Thieves make off with family's essential Nubian goats

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http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/227297

Thieves make off with family's essential Nubian goats

By is Huicochea

arizona daily star

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 02.28.2008

Burglars got more than just power tools when they targeted a family's

South Side home.

The thieves walked away Saturday morning with the family's cherished

Nubian goats, Ruby and Sabel.

Homeowner Viola said the two goats provided milk to her

special-needs daughter, Elena, 22, who suffers from cerebral palsy and

began drinking goat's milk at age 5.

" She was tiny — about 22 pounds, and all she would eat was

oatmeal, " said. " So someone recommended that we get raw

milk because it has enzymes that are usually killed when milk is

pasteurized and it would help her. "

So the family went to a fair and saw goats and decided to give it a try,

said.

" Once she started drinking it, she started to grow and gain weight

and her health completely changed, " she said. " It's become one

of her staples, and we feel it's gotten her to where she is today. "

The s have been able to cook with the milk, introducing their

daughter to new foods.

So when learned that the Nubian goats — whom the family refers to

as " the girls " — were gone, she was confused as to why anyone

would do such a thing.

" At first it was funny — even the officer chuckled when we told him

— because it's like, who would take them? " said.

" But by Sunday we were mad because it's hard to believe that someone

would be so mean. Most people around here know us and Elena, and know

that's why we have them. "

Ruby weighs about 180 pounds, Sabel about 150 pounds, said. Ruby

was purchased about four years ago, and Sabel was purchased about six

years ago.

Nubian goats cost a couple of hundred dollars each, said. A Tucson

woman has donated a Nubian goat to the family after hearing what

happened, something the family is grateful for, said.

" We think that whoever took the goats wanted to sell them for meat,

and if they did, I hope that whatever they did was quick, "

said.

" If they haven't hurt them we hope that they are being cared for,

and we'd love to have them back. "

Tucson police are investigating the burglary, which occurred near South

12th Avenue and West Irvington Road. No arrests have been made.

Contact reporter is Huicochea at 629-9412 or at

ahuicochea@....

Don Neeper

Senior Software Engineer

SofTechnics, a METTLER TOLEDO Company

dneeper@...

don.neeper@...

http://www.OhioRawMilk.info/dneeper