The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: pigsatlesrues on March 12, 2008, 08:15:39 pm
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I cannot believe it, but someone has stolen two of my miniture Ouessants from the field over the last two days!
We have moved them to our new property where they can graze which is surrounded in hedges and trees and fencing and secured with farm gates and we thought perfectly safe. We are usually down there for long days fencing etc but didn't get there yesterday because of the awful rain. We went down this afternoon to check on Norman and his girls to find him with just two of the the full sized Ouessants and Holly and Ivy gone. Norman is very upset - he went for me big time and butted me which he has never done before and all three are really skittish and unsettled.
How can people be so horrible - I am just devistated. Perhaps I have been a fool because I have been spending lots of time taming them ready for the new property where we were hoping people could pet them. They had to be easy pickings because they are so tame and friendly now.
I know what is done is done and perhaps I am daft writing it down, but I just feel so sad and upset about it.
Kate
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Oh the absolute B******s.........some people, honestly. Poor you, you must be devastated........Its the not knowing that's the worst isn't it. Will you tell the police? Could you put posters up and advertise if anyone has seen anything suspicious or has seen some highly unusual sheep.....you never know. Sending you a virtual hug. What a miserable time. I'm so, so sorry. :'( :'( :'(
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truely unbelievable ,
dont go blaming yourself and call yourself foolish as its not your fault for doing the best for your animals - it is "their" failing not yours.
keep yer chin up - we're all thinking of you
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oh that is horrible news Kate,
I am so sorry ..... it is bad enough if it just an item that gets taken , but animals are a different matter altogether . As Blinkers said ....absolute B******s and few more suitable words I could think of , but would be unprintable even with some letters taken out !!! I really hope you get them back ! ...I don't suppose there is any chance they have squeezed through a gap somewhere into nearby land ?
As you say whats done is done, but you are in no way daft writing it down !!! I think it will help !!! Try not to feel to upset , but that is so much easier said than done .....My thoughts are with you , more virtual hugs from me too..... Russ
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Oh, Kate, what a rotten thing to happen.
Won't the Police help?
It's not your fault; poor Norman, too.
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I'm really sorry and shocked to hear about your loss... I do hope that the police can do something about it.
Your in our thoughts (hugs)
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Any news this morning?
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oh thats awfull, i cant believe people would do something like that.
did you contact the police?
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Thanks everyone! Going to the Gendarmes pm today - no one there this morning!
Will also speak to the Marie tommorrow (he only opens a couple of times a week).
I really don't hold out any hope what so ever to get them back. There are so many farms spread about in all sort of nooks and crannies here - we are in deepest Normandy farming country. To be honest they are small enough to be kept in a reasonable sized garden so could be anywhere. Hopefully they are with a nice family who will pet them.
There is no way they have been trapped at our property though. John and I walked the whole three and a half hectars, and beyond our boundaries are more fields. The girls never leave Norman - they stick like glue so there is no way they would have wandered off. It truely is a tradegy for us.
By informing the authorities at least they will be aware of a theft just incase there are more of them in the area.
Your support means a lot - just what this website is all about - a community of friends.
Thank you all again
Kate xx
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Kate its really awful, so sorry for you. Thinking of you all.
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Hello
I really feel for you.........however there are things you can do.
Firstly check they havent run off......I know it sounds unlikely but we has 2 ouessants do a runner and they were gone for 24 hours and despite 5 of us searching for 24 hours did not see sight nor sound .....until they came back!!! Black sheep are very hard to see!
Also you must report this to the maire, local EDE, etc etc (its a requirement as there is bluetongue around) also inform the yahoo group and Kanisha who runs it. You must report their eartag numbers as they are unique to you if you bred them or will have been transferred to you when you got them so unless anyone has removed eartags recently, which will be obvious they are identifiable!
You said minature as opposed to ordinary ouessants....ALL ouessants including rams should be under 46 cm ewes 49 cm rams........what size and colour are yours?.........are the bigger ones ouessant cross?
Anyway, it pays to have sheep that come when fed but that are not too tame! Also have you enquired of the local farmers if they have found some sheep and also put up some posters in the local bar or boulangerie?
Hope you find them :-\
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So sorry to hear the news Kate. I do hope they are found.I lost my goose yesterday, the winds blew the door off the goose shed and she must have snook out to make a nest, and she has benn taken by either a very ambitious fox or a badger. i just have the three boys left now, so i will have to have a rethink. ( let them sleep in the stables last night). I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
carl
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What a really dreadful thing to happen, I'm sooo sorry for you. I hope you find out one way or another whats happened to them and if someone rather than something is responsible then they get whats coming to them! Keeping everything crossed you get them back!
