I feel a little vulnerable having shared that story. Although, for all intents and purposes, I’m uncancellable, because I don’t need your approval and I don’t need your business. I’ve just been a participant in social media for too long. I know how it works. I shouldn’t be putting my words out into the world.
What would I do differently now, upon unloading a group of goats with CL lesions? (I can’t honestly say I’d test first. I routinely take people’s word for it, trust whatever paperwork they provide, and test later. I rely on their reputations. But these days, I only buy from people I know. It is what it is. I like to think I have more discernment, at least.)
What I would almost certainly do now is load those goats back up and take them back to the seller. I wouldn’t ask first. And I wouldn’t ask for my money back. I’d accept responsibility, but I’d insist this was their problem, not mine. I wasn’t much more than a kid myself when this happened to me. I had a baby at home. It was the middle of winter, the roads were trash, and I had responsibilities at home. I was also pretty timid. I’m not now.
If that didn’t pan out, I’d go public on Facebook’s goat pages, not to out them, but to see if anyone wanted the goats, for free, and I’d provide free delivery. There are plenty of commercial market herds who have chosen to live with and manage CL. (At least that’s what they tell me. I don’t know of any personally, but I’d sure ask.) I didn’t have Facebook then. I wasn’t an option.
If that failed, they’d go to PAYs now. I don’t know if it would’ve been an option then. What fate is worse? The humane euthanasia I provided while I held their heads and cried? Or the sales ring? I don’t know. Maybe I did the right thing. But it didn’t feel right. I just know, after all these years, I still cry over it.
If I hadn’t already had goats at the time, maybe I’d have chosen to live with it. To not raise goats at all. To let them have their lives, and live them out. Maybe I should’ve sold the other goats instead. I don’t know.
I don’t know.
Quit Mansplaining Raising Dairy Goats To Me: A Blog 