The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

The Good
What a beautiful weekend we had on the farm.
With the exception of one unfortunate incident (which I will talk about later),
the weekend was perfect in every way... perfect weather, fun guests.

This weekend was moving day for the piggies.



For the past several months, the pigs have spent their nights in a stall in the barn,
and for the daytime, I would walk them up to one of the goat pens.
In the past few weeks this has become increasingly difficult,
as these girls are quite willful and very very strong!
Most days they have their own agenda.

Several months ago we fenced in a portion of our orchard...



an area with dense undergrowth and mature trees.
We cut a hole into the back wall of the feed room that is attached to the horses' run-in-shed,
and built a ramp leading into this new little doorway.



I took fence boards and walled off the front entrance



 so that the horses can just "visit" the pigs through the fence.



Hubbs created a mud hole for the girls,
and we moved their wading pool into the enclosure, too.


With plenty to eat, plenty of shade, and a couple places to get wet and cool off,
we figured the pigs would be in "Hog Heaven."
We were right...
they love it!


We close them in their new little stall at night to sleep,
and open it back up for the day early in the morning.
The horses spend quite a bit of time visiting with the pigs,



as is evident by the amount of horse manure in that corner of their paddock each morning.

If you have come for your daily smile,
you might want to stop reading at this point....
the next part of my story will not make you smile!

The Bad and Ugly
Saturday afternoon (after returning from a visit to our duck pond)


 I was sitting on the front porch of our farmhouse,
visiting with farm guests when I heard a very loud truck drive down our road.


It was a truck very much in need of a muffler.
I listened as the truck stopped around what seemed to be the area of our duck pond.
Then "BOOM".... I heard a gunshot and the truck drove off loudly.
As soon as our guests left, I drove down to the pond
and found one of my ducks (and these are domesticated ducks, not wild)
dead....shot in the neck.


I cannot express how violated, how angry, how saddened
I feel by this horrible act of violence toward my innocent duck.
Needless to say, I have called the State Police and filed a report.
I will be spending a bit of time at the pond this week,
waiting for that truck to make an appearance...
at which time I will photograph its license plate
and send it to the police.
Luckily, our neighbors saw this vehicle, right before the incident;
so I know the make and model.

Please help me understand what makes certain individuals capable of such aggression.
I truly don't understand this.

Comments

countrynmore said…
I don't understand what would make someone shoot an innocent duck either. I hope that you catch this person.
Anke said…
What is wrong with people like that?? I don't think I will ever understand how somebody can do something so nasty "just because". I'm so sorry Bev...
kare said…
i will be waiting to hear that these monsters are caught.. You just be careful..don't confront them alone.. or at all if possible.

Your home HAS been attacked.

That's Just Wrong >:(

i'm SO Sorry this happened!
i just want to take a fire hose to them now.
Cynthia in Denver said…
Honey, I've been in law enforcement almost 2 decades; long enough to study on just such non sense and I still don't know or understand the reasons why. Inbreading and mental health disorders are as close to an answer as it comes. If it is omething that you are not naturally inclined to partake in, then you will not ever know.

Now ... School is getting out for summer and many a testosterone driven boys are out to have a bit of fun, usually with a bb gun or bigger. Go down to your local high schools and describe the truck incident to the asst principal. He or she may have an idea.
Bernadine said…
I don't understand it either. That was just plain mean! Maybe it was a kid trying out a new gun or something. That doesn't excuse the horrible behavior but I certainly hope it was not an adult acting callously. I'm so sorry for the loss of your duck. And I love the new housing for the little pigs.
That is the act of ignorance and cruelty. And it's awful to think that someone so ignorant and aggressive is driving around with a loaded gun. I am so sorry about your sweet duck.
JudiB said…
What gets me about your duck pond is that it is Private...you can tell just looking at the pond. Then to not take the bird shows an ever worse personality at work. How very sad for you Bev. I can not even go into what I really feel about what some people are like. How terrible!!
Love the new home for Miss Piggys..lol. They are going to be so happy visiting and just slopping around..lol..lol
Hope you get some pictures of the truck.

