Death of Weir River Farm’s Ruby the llama raises concerns; Trustees of Reservations stands behind its ‘high standards for animal care’

May 2, 2024 By Carol Britton Meyer

Following an incident that occurred at Weir River Farm April 4 involving Ruby the llama, Hingham Animal Control Officer Leslie Badger went to the scene just after 7:17 p.m. to investigate in response to an anonymous call to the Hingham Police Department.

She subsequently filed an animal complaint.  (See attached police report.)

However, since the incident occurred, Badger has made regular well-being checks at the farm and has checked in with the directors, staff, and veterinarian. “As of right now (Wednesday, May 1), the animals that are at the farm all seem to be healthy and thriving and not in any kind of distress,” she told the Hingham Anchor.

The Anchor also reached out to Trustees of Reservations Public Relations Director Mary Dettloff for comment related to the police report and a letter former Weir River Farm volunteer Joan Delaney submitted to the Anchor on April 25 alleging “animal cruelty.”

Dettloff, however, said the Trustees “takes pride in upholding high standards for animal care on our agricultural properties.”

Delaney’s concerns center around the death of Ruby, who she claims lay “dying from deer worms on the cold, wet ground” during the April 4 Nor’easter, and surrounding circumstances.

“I want you to know I was there [that morning]. This is not speculation. This is based on fact,” Delaney said in an email message accompanying the letter. “[I] just want the animals fed, watered, and [to] receive necessary medical care.”

Trustees respond
In response to the letter and police report, both of which Dettloff said she read, Dettloff provided a statement to the Hingham Anchor that reads in part: “Led by our livestock managers and dedicated volunteers and in regular consultation with local veterinarians, our animal care is guided by proper and humane management protocols. At Weir River Farm, we have a close working relationship with local officials who have praised us for our standard of care for the sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens in our educational barnyard.”

Unfortunately, in the last few weeks, Weir River Farm “has lost two animals [including Ruby] to a parasitic disease that, while rare, is nearly always fatal for small ruminants. The parasite, known as deer worm, is spread by the consumption of infected feces, which can occur when livestock are grazing in a pasture where white-tailed deer and slugs are both present,” Dettloff explained.
“Because of the unusually mild, rainy winter, farms across the region have seen an increase in cases. The parasite poses no risk to humans. In both cases, the animals [including Ruby] were seen and evaluated by our local veterinarian, who advised on treatment. They were given comfort measures and ultimately euthanized. The return of drier weather and new grass to graze should reduce the risk to the rest of the flock, who were moved into a new pasture and treated prophylactically with anthelmintic medication,” Dettloff said.

Delaney alleges that from her experience as a volunteer, the animals at Weir River Farm “aren’t getting proper care. Appropriate medical care wasn’t provided to the [most recent] animals who have died on the farm,” the letter alleges. “The paid staff has changed so frequently; the animals have run out of food. There have been times in the winter when the pump has been frozen for days, so the animals didn’t have fresh water.”

Delaney also states in the letter that “all too often when we see injustices, both big and small, we think, ‘Wow, that’s terrible,’ but we do nothing. We say nothing. We remain silent, because silence is easy. When we say nothing, the [alleged] cruelty to the animals continues. Please speak for the animals — they have no voices.”

‘A learning experience for everyone involved’
While the situation involving Ruby was obviously a sad one, Badger told the Hingham Anchor that she was “alerted immediately, was able to go there and see what was happening, and to reach staff — who after talking with me made the right decisions. The veterinarian and a staff member came to the farm, and [Ruby’s] suffering was ended. It was a learning experience for everyone involved, and we’re moving forward in a positive way from here.”

Weir River Farm’s animal welfare policy, provided by Dettloff, relates in part to providing all livestock with “an environment that enables them to exhibit their natural instincts,” the opportunity to forage as appropriate to their species, and “adequate, natural nutrient-rich diets appropriate to digestive anatomy.”

All breeds are selected with consideration of their ability to thrive year-round in Massachusetts climate conditions, according to the policy — with a focus on “promoting health over treating disease, with the understanding that providing sufficient rearing environments supports livestock health and wellbeing.”

Volunteers are welcome, providing support for the farm. “We are happy to meet with folks who want to volunteer and match them with volunteer duties that are of interest to them,” Dettloff said.

Concerns addressed
In response to Delaney’s comments in her letter to the Hingham Anchor related to “using medication from a goat who had passed away recently for the llama” and her understanding from a comment made by a staff member related to a lack of funding for medication, Dettloff had this to say: “In terms of using medications on hand, that is a common farm practice to have certain medications on hand and ready to use. Our budget for Weir River Farm is appropriate for the needs of the livestock and the farm’s operations. The person who made the statement about not being able to afford medication definitely misspoke and is not at all familiar with our budget. We would never cut corners on animal care.”

Dettloff provided the following additional comments: “The day of the storm [the April 4 Nor’easter], our staff and volunteers made sure that all animals, including the sick llama, were secured for the storm. The llama was given food, water, and clean bedding and was placed in a protected area.”

According to Dettloff, the farm’s animal caretaker stayed with the llama until 6:45 p.m. that night.

‘No charges have or will be filed’
With regard to the anonymous call to the police department and the filing of a police report, Dettloff said it’s “very important to note that no charges have been or will be filed regarding this event. Within an hour of [the anonymous individual] placing the call to the police, Anne Smith-White [of the Trustees of Reservations] was contacted by the police. She, in turn, contacted the animal caretaker and vet, who arrived in the 9 o’clock hour. The llama was euthanized at 10 p.m. by our vet. From the time the llama first appeared symptomatic until the time it was euthanized was approximately 48 hours. During this extremely short timeline, the llama was cared for, made comfortable, and given medication and medical attention. I should also note that prior to 7 p.m., our animal caretaker checked in with the vet and they agreed to euthanize the llama the next morning.”

Badger is hopeful there will  be no further incidents. “Weir River Farm has a long history of taking good care of their animals and is a place where people go — including 4H members — to learn about taking care of animals,” she said.

Looking ahead, a full slate of events is planned at Weir River Farm, including the upcoming Spring Festival, and this summer, a series of sunset picnic events featuring live music, local food, and craft beers. Weekly barnyard animal programs for children are also offered.

Police Report: https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=%21AM49BcnaSF%5FcTdM&id=EC57AFA0D234DC12%21481585&cid=EC57AFA0D234DC12&parId=root&parQt=sharedby&o=OneUp