01/21/2025
I want to take a moment to address something that has been messaged to our venues and participants of our classes from another goat yoga company. In 2019 I was brought up on seconddegree animal cruelty charges I bought 250 piglets from a commercial farm that came to us with a parasite called coccidiosis. I didn’t know they were sick when they arrived and after the first 24 hours noticing they were losing weight, we were instructed by our veterinarian to start them on a treatment of Corrid. By the second day, we had lost 30 of the piglets we moved them from a farm we rented to our petting zoo where we would be able to give them better care despite treating them. We still lost over half of them when the county vet came out, he said they should have been put down as a result of not putting them down. I was charged with animal cruelty now comes the humane part to put down baby piglets he said they should have been thumped, that is a process where you grab them by the back legs and swing their head into a cinderblock or concrete wall. If you think that is acceptable, then I am guilty as I don’t have the stomach for that. After 3 1/2 years of court delays, I took a plea deal for a misdemeanor just to put it behind me. If I had to do it over again, I would still try to save them. During those 3 1/2 years no animals were taking out of my care and when I asked why they weren’t I was told there wasn’t a reason to as they were in good health and being taken care of.
I want to be clear I’m not saying I’ve never made any mistakes, because I have. However, I have always try to learn from them and do better. At my current farm and while traveling to Brewery’s for goat yoga events, I have never had any issues with the care of the animals and have never had any animals removed from my care Unfortunately sensationalized headlines don’t tell the full story.
Rob, Canton of Grady goat Yoga, a competitor has been messaging or breweries and customers about my past. It has been disheartening to know negativity is being brought into something I love. Goat yoga has been such a wonderful experience for me, and I see firsthand the joy it brings to people and the goats. Rob forced me to stop doing goat yoga near him in 2023 the court case was still dragging on and I felt until it was resolved that it was in the best interest for me and the goats to not do any events around him. If I was the monster, he is telling everyone I am why would it only be an issue when I worked in an area where he services.
For those that think I only do it for the money, I want you to know that couldn’t be further from the truth. I do this because I love the animals and I always have I enjoy sharing the animals with the public and seeing the joy it brings to everyone and the goats in April 20 24 we had two Pitbulls get on our farm and killed 21 of our goats and injured another 18 I spent over 20,000 to treat the 18 goats that are my family. Did I have the money to spend? The answer is no, but I maxed out my credit cards and made sure they got the care they needed, that is not something in animal abuser does.
Our farm is open to the public and anyone is welcome to come see how we take care of our animals, whether at the farm or at one of the brewery events I am always happy to have a conversation about their care. We are required by the department of agriculture to have the goat seen every 30 days for a health certificate. Those certificates are sent to the Department of agriculture before we go anywhere they can track where we are going and where we have been. All of our goats have names (and they know their names) and have different personalities. They are part of our family and will always be whether we do goat yoga or not.
I hope you still come visit us at our farm ( Lazy Day Farm) or at one of our goat yoga events (Zen Hooves) and support us. If you feel you can’t, I completely understand. I just asked that before you make any judgment, you come see the animals and the love and care they receive I am always available for anyone who has questions and would be happy to have that conversation.
Thank you
Dennis Sugar
