Appeal for return of animals taken from smallholding in South Baddesley

A smallholder is appealing for the return of a goat, five turkeys, six guinea fowl and two chickens which were stolen.

Mandie Pidgley says her family are “devastated” by the theft of what she says were “family pets” from a field near South Baddlesley Church on Saturday night, or in the early hours of Sunday morning.

She said: “We shut the chickens away at 7pm; they have free range during day but are shut away in their shed every night. We also fed the pygmy goats Coco and Arlo, who are kept in a fenced off area of the field next to poultry.

“My husband Shaun went over at 7.30am on Sunday morning and discovered the chicken shed wide open with only the two small bantam chickens and one guinea fowl left. Coco the female goat was also out of her paddock and in the main field, and Arlo the male missing - his collar was on the floor.”

Mandie said the field has a main gate which is padlocked but neither had been tampered with, and the paddock gate to the goats was also still locked.

She said: “Our assumption is that the thieves accessed the fields and shed by the fences from the road.

“Arlo is very nervous, especially with strangers, so I find it strange he was taken over the female as she’s very friendly.”

Mandie is now appealing for anyone with information about the theft or who spots the animals for sale to get in touch with either her via Facebook, or with the police.

She said: “Goats should not be kept alone, they need company, which makes this more distressing as Coco is now pining for him; he may be alone and he adores Coco and follows her everywhere.

“We as a family are devastated by this theft. We have worked hard to build this flock up and the animals were enjoyed by all our family and their children – especially our seven-year-old grandson who we haven’t told they have been stolen. We don’t want him to think his little farm isn’t a safe place.

“We spent all Sunday and Sunday night out searching and will be again today.”