I feel like, and just my small opinion, but everyone is kinda ganging up on OP. Some of us were city people at one point, myself included, and had to learn about the ways of country and farm life, the way other cultures live, and sometimes we were shocked over it and had to vent or be upset or shocked at first until people explained it more to feel educated and comfortable about the situation.
@SpicyPRE I get why it freaked you out and a smaller animal being processed can easily pull at our heartstrings. I would ask you, ever so kindly, these few things:
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Are the workers from another country that could easily have different cultural holiday traditions? If so well, I tell people merry christmas, happy quanza, feliz navidad, whatever you celebrate in December I hope you enjoy it and stay safe, happy and healthy! To each their own is all I am saying, if it is important to them and done with respect to everyone and every animal involved even if they are eating said animal, then that is just how they roll.
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How upset was the BO and were they definetly planning on slaughtering onsite? If not, well yes a small goat being eaten is sad, but it is their culture and maybe the goat was considered organically raised and that was why they decided to go the route they did with purchasing a live goat vs the store.
If they were going to slaughter onsite, theyay not have been aware if it is illegal, or if it is a quick procedure, well we all sometimes bend rules, we are not supposed to burn past a certain date here, but everyone does. Myself included sometimes. I do it safely with the hose on and near the fire ready to go if needed. Maybe they are well versed in the cleanup and all that, just something to consider. I hate to say it but a smaller animal is easier to slaughter, clean up remnant ‘things’ and do a roast, kinda like a hawaiian feast. I would try to get more info from BO if it will help settle your mind. If never hurts to ask respectfully and nicely, like I am trying to make sure I am doing here with you.
- Now knowing that removing the animal from food and water before slaughtering is common practice for the health aspect of the humans eating it, do you feel a little bit better about why it was where it was? Yes it does suck for the animal no matter what, but at least they were following a safe slaughter procedure. I understand you giving it food and water before you and BO were aware of what was going on though.
The only part that really would stress me, after going calmly thru above questions and getting hopefully good answers about the process…would be that BO was unaware. Granted if slaughter and processing was happening offsite and they had just bought it maybe BO is not super hands on with them and they did not see it as an issue. It could all boil down to a lack of communication or simple ignorance, that a civil conversation between workers and BO could resolve.
“Hey, this goat was bleating and one of my boarders was worried since we normally don’t have or hear goats here. She found it and was pretty upset and shaken, most of us are not used to goat slaughter for a holiday, let alone seeing the animal that is being slaughtered. If you want to do a goat roast for the holidays I can respect that, but I ask that the animal is not housed here before, or at least let me know, and we can plan accordingly so this doesn’t happen again.”
The BO honestly may not be worried about how the slaughter happens if the property if large and unused parts are properly disposed of. I would worry about that with the smallest grain of salt, I am sure they at the least wash their hands after that is completed. If they get sick from the meat, at least it’s not you
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We can still bury our horses at our farms here in TN, I have 2 next to each other on my 3 acres. Looking at the big picture, burying unused parts of a goat on a farm is much smaller scale to what I have in my ground. It would be like burying a large dog.
I hope after reading this and taking some of the cultural points into consideration you feel more at ease with the whole situation. It sounds like the whole thing was not handled the best by the workers and again they may have just not thought one of the boarder girls would hear the goat and get worried and it turn into an issue. This may be a live and learn to communicate with BO more moment for them. And I ever so gently and kindly say a live and let live moment in your case after understanding the circumstances better.
I again understand why you went looking for what you thought was a stuck or abandoned creature and I commend you for caring enough to take the time and for being smart enough to grab BO to look around the property with you. Best holiday wishes from me to you!!!