. Big, bossy, always looking for snacks. She had on a regular nylon dog collar. Do you all know where this is going? While we were gone, she got the buckle portion of the collar snagged between the old field fence and the new no-climb fencing, horizontally under the top wires of both, as she was reaching for acacia branches. She was found, already dead, in the early evening on Friday. I loved that goat and I knew better than to leave a nylon dog collar on a goat, ever. I blew it and I am responsible for her death. Please don't ever ever ever leave a dog collar on your goat. I was lax and she died a horrible death because of my irresponsibility.

Goatsandsheep · #2 07/25/10, 11:51 PM

(((Hugs)))

Wonderland · #3 07/26/10, 12:02 AM

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Goat Servant · #4 07/26/10, 01:16 AM

oh no Im so sorry Joan. Hopefully someone will see this & take heed so she did not die in vain.
I've heard of them strangeling in hay bags at shows.
Hugs my friend. Its always so hard.

pygmybabies · #5 07/26/10, 06:22 AM

That is terrible! I am sorry!

Where do u get the break away collars and do they"break away" when you have them on a leash also

I know they make the for cats but I never put them on a leash

nehimama · #6 07/26/10, 06:47 AM

I am so sorry for your loss. (((hugs)))

Minelson · #7 07/26/10, 06:49 AM

I'm so sorry

I have made a mistake that ended up in a terrible death of very loved critter too. It's really hard not to beat yourself up but try to treat yourself as you would treat a good friend if this happened to them. Hugs to you...I know you just feel awful.

Backfourty,MI. · #8 07/26/10, 06:51 AM

So Sorry for your loss Joan, Big Hugs to you. It is so hard when you loose a good pet or livestock.

Alice In TX/MO · #9 07/26/10, 08:13 AM

I am *so* sorry. I've made the same mistake.

Huggs!

Source for breakaway collars for the poster who asked:
http://hoeggergoatsupply.com/xcart/p...4&cat=0&page=1

stormywood · #10 07/26/10, 08:25 AM

OMG, I am so sorry. Know that she did not die in vain as I have dog collars on all of my goats, taking them off today. I never thought about them getting hung up be their collars. I will be buying those break away ones today! I am so sorry for your loss. My babies and I are so grateful for the info!~hugs~

bcadybug · #11 07/26/10, 08:34 AM

I'm so sorry.

I'll also be removing collars when I get home from work this evening. Mine have nylon collars with plastic buckles.... I was thinking that the plastic would brake if they got caught up in something. I'm not going to chance it anymore, they are coming off!

Val

VegRN · #12 07/26/10, 09:45 AM

So sorry for your loss. They really do leave a mark on our hearts, don't they.

I have a leather collar on my doe. I thought it would break away, but now I am wondering if the leather is not too thick. It is single ply but still seems thick. Anyone use leather collars, or are they still not worth the risk?

Jcran · #13 07/26/10, 12:31 PM

The plastic chains are the kind you can buy in hoeggers or jeffers; however, we put the smaller "connector" on them, the ones for the thinner plastic chains. It gives us enough to keep info tags on the goats and catch them but they come off if pulled on too much, like when the goats yank away from us too strongly. We've even had goats chew each others off. HOWEVER, at this point, I may just take everyone's chains off too. I NEVER want to have this happen again.

Goat Servant · #14 07/26/10, 12:45 PM

The only time they get collars is during handling. They even come off when hauled.

PrettyPaisley · #15 07/26/10, 12:54 PM

I am so sorry. I can't imagine the loss.

I also have dog collars on my goats. I'll be taking the off today. I watch them get into seriously odd positions trying to reach branches and limbs. I've heard this about cats and dogs outside in collars-it only makes sense for goats as well. Thank you for the very sad reminder.

Oat Bucket Farm · #16 07/26/10, 02:53 PM

(((HUGS))) I'm so sorry you lost her.

deineria · #17 07/26/10, 02:59 PM

I'm sorry - I have not had this happen - but I did let my buck wear a dog collar too long and he broke it off somehow, and I will never put another on him like that.

Feral Nature · #18 07/26/10, 03:26 PM

Oh how sad you must feel. I am so sorry this happened to you. My goats do not wear collars exactly for this reason. Neither do the dogs, big or little. Here is something else to consider...Last winter, I was babysitting my daughter's Chihuahua. I put an adorable pink fluffy dog coat on her. I let her out to pee and she ran around all happy for a few minutes and when I called her, she did not return. I looked everywhere and it became dark. I finally found her. She had caught her coat in a far barbwire fence and could have stayed there all night had I not luckily found her. She could have had a horrible fate. I never let her out of my sight again.

Pony · #19 07/26/10, 04:48 PM

I am so very sorry for your loss. Please be kind to yourself.

Thank you for the reminder that goats can and will get hung up on collars.

Peace. {HUG}