Well… I have been pressured, as an employee, to house and care for stray cats. I said no, and The farm owner and boarders were somewhat pissed about it. they really felt that I had some sort of obligation to take on the animals that they wanted to rescue. A 5013C once told me on the phone interview “this is a paid position but we do expect you to provide some volunteer hours in addition.”
I’ve had to share housing with other grooms whose single Jack Russell turned out to be a pair of intact Rottweilers…… but short term slaughter animals is likely some thing that fell between the contract cracks. No real need to get it angry about it. But sometimes either employers, or employees, do or ask for things that you simply had not thought anyone would do, or ask for.
Had a boarder bring her very large very hairy dogs to the barn and clog the wash stall drain bathing them.
Had a boarder tell her HUSBAND he could 1) Park his car at the barn 2) use the wash stall hose to wash his car. (He left a nice mud wallow of soap suds in the stable yard. Very kind of him.)
Had a boarder show up one day with several extra, cars couple dozen extra relatives, in tow. Set themselves up a party on the picnic tables on the lawn of the farm. She figured she was paying board so she was entitled to use the property……
Moral of the story being sometimes people do things that it just hadn’t occurred to us that they would presume that they would be permitted/welcome to do.
I found a pony tied to a tree on my road once when I lived at my first house, literally tied, to the sapling tree, close to the egde of the road, which also was on a small hill. I pitched a fit to the sheriff and animal control. I gave it water immediately. I am sure the BO checked around since they found out the workers had brought it on the property. But caring for animals or owning an animal care facility and then finding an essentially ‘stray’ tied up out of the blue would probably prompt most people to give it food and water. Especially since it was their land the animal showed up on. Idk just my opinion n not being mean at all.
Think of how many animals get dumped at farms, or could be dumped but tied so the owner of the farm finds it and hopefully cares for it…or thinking that is the case is probably what a random goat dumper would do to alleviate their guilt or feel somewhat justified in how they rid themselves of the animal. Even though if someone does dump and tie an animal for a barn owner to find and deal with, well they should feel guilty lol.
So here’s where different ways of life and different expectations collide. It’s possible that none of this occurred to the barn workers because they may not have known about it.
I’ll speak hypothetically since I know nothing about these barn workers. There are many adults who do not know about contamination, vaccs, coggins, etc. They have zero idea that bringing in new animals poses risk. They do it in other settings frequently, it is customary and usual for them.
Just from my personal life experience, I can surmise that there are far more un-vaccinated pets and livestock in this country than there are vaccinated. Some are with families that have never vaccinated anything, not out of objection but just because it’s not what they have ever done.
The other side is that a renter living on the property should of course ask permission before they bring in more animals, for whatever reason. That is normally discussed up front between a landlord and renter when signing the contract.
But – some landlords are a little too relaxed about even having a contract. Some landlords have been known to rely only on a verbal agreement for someone to live on the premises and do work. Animals may not be discussed at all. Renters may come from habits of doing what they like with animals on their bit of the premises.
Everyone just assumes that what they expect, everyone expects. Because expectations were never clarified. In which case the landlord has come accountability as well as the renter.
My dog is a northern retriever breed and has always loved miserable damp cold windy weather that causes humans to curl up and whine. The dog was so excited to stay outside running around this evening as this awful wet freezing front was blowing in. Didn’t want to come in. As all of the humans were canceling plans to go out and burying themselves in the couch cushions under warm throws. Some animals are naturally well prepared for weather.
Yes to this. And especially since in this case the BO does not live on the property.
And besides, barn workers could have been thinking not about bringing an animal on to the property but bringing home dinner. That animal wasn’t going to be around long enough to matter.
Back to the concept that we are disconnected from our food supply…
Each summer I buy a beef and a hog from the fair. Yes I pay way over market value, but it’s a contribution to the youth who raise them.
My kids choose the animals/4Hers we buy from. My kids (14 & 12) totally know what is going on while they bid on the animal. Some of the 4hers fight back tears as the per pound bid price rises. We meet at the pen after our winning bid to take pictures with the animal and shake hands with the 4her. My kids see it loaded on the trailers. I review with them the cut-sheets on the processing.
This year I added a lamb to our butcher meat. My son choose the live lamb and won its bid price. He Could. Not. Eat. It.
He eats the steer and hog no problem…but he says he cannot eat the lamb as he sees it’s face.
An animal that lives a happy life and then has one bad day… I’ll eat that.
And the mobile slaughterers… I love this, didn’t know it existed. How much better for the animals to never be trucked away and perish quickly, without fear, in their own back yard.
If I had the guts I’d do it this way too. Otherwise my annual purchase of local, humanely raised meat is the best I can do.
I need to learn how to cook goat. I love good chevon.
There is a Spanish speaking extended family farm here that raises hair sheep along with an annual steer. The family patriarch is swift and experienced with the slaughter process. They do it on site. I have always admired that the sheep never even have to leave home.
ETA: I couldn’t eat a lamb after bottle raising some. They are adorable
I live in a mix of Amish and Hispanic communities.
I had to drive an Amish craftsman home who also raises lamb. He slaughtered his own and described the process.
No other lamb sees the other perish, they love the life of Riley for the 6 months they graze, and it’s all over quickly without worry. And he does it all at home with the neighbors throwing I. For a share of meat.
Now, to the OP, I certainly would be side-eyed if a goat were bahh-ing in an out building and investigated. And even knowing an animal prepping for slaughter is withheld food and water, my heart would melt - and if the BO were fetching a bucket and feed pan I’d of rolled right along with them.
Nothing can turn you off of foods like working in the food service industry right? I worked at a higher-end steak and seafood joint for 2 years as a server, and maybe I’m a little HSP but watching dozens of people tearing into exoskeletons and picking up dirty plates with 1/2 eaten lobster tails or shrimp bits turned me off of shellfish for good.
If animals appear on my property I will put them in a paddock with grass and water and try to find the owners. If not found I will give hay, until the owner is found.
The gate is kept shut. Not only to keep ours in but to keep others out.
If in a place with workers and a goat is tied in the shed. The first thing I would do is go and see the workers or whoever is around to see if they know why.
I had a chessie that loved being out in the snow and cold with me! His favorite thing was to try to retrieve snowballs!! Watching him dig for them when they had just fell back into the snow was the funniest thing!
