Posted by K on 11/10/2009, 10:33 pm |
- It sounds like you
Posted by Martha and David on 11/10/2009, 10:57 pm, in reply to "State Animal Inspector was here"
weren't home when the inspection was done. Do you know how you did? Do you have any idea why they were there unannounced?
Martha
- I have a hunch
Posted by BigBird on 11/11/2009, 12:21 am, in reply to "State Animal Inspector was here"
a neighborhood noodge had issue. But based upon photos of your happy yard, I am certain the inspector was more than impressed and satisfied. The noodge would prolly not fair so well in a similar inspection.
I further propose to ya that this inspector was pissed it was a false alarm...again. Can ya imagine how many ghosts they gotta chase? But imagine if the noodge was right and the dept of Ag did nothing......heads would roll.
Moral of the story?
Keep the flock happy and the place tidy and there is no trubble...such as life! - I was at work
Posted by K on 11/11/2009, 1:09 am, in reply to "State Animal Inspector was here"
and the visit was unannounced. A business card (as it were) and a pink checklist 'owner's copy' was left at our door. The slip had a list of species where the inspector checked off which and how many. Apparently he was not aware if the fowls (?!).... he must have arrived during their siesta!
The report was positive and there was a request to call him. I did. It was a personal line. I asked the inspector about the nature of the inspection, and he explained that it was not for tax purposes and that it was yearly. He said he visits all livestock, backyard chickens, etc. When I told him that I had never had an inspection in the past he said that the last guy did not do his job. He said "see you next fall".
Thoughts?
- I get paperwork from the State Ag dept
Posted by Susan on 11/11/2009, 6:53 am, in reply to "I was at work"
Michigan sends out a questionnaire to be filled out concerning livestock. At least I have been getting one every other year from the State Ag department to fill out about the nature of my livestock, how many, etc. Now, how they found out I have livestock, I don't know. Although I am a registered business with the county. So far I have thrown it in the garbage even though it says it is mandatory I fill it out. My thought is, if it is that important, they will send an inspector to my house (like you). Anyone can fill out anything on a piece of paper, and if they are spending so little effort, so am I. They probably don't have the manpower for personal visits. So far, no one has come knocking at my door. - In your case
Posted by BigBird on 11/11/2009, 5:12 pm, in reply to "I get paperwork from the State Ag dept"
You once applied for received a state inspector cert to test for AI(??) or some disease (pullorium??) I think that is the trigger for the questionaire here.
Now I agree on the lack of effort! ANd they should visit ya to see what a proper operation looks like. I suspect they would be overwhelmed by the quality of your livestock as well as the spacious and well designed housings and all...not to mention the fabulous and LAVISH care they receive.
The poor inspector would prolly drive away and think to themselves "Geez whiz!... this is one backyard keeper he/she would never have to visit again!" And then would further conclude that "Suzy's farmette would be the new industry standard to which all others would be measured." - That's right, I forgot!
Posted by Susan on 11/11/2009, 6:55 pm, in reply to "In your case"
I was an NPIP inspector for 3 years. It just expired this year. Yep, that explains it.
Well, thank you on the compliments. I do try hard..
- oohhhhh,.....
Posted by laura on 11/12/2009, 7:39 am, in reply to "In your case"
and i was worried about NAIS!! lol - Re: I was at work
Posted by lisa on 11/11/2009, 8:26 am, in reply to "I was at work"
What exactly are they looking for? I would have an issue with someone coming on my property without permission snooping aorund my house and my animals. This is MY personal property, after all. Gosh, this is America! - what they are looking for
Posted by K on 11/11/2009, 10:24 am, in reply to "Re: I was at work"
There was a place to indicate species and quantities and if they were adult or young.
"Do animals appear free of contagious disease?"
"Are accommodations adequate with reference to situation, cleanliness, light, ventilation, and water supply? (explain briefly)"
- I'm with Lisa
Posted by Amy in Ohio on 11/11/2009, 10:36 am, in reply to "Re: I was at work"
Whoa! They can do that????
Though we have nothing to hide, I am not comfortable AT ALL with people coming onto my property unanounced and without permission to have a look around. To me, that is TRESPASSING! And a government agent, nonetheless. Don't we have privacy rights? Can the government really just come to your place and snoop around? Would they enter your barns? I guess they would if that's where your animals were. Wow, I had no idea they could do that.
