No Reason to Suffer
by Kim K, Pasado's Humane Investigator

The sun shone down on the Pasado's sanctuary this week, bright and warm.  Spring is finally here!  Soaking it in, the animals here seem extra content and happy.   

As I walked through the pastures, I stopped to say hello to one of our cows, Fawn Star.  She has an amazingly sweet gentle demeanor and loves to have a little scratch and tussle of her hair on her head.   
 

I whispered to her about what a great day it was and how much I was enjoying the sun, too.  As I walked back up to the People Barn (our office) I thought about how fortunate Pasado's cows are to live here - free from worry and fear.  And as each one has it's own unique personality, I realized how lucky I am to know them as well.  It's funny how friends come in all shapes in sizes!
 

After my visit, I was back to work.  Just as I was ready to send out my web story for the week, my phone rang.  The voice on the other end was very calm yet I could hear the despair in her voice.  As the caller explained her situation to me, the story grew more and more grim.   

Starving Cattle in need of help.  Their spines protruding, hip and ribs poking out from their emaciated bodies, the caller explained to me in desperation,  “These animals are in danger of going back to the individual who did this to them!” 

I learned that that these animals had suffered considerable malnutrition causing bloating, patchy coat growth, blindness and pink eye. 
 

They had been living off of less than half of the needed ration of hay to support the herd, and on top of that the feed given to them was moldy.  There was no forage on the property and they were not given any supplementation. One of them had a cancerous tumor on her face that was not only disfiguring but caused her months of suffering due to the negligence of this owner.

Another one had a simple injury on her foot, but without treatment ended in a long painful death.   When she finally got vet attention, the vet diagnosed her as non-salvageable, immediately due to the degradation of the situation.  He said that the joint was likely septic and was beyond reversal.  Upon putting her down and examining the foot, he discovered that it was infested with maggots. The veterinarian noted, this injury was treatable and likely initially minor, and that the outcome was completely preventable, had the cow received proper medical attention.

Yet another cow was found to have an unusual protuberance, and when she was examined, it was discovered that she had aborted her early fetus.  The fetus had been stuck in her birth canal.  The vet said he did not know how long the fetus has been there.  The vet noted no fever or underlying cause that would typically result in an abortion like this, but he did note the horrible body condition could have been the reason.
 

This horrendous condition was the status on this farm on October 2, 2007.  Thanks to the intervention of knowledgeable and caring individuals, action was taken.  On January 17^th, a search warrant was issued and 70 cattle were discovered struggling to survive, all with body scores below acceptable.  The vet called and tried to work with the owner, who did not comply.  Allyn Deets was arrested the end of January, 2008.  He was charged with 6 individual counts of cruelty for death by starvation.   
 

After the arrest, an animal care taker was hired to care for the cattle and work to get them healthy again.  During this time a restraining order was put upon Mr. Deets, to stay away from these animals.    

 Investigating this case further I found out today that 5 of these animal cruelty charges no longer exist.  One count of first degree animal cruelty sits on the Prosecutors desk, and it needs us to assure this case does not die.

Each one of the cows that died had a personality.  Each one of them could have been like Fawn Star.  There is absolutely no reason to let any animal suffer.

Please write your respectful comments to the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney here.

Points to include: 

• Six counts of animal cruelty were charged, why is there only one being charged now?

• If these animals are returned to Mr. Deets what will prevent him from starving and torturing more of the herd to death?
   

• Animal Cruelty is against the law, if Mr. Deets is allowed to get away with starving animals to death, what message does this send about our laws protecting animals, or about the strength of those protecting them?

• Demand that Allyn Deets never own another animal and that he pays for the cruel and inhumane treatment of these innocent sentient beings!
  
  Can you support us in our investigations to end animal cruelty?  Please donate here.