SIDNEY, Maine — A local farmer with a history of letting his animals run loose has been charged by the town’s animal control officer.
Mark Gould, the same man whose goats wandered off his Drummond Road property and onto Interstate 95 in 2011, is facing a charge of animal trespassing, a civil violation, said Sidney Animal Control Officer Chris Martinez.
Martinez said Thursday cows owned by Gould were reported to be running at large on Feb. 28, Feb. 29 and March 1, and Gould was summoned on March 7, Martinez said.
The officer said Gould does not have a fence for animals on his property. The animals wind up going to the property of another farmer across the street and eating hay the other man feeds to his animals, Martinez said.
“That farmer has stated several times he does not want the animals on his property,” Martinez said.
In addition to goats wandering onto the interstate in 2011, 28 animals were seized from Gould’s property last summer.
Martinez fears it’s only a matter of time before a motorist winds up striking a farm animal wandering in the road.
“I’ve communicated that to [Gould] several times but unfortunately he does not want to take that into consideration,” said Martinez.
Gould was summoned to appear in court in May. He could be fined as much as $2,500.
