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Just Another Spent
Milker |
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Any
reasonable person can plainly see that this animal is severely
malnourished and in terrible distress. As a matter of fact, the women
who called Pasado’s over a week ago to report this case of animal
neglect described her as “walking dead”. The caller was able to see the
extent of the cow’s condition even while traveling over 50 miles per
hour in her car on a busy road. When I arrived on the scene minutes
later with hay for the cow and a camera for documenting evidence, I
quickly confirmed the caller’s disturbing report.
My
first thought was that if the starving animal standing before me were a
dog or a cat instead of a cow the escalation process would be very
different. If she were a companion animal I could have a reasonable
chance of seeing the owner who allowed this to happen penalized for
their action/inaction. But I know that I’m dealing with the same
authorities who had jurisdiction over the last cattle
cruelty case to
which Pasado’s called. No action has been taken on this case by
Snohomish County Animal Control despite
overwhelming evidence of severe neglect by the owner of those animals.
To date the case has not been referred to the Prosecutor's Office and
therefore no charges can be filed against the offender. |
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Given this situation, I knew my
first priority was to find the owner and negotiate a deal. This
cow needed vet care immediately. Her back hoof was so swollen,
inflamed and infected she could not put any pressure on it whatsoever.
Her bones were protruding, she was covered in sores and bald patches
and she had severe diarrhea. What kind of human could allow this to
happen? She was initially frightened of me but soon sensed that I
was there to help her and eventually allowed me to get close enough to
give her some hay and take some pictures. After knocking on doors
and asking around, I located the owner’s home but was not able to talk
to him until early the next morning after bringing the cow more food.
I offered to buy her outright, I offered to have a vet come to the
pasture where she was located and treat her or to humanely euthanize her
if she could not be treated, all expenses paid. She had given him 7 or
8 of her calves over the years so he could sell them. She had produced
the milk meant for her babies for him to sell and make a buck.
Year after year. Now, will he allow us to do this for her?
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Nothing would convince him. Finally I told him that allowing an animal,
any animal, to suffer this way was against the law and that I would have
to report him to Snohomish County Animal Control. He calmly stated that
he would see me in court and told me to get off his property. I can
only assume that he knew what I feared, that the chances of any farmer
being penalized for animal cruelty, no matter what they do or what they
allow to happen to the animals under their care, is little to none.
And I was not disappointed. I called
Snohomish County Animal Control, made my report, and I waited for a
response my call. Days passed and no response came. However, I did not
give up. I continued to fight for her, raising the stakes with the
owner, going back to feed her when I could find her, continuing to call
Snohomish County Animal Control begging them to do something for her.
Only when I contacted the Director of Licensing, the department head
that manages Animal Control, did I actually get to talk to someone
directly. I sent the Director, Vicki Lubrin, the pictures of the dying
animal, I recounted the week’s events and how we tried to buy the cow
before we were forced to make a report. Still no action.
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Finally, late this week Vicki Lubrin informed me that according to
Animal Control the poor creature had been “euthanized” by the farmer. I
hope it’s true, I hope she is out of her misery. They did not offer any
additional details.
However, this matter does not end with her life. If Animal Control did
have a hand in convincing the farmer to do the right thing and release
the cow from her suffering, that is a positive outcome. But their job
is to build a case and enforce the law. Pasado's feels that there is a
strong case for animal cruelty charges against this farmer and we'll
continue to press for exactly that. |
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And
here is why. This particular farmer stated over and over, “What is
the big deal, she’s just one cow? Just another spent milker.” This is
true. But last month it was over 20 animals at another farm less than 10
miles away. How many animals will it be next time? How long do these
creatures have to suffer? How many must die? All of these animals were
in plain view, easily seen from busy roads. What about all of those
who are out of sight, behind walls and in buildings? Someone must fight
for them. They feel pain as any companion animal would.
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We need your help.
Help us build our case for justice for this animal and the others that
perished by starvation just a few miles away. The public does
care. They would not continue to call Pasado's, who they know will
provide assistance, if they didn't care. Snohomish County
authorities should care too! But they routinely dismiss these
types of cases as a part of doing business for farmers, and this must
stop.
Send your comments to
Vicki Lubrin and Janice Ellis, the Snohomish County Prosecuting
Attorney. You can use the following talking points:
- Animal cruelty
should never be tolerated, no matter what species is being
victimized
- As an animal lover
I'm concerned about the treatment of animals raised for food.
Humane standards are becoming more and more in demand because so
many people around the world feel the very same.
- Agencies that have
the authority to intervene in cruelty and neglect cases and enforce
the laws should do so.
- Animal Control
should refer these cases to the Prosecutor's Office as soon as
possible.
Submit you comments
here
You can also contact the media and tell
them that you read about these stories on Pasado's Safe Haven website
and encourage them to cover these stories in their newscasts and
newspapers. With enough public scrutiny we may be able see some
action and get some justice! Use the talking point below in your own
words:
- I read about yet another farm animal
cruelty story on Pasado's Safe Haven website. Please cover
these stories so the public knows that animals who are raised for
food and suffer as a result of neglect are falling through the
cracks. Their owners should be penalized as any other offender would
be.
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