Target: Keith Coleman, Sheriff of Ottawa County, KS
Goal: Take allegedly severely neglected farm animals into custody and away from harm or risk of death.
A Kansas farm owner has seemingly lethally neglected dozens, if not hundreds, of animals for nearly a decade. The most recent incident involves 60 animals that include sheep, goats, and even rabbits. The alleged injuries ranged from bloody and oozing infections to limping to severe emaciation due to lack of food or water. A veritable graveyard of bones also reportedly littered the property.
A sheriff’s deputy went to the premises in May after these reports emerged and sent his findings back to the sheriff’s office and eventually the district attorney. The owner of the property, Kevin Vesterberg, was charged with just ten counts of animal cruelty. Despite the apparent widespread evidence of pervasive cruelty and previous charges of animal cruelty dating back to 2012, this man was not arrested. In fact, the district attorney in charge appeared to mock the case in a since-deleted tweet.
The deputy who originally responded to the most recent incident has gone back to the property daily. Why has he felt compelled to perform this ritual? The animals allegedly subjected to tremendous pain and neglect were not even seized from the farm. The sheriff’s office reportedly told advocacy group Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) that they had no intention of taking the evidently distressed animals, although Kansas law dictates such action. Even after CAPS was given permission to take over care of the animals, a judge revoked the order at the last moment. Only this one deputy seemingly cares enough to ensure the animals he discovered receive the most basic care.
Sign the petition below to demand officials ensure the safety and well-being of these vulnerable animals immediately.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Sheriff Coleman,
A DA who allegedly makes sarcastic comments about “goat mugshots,” a veterinarian who reportedly shows up for a wellness check a week late, and a sheriff’s department that will seemingly not even rescue the 50-plus victims of an alleged crime: is this sad set of circumstances that passes for justice in Ottawa County? The animal cruelty case brought against Kevin Vesterberg is seemingly a failure of duty and responsibility at every turn. The fact that Mr. Vesterberg supposedly did not even merit a slap on the wrist for similar charges of lethal cruelty nearly a decade ago is bad enough. The continued apparent exploitation and endangerment of animals he now faces charges of neglecting to near-death is unacceptable.
Kansas law explicitly states: “any public health officer, law enforcement officer, licensed veterinarian or officer or agent of any animal shelter or other appropriate facility may take into custody any animal, upon either private or public property, that clearly shows evidence of cruelty to animals.” Do your jobs and liberate these living beings from potentially further harm and tragedy.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Pixabay
F$#@k the stupid law enforcement! obviously TOO busy with the donuts! Go get those animals out yourself … the fuckwad had to sleep sometime! set his ass up and get him off the property, get in there and get them out!
This human waste of oxygen needs to lose his privilege’s of having any animal at all. This is a farm, surely there are fences that can be cut through and if the animals are in the pasture, they can be coaxed with food to get them out! Obviously, doing it the ‘right’ way is NOT going to work!
Totally sick!
Owner must be banned for life from ever owning, breeding, working with, going near any animals ever again. He must be charged a $500,000 fine, and spend 10 years in prison with no early parole. He must not away with this. All his animals must be seized and go into sanctuaries
I totally agree with you!!
I agree too!!
The whole Ottawa KS legal system needs to be revamped! The are failing to protect the innocents which is their job! How can any decent, moral people allow these atrocities to continue? Obviously Ottawa county only has unethical and immoral people running their community! This is incredulous! That they are allowing torture, neglect, & cruelty to occur & turn a blind eye! This must stop! PLEASE SOMEBODY WITH A CONSCIENCE AND LEGAL AUTHORITY STEP IN AND HELP THESE SUFFERING ANIMALS!
LET’S HOPE THAT THIS TIME SHERIFF COLEMAN SHOWS MERCY ON THOSE FOUR-LEGGED CREATURES AND DICTATES A FAIR SANCTION.
Perhaps shaming the states with the highest incidence of animal abuse might be the way to go. Its not just the culprits but the enablers who should be brought to public scrutiny. I feel sorry for this deputy, how hard to see the apathy and neglect when something could and should be done to relieve the animals’ suffering. Kevin Vesterburg say his name out loud he has the DA in his pocket!!!
… apathy and neglect when something could and should be done, or something else???
Good idea!!! I totally agree!! How about posting photos of the persons responsible for the animal abuse and killings – and photos of the Sheriff who is not doing anything to help the animals – on YouTube/Facebook/Instagram etc… and the national news – so people can put pressure on law enforcement to do their jobs!!!
All those involved in causing the horrors and suffering of these totally innocent animals need to suffer the same abuse tenfold. They must be severely punished and pay an extremely high fine. Solitary would be a great place for these cruel killer punks. IN MY OPINION
Get rid of the stupid @#@!!#$ SOB DA since he cannot do his job and throw this so called farmer in jail, no bond until he appears in court!!! Throw the book at him and let his ass rot in prison. Maybe even put the DA and this scum Farmer in the same cell. Now that would be a great mugshot!!!
Yes!!!
Dear Sheriff Coleman,
” The sheriff’s office reportedly told advocacy group Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) that they had no intention of taking the evidently distressed animals, although Kansas law dictates such action’.
HOW CAN A PERSON IN CHARGE OF A CRIMINAL CASE LIKE THIS ONE NOT DO SOMETHING? WHAT KIND OF A PERSON WAS CHOSEN TO ADMINISTER JUSTICE?
The sheriff is an jerk and should be fired!!!
OUTRAGEOUS!!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE????? REMOVE THESE ANIMALS AT ONCE!!!!!
DO YOUR JOB AND GRT THOSE ANIMALS OUT! YOU GUYS ARE SUPPOSED TO SAVE ANIMALS NOT MOCK THEM WHEN THEY’RE IN PAIN YOU DUMB FUCkS!!! You wonder why people want to defund you!
HUGE THANK YOU to Sheriff’s Deputy — you have sanity, rationality, good sense, wisdom, compassion, morality & mercy — you do GOOD by your badge — RESCUE these Animals IMMEDIATELY — REMOVE them from IDIOT-Kevin Vesterberg’s ownership — ENSURE Animals get proper care ASAP — ENSURE the IDIOT never again ADOPTS nor comes anywhere near Animals — The Judge should rethink his position of the value of ALL lives, including Animals — do NOT bring any cases before this JUDGE involving protections for Animals — Judge has NO RESPECT
Yes!!!
Don’t let any harm come towards these innocent and defenseless animals!!
I wonder and it makes me mad as hell that low officers are sooooooooo slack. They suppose to keep their community safe, humans and animals. I believe, if someone is not kind to animals, they are not kind to fellow humans.
All the compassion and empathy that should have been enacted in law enforcement is lacking in a display of belligerence and self-justification by those who “serve.” The sheriff’s deputy is a hero. The judge who revoked the order to protect the animals is DESPIABLE on every level. GET RID OF HIM AND BRING IN A JUDGE WHO KNOWS HOW TO ELEVATE SOCIETY, HIS COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE PROTECTION TO THE INNOCENT AS HE SHOULD.
Make this freaking creep pay all vet bills and a huge fine. Send him to jail for the rest of his worthless life. The uncaring and heartless justice system needs a wake up call!
Sort this DISGUSTING, WICKED, EVIL mess out NOW!! WAKE UP everyone, you need to do something and quickly. There is just NO excuse for this….none at ALL.
Law enforcement and the judge needs to take this more seriously and rescue those poor animals asap.
I live in Sioux City ia don’t like driving in cities but if u can get a truck for those animals I’ll personally come down and load those animals in MYSELF
I care!!!
I care!!