At their meeting on Dec. 15, Park County commissioners learned of a lawsuit filed against the county and others by Samuel and Diane Walker, who had pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in 2010. The Walkers allege in the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Denver, that their rights under the U.S. Constitution were violated when seizures of their dogs were made at their property near Hartsel. Details in this week's Flume.
Anyone who starves any animal should be declared unfit.. however, we ALL have rights that shouldn't be denied.. I personally don't believe that Vern starved any of the cattle he was in charge of and I also believe that this was nothing more than A PERSONAL vendetta against him by the County..
Mama, I agree. And, like you, I strongly believe that Vern did not intentionally starve those animals. Hell! Isn't South Park above 10,000 feet? What grows up there?
The Secret of Park's Success: Throw in a few Downare dead animals, take pictures and then blame it on Vern.
It's a SAD flipping day, when a GOVERNMENT that you are supposed to believe in and TRUST can come in and take EVERY DAMNED thing you have worked all of your life for. and what's even SADDER to me ARE PEOPLE who stand back INSTEAD of STANDING up for those that are being attacked. I think it was a guy named Norman Neimoeller that said (in Nazi Germany) First they came for the Communists, but I was not one so I did not speak out, then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists but I was neither so I did not speak out then they came for the Homosexuals, but I was not one, so i did not speak out and Finally they came for the Jews, but I was not one so I did not speak out and when THEY came for me, there was NO ONE left to speak out. Think about that. If we DON'T band together to put an end to this kind of INJUSTICE, whether it's on a County, State or Federal level we are SIMPLY screwing ourselves.
As far as the dead animals go, who's to say the pictures weren't taken elsewhere and then produced to the State Agriculture??
Who's to say these animals weren't killed by predators no one to my knowledge could/did prove that either way...
My opinion is that the Animal Control officer has had a "hard on" for Vern since about 2003 and was going to stop at nothing to bring him down. She/he just needed a way to involve the Heavy Hitter which is the State Dept of Agriculture to do it.
To all who think this was a TOTAL INJUSTICE I would suggest you send letters and comments to :
and also voice your opinions to The Flume. All I can say is DON'T ROLL OVER and allow this to happen to anyone else.. stand up and be heard..
I am not a rancher so I just want to ask how 147 animals in your care can die in one year?
I would think if an animal dies from predators, it is pretty obvious and looks much different than an animal that dies from disease, starvation or dehydration.
A veterinarian with the Colorado Department of Agriculture also gave testimony against this rancher based on what he witnessed.
Answer this Who's to say those photos weren't doctored?? Cows are like DEER and ELK They forage for food in the winter. there's even a bred of cow out there, that if they don't like the person giving them water they won't drink..
This is NOTHING more than a LAND GRAB by the GOOD ol BOYS AND GIRL of Park county.. And tell me Photo, how do YOU justify taking away a persons livelihood?? and think about this, Nobody who relies on his cattle to feed, cloth and shelter his/her family is going to in anyway jeopardize that/them. You don't cut your nose off to save your face do ya??
MamaRama wrote: Answer this Who's to say those photos weren't doctored?? Cows are like DEER and ELK They forage for food in the winter. there's even a bred of cow out there, that if they don't like the person giving them water they won't drink..
How do you know they were doctored? Why would a Dept of Ag. vet want or need to doctor pictures? What is their stake in this? They also supplied TESTIMONY at TRIAL.
Cows can't forage well in the winter when there is snow on the ground and they are not open range. They are not free to migrate like wild deer and elk do to greener pastures. Cows are domesticated and rely on their care takers to supplement their diet with hay and other nutritions in winter months. Cows do not eat snow for thier water like deer and elk do. (I remember this from news stories during the 7' blizard of 2003)
Do you know that the cows that died were the breed that wont drink water from a person they dont like? If so, then why didn't they like Vern? (Never heard of any breed like that from any species by the way, I'd ask for a source but I am beyond the point caring right now.
and also voice your opinions to The Flume. All I can say is DON'T ROLL OVER and allow this to happen to anyone else.. stand up and be heard.. 
