When park board chair Constance Barnes received a phone call from park board general manager Malcolm Bromley Monday morning, it was the message shed hoped for.
Constance, Ive got the goat, he told her.
According to Barnes who spoke to the Courier Monday afternoon, Bromley headed out to a small Langley hobby farm Monday morning to seize any goats from the former Stanley Park petting zoo still on the property, which is owned by farmer Trevor French. The park board believes most of the pygmy and dwarf goats retired from the Stanley Park Farmyard and petting zoo and relocated to Frenchs farm last January were sold at a Langley auction for slaughter. French did not return phone calls by the Couriers print deadline.
Vancouver Sun reporter Jeff Lee broke the story about the fate of the goats over the weekend. Barnes said until the story appeared she had no idea anything was wrong. She said park board deputy general manager Peter Kuran attempted to visit the farm Sunday, but the gates were locked. Bromley returned Monday with a former employee of the Stanley Park Farmyard who identified one of four goats left at Frenchs farm as 12-year-old Tryka.
Malcolm told the farmer he was taking the goat, so he didnt give it up voluntarily, said Barnes. He had no choice.
Bromley and the employee put Tryka in their van, picked up two bags of goat kibble along the way, and returned her to Stanley Park, where shes being housed in the wildlife hospital until a new home can be found. The hospital cares for injured wildlife, such as raccoons and swans, found in the park.
The Courier visited Tryka not long after the black, white and brown goat arrived back in Stanley Park. Seeming nonplussed about her recent close call, an obviously pregnant Tryka charmed reporters and photographers as she responded curiously to their attention. Tryka is due to give birth March 5, after which shell be placed at a new home. French took 17 goats and four sheep from the Stanley Park petting zoo last January through an agreement with the park board when the popular attraction closed. To date, only Tryka has been accounted for among the goats.
According to Barnes, French began disposing of the goats not long after the park board made a followup visit to the farm three months after the animals were placed. Barnes is incensed with the turn of events and said park board staff worked hard to monitor the 13 farms that adopted the animals and birds that once lived at the park farmyard. She said French signed a contract that detailed his obligations and restrictions upon agreeing to adopt the animals.
There was a whole list of things he had to agree to, including that they wouldnt be sold for meat, said Barnes. He wasnt even supposed to take them to the vet without letting us know.
Barnes said if French wanted to sell the goats for financial reasons, the park board would have relocated the animals. She noted the boards legal team will pursue a breach of contract suit against French.
He needs to be held accountable, said Barnes. This is almost as bad as the Whistler sled dogs. Im outraged.
sthomas@vancourier.com
Twitter: @sthomas10
