Farmed animal neglect
Taunton, MA (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jun 30, 2004
County: Bristol
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Carlos Vieira
A city man was arraigned in Taunton District Court on Feb 8, 2005 on charges of animal cruelty. Carlos Vieira, 49, of Rogers Ave., was charged with one count of animal cruelty and two counts of animal cruelty by custodian, stemming from a complaint made by a state Department of Food and Agriculture inspector in July, according to a report filed in Taunton District Court.
In July, MSPCA Law Enforcement Officer Lori Miranda went to Lopes Dairy Farm on Plain Street with an inspector from the state Department of Food and Agriculture and an officer from the Animal Rescue League of Boston's Law Enforcement Department to investigate the conditions under which the animals were living.
When they arrived on the scene, they saw the owner of the barn outside and asked him about the animals. Miranda reported that the barn owner told them that Vieira, who had been renting from him since October 2003, owned most of the animals in the barn.
The owner told them he believed Vieira came by the barn every day, Miranda said.
When Miranda entered the barn, she said she saw "a very unsanitary pen with several thin young goats and sheep with no food or water present." While in the barn she also saw a larger unsanitary pen that was housing about 23 skinny adult dairy goats.
In another area of the barn, she saw one thin lama, two cows, three calves and one dead calf.
"I also observed 25 rabbits in very unsanitary cages with moldy food and green sludge for water," she said.
Miranda said another pen held two thin adult goats, one of which could not stand up, whose eyes were crusted shut and noses were running.
Miranda contacted Vieira by cell phone and asked him to come to the farm. Vieira said he could not because he was working. However, he did tell her that he had seen his animals just the day before.
He told them he knew the calf "wasn't feeling well or acting right for the past couple of days." However, he did not call a vet.
Miranda told Vieira that the conditions of the animals were "unacceptable" and it appeared as though they were "severely neglected."
Vieira signed custody of the animals over to the MSPCA after an officer from the Animal Rescue League of Boston went over to his job site.
While Miranda was waiting for the other officer to return, Vieira's wife stopped by the barn and was asked about the dead calf.
Miranda recognized the Vieiras' home address as one that she had visited in 2003 in response to a report of dogs living in unsanitary conditions and in improper shelter.
While officials were taking the animals out of the barns, an "irate" Vieira arrived at the barn and yelled that the animals were fine, Miranda said. The owner of the barn then told Vieira to leave.
The animals were then transported to MSPCA and Animal Rescue League shelters where they received medical attention.
The charges were continued without a guilty finding for six months. However on the charge of animal cruelty, Vieira was ordered to pay a $50 victim/witness fee, restitution of $877 and $21 per month for probation payments. He must also submit to random inspections by the MSPCA. References« MA State Animal Cruelty Map
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