[Jacob-list] stolen sheep

[Betty Berlenbach]

Hi, Kelley,

Here's what I know:  in January, I think it was, there was an article in the
Rutland Herald that Purdys had rescued a group of sheep from a breeder who
had no shelter for them, presumably in Chester or Springfield.  There was a
photo of them and some looked to be jacobs, some looked to be crossbred.  I
wrote to Steve, whom I know slightly and asked him, as VP of the JSBA, if I
could see the sheep, since we are always looking for new lines that haven't
been registered.  I also suggested to him that these were primitive sheep
and really didn't need much in the way of shelter.  He said they were
starving (I asked if he was familiar with primitives and how their
conformation is different from standardized breeds.  And pointed out that in
Scotland, these sheep live in the hills all winter.)  He had his wife, more
familiar with sheep write back to me.  Let me see if I"ve erased all these
communications.  If not, I'll send them to you.  She claimed that people who
raise sheep on hills in Scotland aren't highly thought of.  (Give me a
break!) and although I repeated my request to come see these sheep, at no
time was I invited to do so.  It was a big mystery as to where the sheep
came from and breeders around here all wondered.

I just called one breeder, Donald Dreifuss, 603-542-5746, who has recentl
been called by someone at the Claremont Animal Hospital, regarding the fact
that Steve had asked her to buy some sheep and she was confused about these
sheep.  Donald will be happy to talk to you about it.

I am copying this to Royal Unzicker, pres. of JSBA, and to the list, so that
this whole conversation is public.

The fact that Steve and Linda didn't invite me to come see the sheep, when I
specifically requested it, really irked me and was very much different to
the kind of behaviour I have received from any other breeder relative to
sheep.  Linda did say that there was one of last year's lambs that was 12
pounds, highly undernourished, as an example of the fact that they were
poorly cared for, unfed, etc.  If I can find the correspondence, I will pass
it along to you. Betty Berlenbach, WEathersfield, Vt.

Kelley, where do I know your name from?  Did you used to live here?  Did we
talk about sheep or chickens?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelley Rambo" <Kelley_Rambo at antiochne.edu>
To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2003 10:17 AM
Subject: [Jacob-list] stolen sheep


> Hi,
>
> I wanted to contact you to ask if a Stephen Purdy of Chester, Vermont has
> been in touch with you regarding selling/buying/trading/breeding Jacob
> sheep.  I noticed that Purdy has listed the flock on the NEHBC website
> looking to trade or breed them.  I own the flock and have owned and raised
> them since October of 1998.  I moved the flock voluntarily to Purdy's farm
> this past December based on information that Purdy gave me that I
> afterwards found to be false.  There has been no transfer of ownership nor
> will there be any.  I am in the process now of gaining a court order to
> remove the sheep from his property.  My concern is that he is trying to
> sell/trade/breed the sheep through Jacob sheep breeder networks.  I would
> be happy to answer any questions you might have if you want to give me a
> call on my cell phone at 207-322-5777.  Or I'd be happy to refer you to my
> attorney for more information.  I have spent four years of my life, energy
> and resources maintaining and raising these sheep.  They have wonderful
tem
> peraments.  They all have names and great fleeces.  I would appreciate it
> if you could let me know if he has contacted you or if there are other
> avenues that I should send out this announcement.
>
> Kindly,
> Kelley Rambo
> PO Box 41
> Freedom, ME 04941
> (207) 322-5777
>
>
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