ORLAND, CALIF. – Tomorrow, January 6, a malnourished goat discovered by Morgan Hill police hog-tied in the trunk of a car without food or water will find freedom at the California Shelter of Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization.
The young male goat was discovered on Christmas Eve morning after a Morgan Hill police officer pulled over the driver of a Nissan Sentra, Ciro Paredes, 40, of Morgan Hill, at Monterey Road and Dunne Avenue after he cut off the patrol officer. While searching the vehicle, the patrol officer heard what he thought was a crying baby coming from the trunk of the car, according to Morgan Hill police Sgt. Jerry Neumayer. The officer looked in the trunk and found a malnourished, but alive, goat that had been hog-tied. According to the officer, Paredes commented to his friend that the animal had been in the trunk for two days. Animal control was called and the goat was taken to a Santa Clara animal shelter.
According to local authorities, Paredes was charged with animal cruelty in addition to other substance abuse charges. The passengers, Julio Perez, 27, of San Jose, and Ricardo Malger, 19, of Morgan Hill, were also charged with animal cruelty. The men were booked into Santa Clara County Jail.
“It is hard to fathom the utter callousness and lack of respect for life that would allow someone to tie up a living being and stuff him into a cramped, dark, airless trunk,” said Leanne Cronquist, Farm Sanctuary’s California Shelter Director. “Goats, like all farm animals, are friendly, sensitive animals who want nothing more than to run and play in the sun. This experience must have been a nightmare for this innocent animal, but, fortunately, when he arrives at our shelter, he will be treated with the respect and kindness he deserves, and his horrible ordeal will be behind him.”
