Officials weigh charges against farmer who refuses to get rid of his goats
CORINTH, Vt. (AP) - State officials are investigating a man whose goats and his religious convictions against killing them have collided in a possibly inhumane and definitely stinky way.
There were three goats on the farm Chris Weathersbee's mother bought seven years ago. Now there are 300 - including 70 living in his house, much of which is covered with a mix of goat droppings and hay.
Authorities last month raided the farm in Corinth, about 30 kilometres southeast of Montpelier, and seized 44 deemed unhealthy by a veterinarian. State police and the Central Vermont Humane Society are weighing whether to pursue animal cruelty or neglect charges.
"He has more goats than he can care for," said Sherry LeMay, the humane society's director of operations.
Weathersbee, 63, admits he cannot afford to give the herd sufficient care, but he refuses to get rid of the animals. He said his Buddhist religious views prohibit him from slaughtering any of the goats.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2004/03/28/399893-ap.html
CORINTH, Vt. (AP) - State officials are investigating a man whose goats and his religious convictions against killing them have collided in a possibly inhumane and definitely stinky way.
There were three goats on the farm Chris Weathersbee's mother bought seven years ago. Now there are 300 - including 70 living in his house, much of which is covered with a mix of goat droppings and hay.
Authorities last month raided the farm in Corinth, about 30 kilometres southeast of Montpelier, and seized 44 deemed unhealthy by a veterinarian. State police and the Central Vermont Humane Society are weighing whether to pursue animal cruelty or neglect charges.
"He has more goats than he can care for," said Sherry LeMay, the humane society's director of operations.
Weathersbee, 63, admits he cannot afford to give the herd sufficient care, but he refuses to get rid of the animals. He said his Buddhist religious views prohibit him from slaughtering any of the goats.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2004/03/28/399893-ap.html
