June 15, 2009

A dog barking in the night generally denotes a predator or intruder, however; if you live on the Lycette Road and flipped on your yard light lately, you might see a bunch of goats looking back at you.  A new herd of over 500 goats dropped off at Gedalia's Farm has brought a herd of complaints for Amity's Animal Control Officer.

After a long hard trip from Texas which included stops for breakdowns, over 500 goats were run down the ramps of a four-decker trailer into the yard of Gedalia's Farm. They ran right away from their fenced in woods pasture, headed right for the lush grass on the sides of the Lycette Road, and eagerly began mowing. Residents on the Lycette Road began finding hundreds goats trotting up and down the road, visiting the neighbors' gardens, and disappearing through the woods at all hours of the day and night.

At the June 1^st Selectman's meeting, ACO Larry Hamilton brought up that these goats were going to be a problem. According to Maine State Animal Welfare Laws, the owner of livestock has 12 hours to retrieve the wandering critters.

The owner is also liable for all damages done by said wandering livestock. The Selectmen ordered Hamilton that if he received a call about loose goats, he is to call Tim Taylor, the manager of the goat farm and tell him there were goats out. If Hamilton is unable to reach the farm manager, then he is to call Lee Feigon, Ph.D., the farm owner. Feigon resides and teaches in the Chicago, Illinois area at the present time.

Residents do not need to worry as much about the goats getting out now because most of them are too sick and malnourished to go anywhere. Some goats are completely blind; while others can barely see out of matter crusted eyelids. The same crusty ooze covers some of the goat's nostrils; others have sticky black rear ends from diarrhea. Nearly all the goats are bone thin, with many sick ones standing hunched up or coughing.

Taylor, the farm manager, said, "The new ones brought what they call Travel Fever with them, and now it has spread to the original goats. I've been told that they may all die."

Officials from the State have been watching the conditions of the farm as they have deteriorated. The goats are said to have arrived with no health certificates according to one State source.

Farm Manager Taylor said, "They unloaded the goats and they started running everywhere. We were trying to catch them and the truck just drove away. I was told that they were all supposed to have had their shots before they were shipped. I didn't get any papers from the truck drivers and I don't know if they sent the papers to Feigon or not."

During the last few weeks the State Police, the head Veterinarian for the State, a State Humane Agent, and ACO Hamilton have visited the farm to issue warnings. Last Friday, despite knowing agents from the state were going to revisit at about 10 am, when the agents arrived there was no water in the tubs and no grain available to the goats, only old hay. There was a dead goat lying outside the pen by the driveway and more dead kids were found in the barn. The thin sick animals were standing nearly shoulder to shoulder in the barn trying to keep out of the steady rain.

As the people entered the barn some of the wild goats ran outside. One of the blind goats became disoriented and stumbled around the pen crying. The State Veterinarian asked why the goat was behaving so oddly. Someone called over, "The goat is blind, look at its eyes. It needs help finding the barn again." Then, despite the pouring rain, the goat was gently guided back in the right direction to the barn.

Taylor said he has given his notice, "I didn't sign on for this, I don't like coming out every day and picking up dead goats because I can't get the things I need to care for them properly."

Almost since its inception, Gedalia's Farm has been rumored to be plagued with money problems. Allegations of workers not getting paid, unpaid medical bills for on the job injuries, never enough feed or supplies, etc. Most of these allegations have been passed off as the complaints of disgruntled former employees.

Workers from York's Slaughter House of Medway were on hand to help give shots to the goats. Previously, Feigon told Taylor he'd thought of renting a freezer trailer and holding the frozen carcasses until sale. The State Veterinarian said it would be good to do that now if possible. If the goats received the shots, they would have to be held for at least another 34 days before they could go to slaughter.

UPDATE 6/29/09

GOOD NEWS!

An email from Assistant District Attorney Pat Gorden was very reassuring to those worried the case was over. He stated, "any plea negotiation has to go through me.  There is no deal in place.  I will let you know if we work something out." 

Gordon has often commented on how slow the wheels of justice turn, "Life is not just an hour tv show." Gordon has also remarked that the Williams' case is really in its infancy considering he is still carrying cases started in 2006. He has said repeatedly that he is not interested in any plea agreement that does not include full restitution to the town. Gordon has also asked for some jail time and probation to follow. As far as a fine, Gordon stated he would rather Williams "focused his resources on paying back the Town than contributing to the State's general fund."

So as it now stands, Willians case is scheduled to be held July 16th at 1 pm at the Superior Courthouse.We encourage residents to attend, if there is no one there to represent the wronged citizens of Amity, it just looks like no one cares. 

You may want to come early since the last time Williams was scheduled for the afternoon he had things taken care of in the morning. The seats may be a bit hard (folding up my coat for a cushion made it much more comfortable), but the admission s free and it is the best show in Houlton.