A California girl and her family have filed a lawsuit after their home was raided by police looking for Cedar, a 7-month-old goat. The lawsuit named Shasta County, Shasta Sheriff’s officials, Sasha Fair District and other defendants as involved in slaughtering the goat for a community barbecue.
Police didn’t just decide to randomly raid Jessica Long’s house out of the blue, and the goat, known as Cedar, was reportedly auctioned off at the Shasta District Fair in July from last year. However, after seeing how attached his daughter was to Cedar, Long asked if they could remove the goat from the auction. The fair refused to oblige, so after Cedar was sold, Long decided to take it home.
Long offered to return the money Cedar had been bought for ($902 by State Senator Brian Dahle), but it seemed neither the fair nor the senator would budge. In an email to Long, Shasta Fair District Executive Director Melanie Silva said: “Fair Trade is set up to teach our young people responsibility and for future generations of ranchers and farmers to learn the process and effort it takes to raise quality meat. Make an exception for yourself will only teach young people that they don’t have to follow the rules that are established for all participants.
This led to the police becoming involved, where they forcibly took Cedar from Long’s home. The lawsuit claims the matter surrounding Cedar remained civil and involving the police shows an abuse of power.
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Gracias, The Sacramento Bee.