Orinda's Goats R Us Owner Gives Company's Side Of Neglect Accusation

Terri Oyarzun said Tuesday that she and her husband Egon - owners of the Orinda-based Goats R Us business - have been overwhelmed by the media following the deaths of 10 of their animals near the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital site in Oakland on Oct. 2.

The story gained traction, she said, when the Oakland Animal Control invited Channel 7 to its offices Monday.

"It was devastating when we saw the broadcast," she said, "because we love our animals.  It was sensationalism."

Goats R Us, the company she co-owns with her husband, has been in business for 20 years.

"We've enjoyed a 20 year run with no problems because we actually love our goats," Oyarzun said. "We don't kill them or sell them or 'cull'  them — which is just a nice term some use for 'kill'— we don't do that."

Although her husband and a herder, 40-year-old Wilfredo Felix, have been ordered to stand trial in connection with the animal's deaths, Oyarzun said they will be vindicated.

"What happened with these goats was they didn't get that care," she said.  "Out of a herd of 700 goats, there were 50 separated for extra care. They were senior goats, weanlings and rescue goats, which are goats another producer didn't want, and we adopted them."

Oyarzun talked of the animals she and her husband have sent into retirement, of providing medical treatment and hospice care for her animals.  When the goats are near death, she said, her husband prefers to be with them until the end.

"With these 10 goats, some of them were seniors, and five of them were young ones with parasites. We had a newer employee, Wilfredo Felix, who was in charge of them. He had two years prior experience, came recommended and had seven weeks training with us.  He seemed perfect, but he didn't follow protocol, he didn't notify us of a problem."

Oyarzun said she isn't sure why Felix didn't recognize that medications for the parasites were not working, or why the senior goats, close to the ends of their lives, were losing weight.

"Old age looks a lot like starvation, and that's what started the malnourishment charges," she said.  "I can't say more than that because I really don't know why he didn't know and didn't tell us."

What is most difficult for her to accept is the sudden transformation of Goats R Us from a much-heralded, animal-protective agricultural company into neglectful villains.  

"All of our shepherds are A-type men.  The only thing that helps us through this is that people are sending us messages, saying, 'We're here for you. We know you love your goats.' "

Oyarzun explained that she'd like to say more about her animals, but had to leave to care for an uncle, who has Alzheimer's and doesn't understand the recent fuss.

"You see?" she said.  "That what I do.  I care for seniors: goats, uncles, I care for them all."