It is good to know that they are looking for animal abuse (I hope that is their goal). But it is not right to snoop around unanounced. Around here, somebody might get shot at for that! I would call 911 if I saw someone snooping around my barns. This seems wrong.
And apparently he didn't do a very thorough job inspecting if he didn't even realize you had poultry. Was he too busy looking in your windows to see what kind of electronics, etc. you had? I mean, things happen. Who's to say these inspectors are honest? I am naturally skeptical and want privacy. I don't even like the pizza delivery guy getting a peep inside my door. ugh! - Utility companies do
Posted by Susan on 11/11/2009, 10:49 am, in reply to "I'm with Lisa"
My meter readers come every month to read my meters on the side of my house. It has made me jump a couple of times when I was out by the coops and here they come rounding the corner with clipboard in hand to read the meter. They visit whether I am home or not.
I would imagine the ag inspector does have the right to do so, if he did. As a state official he could get in a lot of trouble otherwise I would think, and certainly not leave his card. I would think it would be a nice courtesy, tho, if they could send a postcard or voice mail beforehand. - Also the property tax assessor does
Posted by K on 11/11/2009, 11:42 am, in reply to "Utility companies do"
and if the police were chasing a criminal they would have the right to apprehend him/her on a homeowner's property.
If the animal inspector sent a postcard it would be an invitation to clean up a neglectful situation for the sake of appearances.
- I think our tax assessor drives by
Posted by Susan on 11/11/2009, 8:35 pm, in reply to "Also the property tax assessor does"
I don't think they get out of their car. They keep seeing the new out building and they say "Cha-Ching!".
I suppose it depends on the ag guy's visit. If he is just assessing, a heads-up would be in order. If he is trying to bust you, then no, I suppose he will just show up...
- Re: I'm with Lisa
Posted by Shelby from Pa on 11/11/2009, 11:57 am, in reply to "I'm with Lisa"
I've locked horns with the phone company as well as the electric company. Try to make it short. I rented an office space in a strip mall. A competitor moved in upstairs (not legal but it happened). They placed their mailbox aside ours. I know about listen in devices we hand wrote notes to one another. We had a common dumpster. I carried every scrap of paper home. On Good Friday I got a call from Red Lion Post Office don't put your outgoing mail in whatever box. Red Lion is 30 miles east of my normal travel path. Odd! I thought it funny at first then Hey this is gov. Called they had 3 trays of mail with our return address on it and we didn't mail it. I called Janet Reno, the state Attorney General - I could not have even one piece of mail it was "in the system". It was h***
They tapped our phone line, knew where I was. The phone company is only responsible for the wire to the building. The police did summon them to come in. I had to stay in those conditions because of a lease. Ha they can enforce law against me but not for me.
I had the phones go into a switcher and remote call our other office under a different phone company. Even then they still knew where I was.
Last year the electric company waltzed in here, took the meter off the house which shut down "everything" without notice. Guaranteed if my dogs would have gone out there, if I would have seen a person messing with my wiring I would have dropped him. I'm a bit touchy about it.
Fortunately when it happened I raced outside via the front door and saw a truck with the name on it. Read that guy the riot act and even after filing a complaint with the electric company. Upon discovery two months later they had to come back and replace the meter again this time changing it back to time and day as it was in the first place. Apparently they attempted sneak one past me. On the 2nd visit duplicate of the first: They never gave notice, didn't come in, no knock or door bell.
Yea they walk around like they own the place. So far no ag inspectors. My grandma met them at the end of the lane with a double barrel shot gun. - NAIS related??
Posted by laura on 11/11/2009, 12:07 pm, in reply to "I was at work"
confused...I thought your state was among the first to shoot that down. - I also have issue with privacy and land rights
Posted by BigBird on 11/11/2009, 5:23 pm, in reply to "I was at work"
With the Utility companies we give them our permission to read their meters in our yards monthly. And they do possess urility easements as well to make line repairs etc.
Thats fine
And around here the meter reader are all well uniformed and badged. If they are not I, too, would shoooo them off thru various means.
Other agencies/persons??
If I see em they get the large heavy breed dog greeting along with a very mean "what the F you doing hello." and of course I have the ithaca right next to the door if the answer is bad.
Cops better have the search warrant and a badge.
persons with a purpose need permission to waltz around my yard and they can schedule a visit the proper way!
all others should be afraid.
