Shaka Dixon, karina Gonzalez and Toxcina King
A seven-page anonymous, untraceable Web site accuses the Pierce College Agriculture and Natural Resources Department of neglecting the animals under its care.
City officials said they have been called out to the farm by anonymous sources, but have not found any signs of neglect or wrong doing.
The 240-acre farm, home to sheep, cows, chickens, goats and horses, opened after World War II to train future farmers.
Today the department is comprised of the following disciplines: animal science; horse and equine science; horticulture and landscaping; and veterinary technology.
“We’re very responsible about what we are doing,” said College President Robert Garber, “This isn’t a backyard petting zoo.”
Judging by the blogs on the Web site, piercefarmwatch.org appears to have been set-up in January.
Although flyers with four-color photos of allegedly sick and injured animals were posted throughout the campus, most students not directly involved in the agriculture program seemed unaware of the Web site.
The seven-page Web site has 23 pictures with captions, of animals allegedly belonging to Pierce.
However, it is not clear that these pictures were taken at Pierce.
In addition, the blogs refer to Flickr Photo Stream, a photo storing service provided by yahoo.com, where 279 pictures are posted, only 29 are identifiable with the Warner Center buildings visible in the background and many of them are not dated.
Charlotte Doctor, dean of academic affairs whose responsibilities include supervising the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, said, “It’s not legal for them to use the Pierce name without the approval of the board of trustees.”
Dick South, chair of the agriculture science department, did not return any of the Roundup’s messages or e-mails.
Doctor said she had never seen the site prior to an interview with a Roundup reporter but did say there was a site before piercefarmwatch.org which was taken down with the help of the attorney for the L. A. Community College District (LACCD).
The Roundup contacted General Counsel Camille A. Goulet who was unable to locate the name or information about the site.
Piercefarmwatch.org does not list the names of those responsible for creating the site.
Nor has anyone been willing to go on record as to who sponsors it.
A Roundup e-mail request for an interview brought this response:
“Please understand that personally identifiable information about contributors who provide text, audio, or video content to Pierce Farm Watch is not available, and in-person or telephone interviews cannot be arranged.”
Meanwhile, two agriculture science students interviewed for this story spoke only on the condition of anonymity, fearing retribution from teachers and administrators.
They said sheep, goats and cows are being inadequately sheltered from the elements, sleeping and eating in their own feces.
Gabriela Lena a city animal services officer, said her department has “not received any recent complaints” regarding Pierce animals.
“What we have received were a lot of false allegations.” said Lena. “We have been to Pierce on many occasions in the past and have seen no evidence of abuse or mistreatment of the animals.”
College President Garber said several anonymous complaints have been forwarded to him from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
He said the school has responded by fixing whatever problems there may have been.
In one particular case, PETA notified him that a pygmy goat had became trapped in some fencing on April 2.
The next day, a photo of a pygmy goat with its head trapped in a fenced appeared on the Web site’s blog along with a videotape recording of the animal in distress.
While the sound recording of the video contains only the sounds of the animal moving about and the faint sound of an emergency vehicle, it appears to be the same goat.
Garber reporter that the animal was freed and the fencing was replaced,
“We have the same strong interest in maintaining the safety, health and well being of our animals.” said Garber, “They are an investment and part of what we offer as an instructional program…so it’s in our best interest that those animals be well cared for.”
Garber said he has asked those in charge of the farm to make its operations transparent and to be in compliance with all applicable laws and codes.
He said he considers the Web site to be a “First Amendment-free speech” issue, but he would like to sit down and talk with whoever is running the site to see if they could work with the department to improve conditions on the farm.
“I’d rather those people would make their views known and stand behind them by putting a face and a name with it so they could be asked questions just like the issues they are raising with us,” he said.
Piercefarmwatch.org’s domain service provider is Domains by Proxy, Inc., (aka domainsbyproxy.com), whose tagline is “your identity is nobody’s business but ours,” is shielding the identity of piercefarmwatch.org’s creator.
In order to take the site down one has to send a letter of cease-and-desist from an attorney to Go Daddy.com, who is domain service provider to Domains by Proxy.
Since Jan 21, 31 blogs have been posted on the Web sites blog with 47 anonymous comments, and 76 pictures.
Out of those 76 pictures only seven are able to be identified as taken at Pierce.
“It’s the kind of thing students taking a critical thinking class would know has no vindication,” Doctor said.
According to Leland Shapiro, pre-veterinary professor and director of the pre-veterinary program, the Web site has affected donations to the program.
“Some people who have wanted to donate to the program looked at the site and they say, ‘Are these people abusing animals?’ ” said Shapiro.
“Across the board donations are up.”
Kathy Zanghi, office manager of the Foundation for Pierce College, said, “I don’t think Shapiro knows what he is talking about.”
Many students in the agricultural department who were willing to go on record said the animals are treated well and that the allegations the Web site makes are false.
Farm employees also agree the allegations are false and misleading.
“Someone who believes in animal rights is a person who believes that animals should not become entertainment or that they shouldn’t be used in zoos,” said Leland Shapiro, pre-veterinary professor and director of the pre-veterinary program.
“An example of someone who believes this is Hitler,” Shapiro said. “He passed a law that criminalized animal research.”
Regina Casey an employee with the Equestrian Education Center said the accusations of alleged abuse are frustrating.
“They could be so destructive with one sentence,” said Casey.