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Thursday, December 12, 2013

I Won, I Won


I entered a blog contest thingie, from a very nice blog, and won a copy of this exciting new book, which I think is going to be a good 'un. As someone who has had cows in my kitchen...or at least a string of winter-born calves that needed warming...and raised chickies in the house in an aquarium with a heat lamp, at least until they got some feathers...and had goatlings under the wood stove...and a horse on the back porch...don't worry, he only stepped his front feet on, to beg for bread.....this book resonates with me. Big time.

I just can't wait to read it to grandbabies.

On the other hand, the whole industry lost and lost big with the latest anti-ag video released by the organization-that-shall-not-be-named that keeps sneaking into culprit farms and standing by watching egregious stuff going on, while filming same. 

Carrie Mess wrote an outstanding blog post, explaining some of the things that sometimes happen on farms, that might look bad to the uninformed, but are really best practice when things go wrong. And I can assure you if you have animals things will go wrong.

She also gave a TV interview that was equally well done, telling the farmer side of the story, briefly and convincingly.

Meanwhile, I did not watch the whole abuse video, only saw the excerpts on Carrie's interview. I can't watch that stuff. Sorry, but it genuinely makes me sick to my stomach and my skin crawls. I want to make it stop. I need to make it stop.

How could anyone be that cruel? And how in God's great name could anyone stand by watching, camera in hand, and not STOP the abuse!?! Intervene in any way possible. Take the stick out of the hands of the damned jerks pounding on the poor cows? 

Call the owner, or the boss or the shift supervisor? Call the police NOW, not months later? The men doing the beating should be tried and punished. So should the cameraman.

7 comments:

Throwback at Trapper Creek said...

Congrats!

Carrie's post was a good one, the family dairies always bear the brunt of these videos while the big guys just keep on doing the same. Makes me sick.

Jacqueline Donnelly said...

Well, of course you won! Your blog is THE BEST! Your vivid, humorous, and often poetic posts bring us right into the heart of your life on a dairy farm. A dairy farm where cows are NOT abused.

Unknown said...

I do not think this is a big v small issue. It is right v wrong issue. I am waiting for the ag industry folks to step up and say "ENOUGH!" There is a lack of credibility when they say they are against cruelty, yet fight against making cruelty a crime.

threecollie said...

Nita, Carrie does a fantastic job with subjects that are very sensitive. I applaud her efforts often

Jacqueline, thanks so much, but really, it was just a drawing. But I will take lucky any time I can get it.

Tom, I agree that it is not a big vs small thing either, although an awful lot of cases seem to occur on farms where management is too busy, or too far removed from day to day operations to actually oversee their employees. However, I do understand why ag folks aren't real quick to be looking for more laws. There is so much room to outlaw legitimate practices when laws are written for pets, or by people who have never been around livestock.
There have been cases around here where people went to the police over dairy cows lounging in a sunny barnyard for a couple of hours on winter days....As Carrie pointed out, some things look wrong to people who have never tried to move an 1800-pound cow that has fallen or become ill, but they aren't.

I think it is long past time, however, that the owners and operators of farms who allow this abuse to go unpunished, step up and actually oversee their operations. And train and screen their employees.

Cathy said...

Marianne.
Why am I not surprised?
You, your family . . your unique, pragmatic and thoughtful take on life on a dairy farm while the seasons flow around you . . . . yes, dear - you're a winner :)
As for those links . . . I'm not brave enough to go near them.

Sandcastle Momma said...

Congratulations! Hearing you describe the animals in and around your house cracks me up!

Terry and Linda said...

YES!!!! You are so right...and the camera people need to be punished also. HOW CAN THEY JUST WATCH!!!

That fireplace is stunning! You and FarGuy are amazingly talented people!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
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