My animals are better off dead, rather than subject to false rumors.

I thought the article about our farm (Oct. 31) was reasonably accurate and fair. However, I could not get over the inaccurate and distorted comments that appeared on your Web site regarding the article.

It was reported to police and the Maine Department of Agriculture and Animal Welfare that I mistreat, neglect and starve my animals. This spring, the town Animal Control Officer cited me for everything on his little form. It was ridiculous. Each time state authorities came to investigate, each time the complaint was unfounded, distorted or simply untrue. In response to the ACO, the state veterinarian came and found my herd to be average to above-average, in good health and with good living conditions.

Because people can report things anonymously, people felt it was OK to violate “No Trespass” signs posted on my land and even break into our home and barn. Nothing was done to protect me and my family. When I complained to police our gates were being opened, I was told it was doubtful, but that the local police would keep an eye on it.

Nobody but me and my vets know when I called, how often I called, and what the subject of the call or the outcome was about. To those who think they have all the facts, they should take a lesson from your reporter on how to verify those facts, because there are many gross errors with what’s being spread.

On the false-rumor spread at the beginning of summer when I put two of our cows down: One of my cows suffered an accident during breeding; a vet was consulted and the cow was treated. After about two weeks, she was unresponsive to treatment. I was trying to bring myself to put her down when another cow, out in our field, took ill. This animal was purchased two weeks prior from another farm.

One day in question, this animal was fine during morning feed, then around midafternoon someone had called the police to report I was neglecting this sick animal. The ACO ordered me to drag this animal out of public sight, because the public shouldn’t see these things. I refused, because to take a tractor and drag a sick cow across the ground was an inhumane thing to do. I had nothing to hide.

Again, a vet was consulted and treatment was administered. An animal welfare agent was called to investigate, and she urged me to put the first cow down, a decision I had already made. The second cow, after two days of treatment, was also unresponsive, so I decided to put her down that day.

I had no legal or moral obligation to share any of this information with anyone. But rumors were rampant. People want to believe what they want to believe, and don’t care about the facts. They take a thread of a fact and weave a blanket of distortions, lies and fabrications. I believe some town officials had a private agenda in responding the way they did. I applaud those that held the integrity their public positions called for, and stood for what was right.

Do I have a problem when there is heavy rain? Sure. Mostly during what is considered ‘mud season.’ The animals were, however, not in mud during the whole year, not for the last two years. During the rainy season I did the responsible thing and kept them in my ‘heavy use’ area. They had a dry run to get out of the mud. The law allows the heavy use area to ‘muck-up’ because you put heavy animals, water and dirt together and you have mud. The remainder of the time they were in dry pasture. Even though false complaints were made that they were in mud in the pasture, the state animal welfare office has pictures of the animals on dry pasture with dry hooves, healthy and happy.

In Maine, there is the Right to Farm Law. Our rights under this law were violated. If this mess hadn’t drained me financially, I would hire a lawyer right now. To those fanatics who think you the laws, think again. Do some research. You do more harm then good.

My animals are better off being killed, than being subject to this.

Tom Cerulli owns Noah’s Acres farm in North Jay.