A humane enforcement officer recently confiscated a newborn goat that he said was left for dead following a sales auction at the New Holland Sales Stables on Jan. 5.

The goat is being treated at a New York shelter but remains in serious condition and may not live, according to Keith Mohler, a Farm Sanctuary humane enforcement officer based in Lancaster County.

Mohler said two goats were born during the sale. He said the confiscated 3-pound goat was left behind by an owner he was unable to find. The goat suffered for four hours until Mohler took it to a veterinarian.

"The goat's mother had already been sold and taken away, so he was left alone, unable to stay warm or nurse," Mohler said. "He already had hypothermia and a navel infection by the time I found him. He barely survived the ordeal."

David Cobb, owner of the livestock sales auction, said this morning he was unaware of the incident and had no comment.

On Dec. 17, Cobb and an employee were charged by a Humane League of Lancaster County humane enforcement officer with animal cruelty for allegedly allowing a live cow with a bullet in its head to lie for hours on a pile of dead animals. The animal was shot again after it had been found by the officer.

That case is still in court.

Farm Sanctuary is a farm-animal protection organization.


Staff writer Ad Crable can be reached at acrable@LNPnews.com or 481-6029.