Pregnant goats and newborns stolen from California dairy farm. ‘I want to give up’
Drake Family Farm in Ontario, California, is known for its goat cheese. The dairy farm, about a 40-mile drive east from Los Angeles, is home to over 500 goats.
Late at night on April 15, thieves snuck onto the farm, cut the fence and headed straight for the goats, owners say. Like most farms with goats or sheep, the Drake Family Farm has guardian dogs. However, somehow, the thieves got past them.
The thieves captured and stole 12 goats, according to the farm. To the farmers’s horror, they said seven of the goats that were taken were pregnant, and two had just given birth.
“One goat that gave birth 1-2 hours before they stole her and left her 2 babies cold and hungry,” Drake Family Farms said in a post on Facebook.
“One goat that had delivered in the past 24 hours that had toxemia,” they said of another one of the stolen momma goats. Toxemia refers to pregnancy complications characterized by organ damage. “She needed her Dextrose this morning and is probably dead now.”
The final three snatched goats were babies, according to the farm.
“We are so upset by this! We are worried for our goats!” the farm said.
The thieves’ motives are unclear, but the farm is asking the community to keep an eye out for their goats being sold elsewhere.
“If you see anyone selling goats that look like ours please let us know,” they said, referring to tattoo numbers and photos of their animals.
The farmers filed a report with the Ontario Police Department.
According to police, there are no suspects yet, but the investigation is ongoing.
According to Faithful Family Farmer, dairy goats can be sold for hundreds of dollars each. The stolen goats were from the farm’s award-winning herd of Saanen, Nubian and Alpine varieties.
“They knew what they were doing,” the farm said.
The loss is so devastating for the farmers, they say they are willing to reward anyone who can help them find the lost animals.
“We are offering a $2500 reward for anyone that can find our goats and lead to the conviction of these horrible people.”
“I want to give up,” farm owner Daniel Drake told KNBC. “I guess you can’t give up. You just have to keep going, but farming is hard enough without thieves coming and breaking through, and taking everything you have.”
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