UPDATE: Help! (warning: talks about abuse of an animal)

FORUM

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 19sd replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 6 months ago by LittlePuffyTail.

Viewing 19 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 10/07/2011 at 6:32 PM
  bunnyfriend
  Participant
  2368 posts
  Recently a person that I have known for about 3 years told me a story about how her and her family shoot their goats with bebe guns. She thought it was terribly funny and was expecting me to laugh, but I had to try to not show how apalled I was. I just think this is wrong and it’s been bugging me all week. It’s sort of the last straw because she’s told me other “funny” stories. Her family lives on a farm and they have goats, chickens, a pig, and farm cats. She’s told me about how they just leave thier chickens out without any fencing or protection and “they’re so stupid they walk into the road and get hit” she laughs. All last year she told people when each chicken died or was hurt like it was a joke. Believe me, I’m all for free range and cage free but I do feel they should be kept safe from the road.
  
  Then there are thier farm cats, this past spring one of their cats got pregnant. She was all excited about the kittens but then again, like with the chickens, she would tell us all in a joking manner about how one drank poison, one got hit by thier car, and one fell off a barn. What bugs me about this was yes they are feral but again it’s not funny. I convinced her to allow me to take some of the cats to my family farm, where we got them neutered/spayed and treated for one’s broken leg. [When we bought our farm the previous family had a bunch of farm cats that were having kittens each spring. Since then we’ve been taking in cats that come to our farm and the farms in the area to get neutered/spayed. Now up to 33 since we bought the farm! The first year there were pregnancies already and the kittens got feline influenza we managed to save one, he’s my cat ] I don’t know about how the pig is cared for or what kind of condition she is in.
  
  She saw a picture of my bunny and said “Oh cuuuuute I think I’ll get one” Ug, I know her very well and I promise I’m not trying to be judgemental but I know that the bunny would be a novelty that she would quickly get bored of and wouldn’t put in the effort to properly take care of it. Her family doesn’t believe that vets are something worthy to spend money on. I explained to her about how much I spend on my bunny, how they really need to be taken care of properly, and how much work/time it can take. Thankfully she agreed that a rabbit would not be for her.
  
  Is there anything I can do about the goats though? Is there a place I can report this anonymously? It is illegal right? I’ve tried looking on the internet but haven’t really found anything.
- 10/07/2011 at 6:59 PM
  Sam and Lady's Human
  Participant
  2001 posts
  You could always try calling your local Animal Shelter and see what they think, if they actually hit the goats there would be marks I think would be easy enough to see and it might be enough for them to get a warrant to take them.
- 10/07/2011 at 7:22 PM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  I would hope it’s illegal! Definitely call animal control or the local humane society or spca and explain the situation and they may be able to give you more info.
- 10/07/2011 at 8:40 PM
  bunnyfriend
  Participant
  2368 posts
  Okay I will definitely try those on Monday.
- 10/07/2011 at 9:47 PM
  Malp_15
  Participant
  601 posts
  Shooting an animal with a bebe gun is illegal in my province and I’m guessing all of Canada?? I would hope it’s illegal where you are to!!
- 10/07/2011 at 10:13 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  Intentionally harming or allowing an animal to suffer is illegal in most places, and of course US and Canada. Words may be different, but the meaning is there in US Canada and places like Australia, UK etc.
  
  I’d contact the police/vet/shelter/spca/humane society and ask who you should contact. Someone will help you find who you should report to. Bruising will be evident if they are really doing that.
- 10/07/2011 at 10:31 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17244 posts
  Hopefully there is evidence of the goats being shot. Where I live, it is illegal to abuse an animal like that. Unfortunately, they won’t do anything about it without proof. My neighbor across the street was shooting squirrels once. I remember hearing something and I glanced out the window. All I saw was this poor squirrel falling from the tree and my neighbor standing in his doorway with a bebe gun. It is illegal to fire any kind of gun within our city limits, except on firing ranges. I called to police and they said they couldn’t do anything unless I produced a dead squirrel with bebes in it. Of course the neighbor destroyed the evidence as soon as he realized I saw him.
- 10/08/2011 at 12:47 AM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  keep a camera handy, one with video is good
- 10/08/2011 at 5:47 AM
  Starmoniiglisten
  Participant
  55 posts
  I would talk to your friend and make her realize it is in fact illegal and she can go to jail. and if she doesnt change well obviously she doesnt care about herself neither.
- 10/08/2011 at 8:22 AM
  Stickerbunny
  Participant
  4128 posts
  Honestly, the best way to catch her would be to feign interest (I know, horrible) and get it on video, or at least photos of her goats with the bebes in them. But that would pretty much ruin the anonymous thing. They can’t afford to investigate every case, so while you may report it, it may or may not do anything without proof. But certainly try.
- 10/08/2011 at 8:48 AM
  bunnyfriend
  Participant
  2368 posts
  Ug I wish I had recorded when she said that. I don’t know what to hope for…there being no bruises meaning they haven’t been shot at recently or there being bruises so they can be saved from there. Stickerbunny, I’ll try your idea.
- 10/08/2011 at 10:35 AM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  Totally-but careful not to put yourself at risk! There have been MANY cases of animal cruelty where the perp went to jail because of….YOUTUBE!!
- 10/25/2011 at 4:41 PM
  bunnyfriend
  Participant
  2368 posts
  Thank you to everyone who gave me advice!
  
  I got in contact with my local animal shelter and they contacted animal cruelty police. They went up to the farm and asked to look at the goats, apparently there was scarring and evidence of them not being fed properly. The goats were taken away to a sanctuary farm. The girl who’s family owns the farm told me that they got a fine (she doesn’t know I reported). Animal abuse is horrible, and I hate to have to have been involved but I’m so glad I did and that the animal shelter really pulled through!!
- 10/25/2011 at 6:56 PM
  peppypoo
  Participant
  1945 posts
  Good job sticking up for the animals! It’s never pleasant to see somebody you know being fined and/or punished, but it’s terrible what they were doing.
- 10/26/2011 at 7:09 AM
  kamdynandsunshinesmom
  Participant
  910 posts
  Thanks for sticking up for the animals and what you did. The animals greatly appreciate it!
- 10/26/2011 at 11:01 AM
  MoveDiagonally
  Participant
  2361 posts
  Those goats are going to be able to live out their goat life without pain and hunger because of you. What a wonderful thing you did for them! It sucks to have to turn in people you consider friends but I wouldn’t feel too bad about them getting in trouble. What they were doing was terrible and maybe the reprimand will deter them from doing similar things in the future.
- 10/26/2011 at 4:43 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  AWESOME!!! OH my gosh what a perfect turnout!! I know you might feel guilty as you knew these people but don’t-you totally did the right thing and should feel really good about yourself
- 10/26/2011 at 4:48 PM
  bwild
  Participant
  273 posts
  That’s awesome! It sucks that they were people you consider friends, but I’m glad you did the right thing! I’m sure those goats are SO much happier now I’m also glad the people you contacted were able to do something. I know a lot of times places like that don’t have the man power to look into all their cases and some go unnoticed. I’m glad that this was not one of those times!
- 10/26/2011 at 5:46 PM
  bunnyfriend
  Participant
  2368 posts
  Thank you everyone
- 10/27/2011 at 5:03 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Great work!!!! One person can so make a difference!
Author

Messages