Goat Ladies, continued ...
When Marcie and I talked to Smith, she said she was too busy
to take Stormy back. I warned Smith that a winter storm was on
its way. I offered to pick up Stormy for her.
She said she couldn't take Stormy back because she couldn't
afford vet care. Yeah, like McCoy would pay for it. I said I
would pay.
Oh, but it wouldn't work, she said, because her other livestock
had entirely filled her barn. I told her Stormy could stay in
my barn. At this point, Smith sundenly realized, she said, that
she had room after all. She agreed to let me pick up her stallion'for
her.
Next step was to gather information. I consulted with three
veterinarians, the New Mexico Livestock Board, the Torrance County
Sheriff's Office, and the Alliance Against Animal Abuse. John
checked the ownership of the surrounding land. He discovered
that when Marcie and I had visited, Dudley had been in a neighbor's
pasture.
McCoy also had a police record. Imagine that. A lady with the
Alliance against Animal Abuse had even more disturbing news.
McCoy, she said, had gotten out of several livestock theft cases
by suing or threatening to sue her victims. They had recanted
ratehr than bear the anticipated legal expenses.
A Torrance County Sheriff's Officer said that, given McCoy's
history, we should arrange for a Livestock Board officer to go
with us to pick up the horses. Easier said than done. After rejections
from the local officers, I even begged the head of the Board
for help. He said his officers were too busy. I asked him, "If
you aren't interested in livestock theft, just what does it take
to get you people interested?"
He said he'd help us "someday."
Next Chapter: Dudley's Story --->>
Dudley, a grade bulldog-style Quarterhorse.
