Is this reportable?

twiggy2 said:
it might be worth contacting DEFRA as goats need a herd number and other paper work so they may be removed by default if they don't have this
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I agree or your Local Animal Health department who are a little more likely to get involved and will check the registration status of the goats as well as be interested in the welfare situation

see here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/about-us/contact-us/field-services/

Sad though it is you are more likely to get a result by concentrating on the goats than the ponies and hopefully the ponies will be helped too
 
Bam. said:
No, but you don't want them out in the cold and wet either.
You never know, they may just be rehomed to somewhere suitable :)
But if not, death isn't the worst fate!
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I suppose, these people might really love their goats though and just be uneducated and might need a kick up the arse to do something, would feel terrible if DEFRA stormed in, seized them and slaughtered them!
 
WelshD said:
I agree or your Local Animal Health department who are a little more likely to get involved and will check the registration status of the goats as well as be interested in the welfare situation

see here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/about-us/contact-us/field-services/

Sad though it is you are more likely to get a result by concentrating on the goats than the ponies and hopefully the ponies will be helped too
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Okay, I didn't even realise goats had to be registered!
 
NellRosk said:
I suppose, these people might really love their goats though and just be uneducated and might need a kick up the arse to do something, would feel terrible if DEFRA stormed in, seized them and slaughtered them!
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I don't know much about DEFRA but surely they'd do an assessment of the goats before any action - unless absolutely urgent. Have you ever seen the owners? Perhaps printing off some leaflets or buying them a goat care book would help.
You're right in the sense that they may be uneducated :)
 
NellRosk said:
TGM, 3 of the boundaries of the field are sheep wire/ wall, the other one is a low hedge with wire above it, presumably to stop the goats escaping. And half the field resembles a lake, all water. The other half is wet mud, from looking as I drive past I would say it's half a foot deep? Basically there's nowhere dry for them to stand apart from the haylage they have to eat. The goats are always stood on it to get out the mud with the poor ponies picking around them to get food!
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Sounds like the situation for the ponies, whilst not ideal, is not likely to be reportable at this stage. Sounds like that it might be different for the goats though.
 
Bam. said:
I don't know much about DEFRA but surely they'd do an assessment of the goats before any action - unless absolutely urgent. Have you ever seen the owners? Perhaps printing off some leaflets or buying them a goat care book would help.
You're right in the sense that they may be uneducated :)
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I've sometimes seen a troop of about 5 of them putting a bale in. It's always dark though and I'm by myself going to/ from the yard so wouldn't really feel comfortable going up to them and saying something! I could print something and leave it in a plastic wallet when they're not there?
 
NellRosk said:
I've sometimes seen a troop of about 5 of them putting a bale in. It's always dark though and I'm by myself going to/ from the yard so wouldn't really feel comfortable going up to them and saying something! I could print something and leave it in a plastic wallet when they're not there?
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You could but the goats need shelter now - I don't know how to help with this, perhaps you would make a makeshift shelter for the goats?
 
DEFRA won't remove the goats, but they should certainly advise/suggest alternative arrangements and more suitable housing for them at least
 
Bam. said:
You could but the goats need shelter now - I don't know how to help with this, perhaps you would make a makeshift shelter for the goats?
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I think the practicalities of that are impossible and surely I could get done for trespass if I went into their field? Think I will ring DEFRA.
 
There is a animal rescue in Yorkshire called THORNBERRY ANIMAL SANCTUARY they take all kinds of animals and have a no kill policy ,I think it may be worth asking if they can help.
 
shergar said:
There is a animal rescue in Yorkshire called THORNBERRY ANIMAL SANCTUARY they take all kinds of animals and have a no kill policy ,I think it may be worth asking if they can help.
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Just been on their website and they have some goats!! So I'll give them a bell as well as DEFRA when I get a min
 
The sanctuary will only be able to do something if DEFRA either confiscates the animals or the owners hand them over. As to whether they would be slaughtered- better than suffering IMHO. DEFRA is your first port of call.

If Mr Jingles at Hope Pastures is the one I remember from when I volunteered there, he's got a bloody mean kick on him! :p
 
hnmisty said:
The sanctuary will only be able to do something if DEFRA either confiscates the animals or the owners hand them over. As to whether they would be slaughtered- better than suffering IMHO. DEFRA is your first port of call.

If Mr Jingles at Hope Pastures is the one I remember from when I volunteered there, he's got a bloody mean kick on him! :p
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Ooh! A volunteer of my favorite rescue! Fantastic :D
 
Bam. said:
Ooh! A volunteer of my favorite rescue! Fantastic :D
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Not for a while, I'm in Sheffield now, but I volunteered there for a bit in the final year of my undergraduate. I loved one of the little Shetlands (Flossie?). They tried to pretend they didn't like being groomed...and then demanded more! :D
 
hnmisty said:
Not for a while, I'm in Sheffield now, but I volunteered there for a bit in the final year of my undergraduate. I loved one of the little Shetlands (Flossie?). They tried to pretend they didn't like being groomed...and then demanded more! :D
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Sounds lovely!
What a dream job that would be - sadly can't afford to volunteer but I admire you for doing so! :p
 
Whilst I am not condoning the treatment of the goats or the ponies you have to be realistic. How many of us , if our grazing suddenly became flooded, could realistically find alternative grazing.......just like that? OK if we have stabling , fine, but in real life finding a spare field does not always happen that quickly.

It is easy to judge too quickly. Unless you are watching 24/7 you never know what goes on, whether they are also given hard feed etc.
 
Ditchjumper2 said:
Whilst I am not condoning the treatment of the goats or the ponies you have to be realistic. How many of us , if our grazing suddenly became flooded, could realistically find alternative grazing.......just like that? OK if we have stabling , fine, but in real life finding a spare field does not always happen that quickly.

It is easy to judge too quickly. Unless you are watching 24/7 you never know what goes on, whether they are also given hard feed etc.
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Well exactly yes, it's not the feeding that's the issue. I can see haylage and water, it's just the lack of shelter that's worrying me
 
NellRosk said:
Okay, I didn't even realise goats had to be registered!
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Not individually they dont but the land will have a holding number and the flock will have a flock number, if they can trace that they can trace the owner. Everyone who has sheep and goats needs to fill in a form once a year to ensure the records are kept up to date.

I dont think anyone will sieze the goats but would think it likely that they will offer advice. One of my goats lives out all year round with no problems, its not impossible but as a rule they are not properly water proof dont like the wet (or wind, snow, Tuesdays, being fenced in, dogs, people with beards, long skirts or stinging nettles) but my goats do have access to shelter if they want it so no the situation is not good enough for them. The ponies are a bit different of course but like I said may well be helped too
 
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