About the publisher: Congratulations Shasta County Fair officials for standing firm and sticking to your rules that the 4-H animals submitted for the final auction be slaughtered. No compromise. No exceptions.

They’ve turned a cute feel-good story about a kid who befriends the goat in her care into a gory and tragic farce.

What was the point of sending sheriff’s deputies to confiscate the goat for slaughter? Turn into heartless bureaucrats with no common sense? What a waste of time and public resources and what an abuse of power. How much money did all this cost?

Everything you need to slaughter a goat! You couldn’t have gotten worse publicity for yourself, the show, or 4-H than if you had actually tried. Shasta County deserves better.

Barbara Richardson, Huntington Beach

..

About the publisher: I cried when I read about the goat becoming a domesticated pet for one

nine 9

-Years old.

As I was

seven 7

years old, my grandmother gave our family a chick that became my pet. It was finally butchered and served for dinner. I was an emotional mess and became a vegetarian.

The Shasta Fair Assn. should be held responsible for ignoring this young girl’s emotional well-being, especially when it comes out that she recently lost three grandparents. She asked that the goat’s life be spared. The mother offered to refund the scholarship and also contacted the successful bidder who agreed to a refund.

But righteous officials could not bring themselves to stop the process. You should be ashamed.

Georgette Rieck, Santa Monica

..

About the publisher: My grandchildren have gone through this process at least ten times and the first time can be painful for children as they bond with their animal.

But do not forget that the girl’s family knew the rules well when she started her project and did not have to enter the competition. To be clear, these animals are projects, not pets.

The blame must lie with her parents, who taught her not to honor her obligations and to steal other people’s property instead. As far as I am concerned, the responsible authorities treat them with velvet gloves.

Paul Burns,Granada Hills.

About the publisher: I grew up on a farm and attended the Future Farmers of America in high school. I bred animals that were shown at the fair and then auctioned for slaughter. I was mature enough to understand that animals were raised to kill to feed a mostly carnivorous population.

Every year I remembered seeing some young 4-H kids in the pens with animals hugging their necks or stroking their fur and howling. These children bonded with their animals as pets. How would we feel if we handed over our dogs and cats to the slaughterhouse?

4-H is a wonderful organization. The organizers are doing a very good job, but perhaps they should consider sparing their younger members the trauma of lovingly raising their animals only to hand them over to be killed and eaten.

Paul Ali, Sonland..

About the publisher: The animal rights movement is home to a number of people who were traumatized as children by giving up their beloved animals to 4-H organizations.

Cedar the Goat would certainly have preferred a life of weeding to slaughter. We in the developed world don’t have to kill animals to be well fed.

Shame on the Shasta Fair and the Sheriff for their vindictive idiocy.

Debbie Elliott, Pacific Palisades..

About the publisher: I hope the young girl and her family sue the Shasta Far Assn. decided not to eat meat or raise animals for consumption.

Caroline Spoja, La Habra..

About the publisher: What about the Shasta County Fair Officers? Didn’t you read The Merchant of Venice in high school? I quote:

“The quality of mercy is not complicated; it falls like a gentle rain from heaven on the place below. She will be blessed twice; she blesses those who give and those who take.”

etc. Open and read the entire section. It’s fun. Shakespeare was the greatest GOAT of all time.

It also shows the value of English education and English teachers.

David T Jones, Los Angeles