We do.
But we keep everything clean (as clean as a barnyard can be) and every animal has shelter, food, water, and pasture to graze on. The barn, shelters, and feeders are all more than the required distance away from any house and/or fence line, too.
All the animals are friendly (the number one rule on the farm is: "Be nice, or be tasty") so that we can have families. cub scouts, and other visitors come learn about the animals.
But we had too many.
Since we don't know which neighbor complained, we're a little worried that they are angry at us about something else.
Which means the next step they might take is to open the gates and let the animals out.
I went and bought 8 locks today. Unfortunately, they aren't all keyed the same.
So I spray painted (rattle-can is what our s-i-l calls it!) the 4 that have matching keys.
And now all the gates on the property have locks on them.
What a pain in the rear!!!!
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| I covered parts of the locks and keys that I didn't want to get spray painted. |
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| I used Rust-Oleum high gloss white. I didn't want the locks and keys hot in the summer when we've got to handle them. |
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| And I didn't want to pay extra for key tags, so I used a paper clip and tape instead. |
She asked how much time I needed to get rid of the 4 extra animals. I told her two weeks. She said, "How about I give you to the end of the month."
If you ever have animal control out to your place, I hope you get someone like her.
Sheepy's coming sometime in the next two weeks to pick up the llama, huarizo, and the two sheep. We get to keep all Vet2Be's favorite dairy goats.
And all this on top of having to put the little lamb down this morning. He wasn't going to live. He's never really stood on his own, and started having seizures, grinding his teeth, and forgetting how to suck on the bottle.
I hope your day is better.
We're kinda having some downers right now.
Some people are just so... grumpy. WE love your place and if people would take care of their own animals (or kids for that matter) as well as you tend yours, then the world would be happier.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry all that happened. So not fun.
((((TJ))))
ReplyDeleteThanks, guys! I appreciate the love. It makes days like this soooo much better.
ReplyDeleteFOUR??? Just Four? Some people are so petty and what a pain about the locks. Yeah for a nice lady.. People can be so ridiculous.. It does sound like they are being petty and was just making it tough on you all. So sorry about the little lamb...
ReplyDeleteThanks Tonia. We were so sad about the little lamb, too. We couldn't do it ourselves, so we took it to the vet. Then Vet2Be buried him in a flower bed.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your lamb. What a sad thing to have to bear just when your neighbors are making life difficult for no conceivable reason. Do the excess animals really bother them? Are they just driven nuts by someone who's getting away with breaking a rule? I really cannot imagine living that way. I've never called Animal Control on anyone in my life and couldn't be induced to do so except to save the life of an abused animal. Even then, I'd be more inclined to stage a ninja rescue.
ReplyDeleteWhat can people possibly be thinking.
There are a handful of people who think it is just one person and that she is just upset about someone breaking a rule.
ReplyDeleteYou really made me giggle about the 'ninja rescue'! That just made my day! The llama is rescued, the sheep were bum lambs, both our dogs are 'pound puppies', and many of the chickens as well as a few goats were given new homes here as a result of previous owners not being able to care of them.
We haven't been involved in a ninja rescue, but call me! I'd love to work right beside you on that one!