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Ohhh Kate, how sad :'( Make sure you go & see the maire, I'm sure he would be very helpful especially when he knows you are new to the area. Ask around all the locals or nearest village & tell the Gendarme.
I do hope there will be a happy ending for you all.
Donna
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Oh Kate,
I'm so sorry. It's always at the back of my mind that this could happen to our animals as they live on land seven miles from us. We often see people 'kerb crawling' to have a friendly look at the pigs - curiosity no doubt, but I've often worried someone less friendly would take an interest in them.
I do hope the police can help you - I have everything crossed that you get them back safe and sound.
Pebbles
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Going to Marie this morning so feel better that at least I can talk to someone who might listen. The gendarmes were not particularly interested.
Re the size of the sheep. I feel a little foolish now after reading what the wooleysheppard is saying. This is our first time with the sheep and Norman is the right size and larger than the two that are missing. The remaining two must be crosses due to there size - they are much fuller that Norm, but not taller. The girls were really tiny and dainty. I am happy with the ones here who are real charachters, but will get some more later on when we are living there and can be with them 24/7.
I have some reserved with Kanisha for the end of the spring, so can be assured of breed standard from her.
Thanks again everyone
Kate
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Sorry to hear your news, were your girls tagged?? Just incase someone gets offerd them for sale. I know they could be retagged but it might be something that the thief does not think about.
Good luck with it anyway.
We just had our girls tested for Brucellosis sorry for the spelling, they all got the all clear and then we got the bill for the tests.
Good to know the girls are clear though.
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Kate - really sorry to hear your news, beggars belief. Word of mouth is the best way to find out what happened. Why people do this who knows but so thoughtless and unkind - to you and the animals. Hoping so much that some miracle occurs for you... big hug
Sal
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A miniature Shetland pony was stolen out of a field near us a few weeks ago. I don't know if she's ever turned up.
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A miniature Shetland pony was stolen out of a field near
I think it was in the news (tv) or the paper
Sorry about your ossent (spelling) hope you get it sorted soon
Linz
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Any news Kate?........been thinking of you, must be horrid, a friend of mine had her pet goat stolen several years ago and it was very traumatic!
Glad you are getting some from Kanisha....she has some lovely sheep! Just a thought.....is there anywhere you can put up a sign saying in French and Englis 'these premesis are protected by cctv'? I know they probably aren't but just might make a theif think twice!
Val
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No news at all I am afraid. We arrived at the Maries offices to find that they had changed their opening days to Thursday am instead of Friday am (they have just had elections and we see the posting for the change).
If that wasn't bad enough we are still waiting for the tags which is a bit late now - we have them for the pigs, and sent off the paperwork for what seems ages ago for the sheep and still waiting. It is a total disaster!
We are talking now about getting CCT cameras installed as the pigs start to go down there to join the three remaining sheep. It will be around May before everything is moved down so I guess we will living in two properties for a while to ensure that everything is safe. With around 100 pigs, 18 goats and assorted geese duck and chooks to move and make new housing for each it is going to take a while.
Thank you again for all your kind words of support. I live in hope but realise that the chances of finding them gets less and less each day so just have to hope they are being looked after and cared for like we did.
I would like to say learn a lesson from my mistake, but in the end I think it has just been terrible luck - we had to start the move with something and they were it, so I just hope it doesn't happen to anyone else.
Kate
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As WoolySheperherd says, a sign wrning of cctc would be a deterent and you could even put up dummy cameras to start with, until you got the real thing sorted. :(
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I think dummy cameras might be illegal - we ceratinly can't put them round our schools because it lulls people into a false sense of security apparently.
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We wondered that Rosemary - I think we will be looking into the real thing, just for our own piece of mind. Just need to price things up and see what is available really and go from there.
Kate
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Are they illegal in England too ???
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I don't think they are illegal , but you can get into trouble if real , or , dummy cameras are pointed at other peoples property ie house/window/drive etc. Infringement of civil rights and all that . Funny thing that .. the government can put them up anywhere for any reason ... but not private individuals !!!! even to protect their own property...
You can get wireless cctv setups now ..even 12 volt ones . Some record to video, others to pc type hard drive units. You pays your money and you takes your choice.....You should be able to get set up for 150 pounds though ......(rough guess off the top of my head) . I will have a look round see what I can find. Don't hold your breath though ...lol ;D
Russ