Judi B.
VBR said…
First of all, I am so sorry that this has happened to you and your family (both human and animal). Disgusting does not even begin to describe the act of cruelty. I do not understand why people harm animals, defenseless ducks no less. Peopel need to understand that when a person inflicts harm, pain, cruelty, death on an animal they are 'practicing'. Practicing to move on the human species. Maybe if people would recognize animal cruelty for what it is there would be less tolerance of this type of behavior. Again, my thoughts are with you and I hope that you will feel safe again soon.
DebH said…
thoughtless people and I always make comments on folks who don't show a great deal of sense...I always tell my kids...drunks! Either its a young person with a gun who wants to try it out...or its an idiot who thinks slaughter is fun. I know folks like that and the only way I keep them afraid of me is to give them my "gonna thrash you within an inch of your life looks". I have a neighbor like that, who drinks too much and gets stupider. Some people are unattached for a million reasons. I'ld be posting some signs and mentioning cameras on site...but then again..they probably can't read. So Sorry!
Anonymous said…
Such a deplorable act, and for what reason? Makes me heartsick and we can all only hope that this truck is found and the driver of it is reprimanded harshly... like a HUGE monetary fine. So sorry this happened. :-(
Anonymous said…
Ugh. This is something I have had to deal with also.

Rural PA has a hunting culture that you truly can't understand until you live here. (Which I know you do!) I moved from Maryland to my farm near Gettysburg 5 years ago. The first day we moved in, my neighbor was wandering my property hunting ground hogs.

I have people spotlighting my pastures at night during hunting season.

While driving up a friend's long remote driveway, I happened to look up and there was a bowhunter up in a tree stand (without permission) 2 feet from her driveway.

My inlaws have neighbors routinely poaching on their property.

I don't mind hunting, but I do mind the disrespect for other peoples property that seems to go along with it.
Heather in PA
Ginny said…
That is horrible. We lost one of our ducks many years ago via the way of a car. Driver just aimed the car at a pair of brothers and got one!! I will never forget that. I am so sorry for your loss.
Bob Schortemeyer said…
Sorry Bev, you may want to try a trail cam on your driveway. Set it up to catch vehicles driving up and down your driveway. You should be able to get the license on the pictures.
This N That said…
Happy for the piggies..They have their little piece of heaven..So sorry about the duck..People are nuts..Hope they catch them...What a way to ruin a fun weekend..
Anonymous said…
Dear Bev.
This really made my blood boil this senseless killing, unfortunately evil is real, and I am sure they wont go unpunished as I am great believer in Karma do evil reap evil,do good and reap the good, and you do so much good.

Annie v.
Michelle said…
Sorry to hear about the duck. People just have such senseless behavior sometimes. I do hope you catch this person.
Tracy said…
I'm so sorry! I don't think there is a way to understand this- it is truly the definition of "random violence!"
I hope you are successful in identifying the individual(s).
Country Gal said…
I am so sorry to hear about the duck. There just some people out there that have no brains and are cruel and have no heart stone cold I say . I hope they get caught and pay the price before they try anything like this again . Idiots like this get my fur up . On a nicer note glad the girls like their new pen, sounds and looks wonderful .
Anonymous said…
That is appalling...it certainly is hard to understand how anyone can find pleasure in killing an innocent bird or animal. To do it on private property is even more mystifying and scary.
I am glad that despite this horrible incident you had some enjoyment over the weekend. The piggies certainly look happy in their new digs!
Kathy from Tasmania
Verde Farm said…
Bev, they drove on your property and just shot the duck and left? I can’t even imagine and I am so, so sorry. What an act of violence. I don’t understand it either and I am just so sorry.
Amy :(
Some people just like to hurt other things to make themselves feel better. Not desirable, but a side effect of being human.

My grandmama used to say that it takes all kinds to make a world, but we don't have to like it, and that's the truth.

Karma's a funny thing - it tends to come back around. He (or she) has got something coming to them...

(Sorry for the duck! But more sorry that they violated your place of serenity and peace.)
I am SO sorry this horrible incident happened. However, I take exception to the comment about "testosterone ridden boys"--I have 2 sons who I'm sure were testosterone ridden at times(grown now) but they would NEVER have even entertained the thought of hurting an animal or bird. They were taught as small children to treat animals with love and gentleness--as I was taught. This is a case of poor parenting, of which there is an abundance nowadays. These thugs need to be caught!