A California family has secured a $300,000 settlement after a legal battle with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, stemming from the seizure and subsequent slaughter of their 9-year-old daughter's pet goat, Cedar. The settlement marks the resolution of a contentious and highly publicized dispute that began in 2022, when deputies traveled nearly 500 miles roundtrip to recover the goat on behalf of a state fair's livestock auction rules.
The saga began when Jessica Long purchased Cedar for her daughter through a youth development program, with the intention of raising him for auction at the Shasta County District Fair. However, as the time came for Cedar to be sold for meat, the young girl formed a deep bond with the animal and could not bear to part with him. According to court documents, she was seen "sobbing" next to Cedar's pen, expressing her anguish over the prospect of his slaughter.
Despite the family's pleas, the fair's officials refused to remove Cedar from the auction, citing regulations that were later found to have no binding legal authority. The goat was sold to California State Senator Brian Dahle, who offered to nullify the purchase after learning of the girl's attachment to Cedar. Long even proposed reimbursing the fair for its minimal commission from the sale, but the association refused to relent.
In a desperate attempt to save Cedar, Long transported him to a farm 200 miles away in Sonoma County. The Shasta County Sheriff's Office then obtained a search warrant for the farm, only to arrive at the wrong location. Deputies ultimately located Cedar at a different farm and seized him without a warrant, driving him back to Shasta County where he was reportedly slaughtered. The details of what happened to Cedar afterward remain murky, but reports indicate that his meat may have been included in a community barbecue.
Long filed a lawsuit in 2023, arguing that the sheriff's actions constituted an overreach and a violation of her family's rights. The case attracted significant public attention and criticism of the Shasta County Sheriff's Office for what many saw as an excessive response to a minor civil dispute. In a statement, Advancing Law for Animals, which represented the family, said the settlement was "a step toward accountability" but lamented that "unfortunately, this litigation cannot bring Cedar home."
The family's settlement with the sheriff's office does not conclude all aspects of the legal battle. Litigation is still ongoing with defendants tied to the Shasta District Fair and the associated youth program. In the meantime, the $300,000 settlement will be placed in a trust for Long's daughter, who is now 11. Despite the financial resolution, the emotional toll remains significant. "The young girl who raised Cedar lost him, and Cedar lost his life," the lawsuit read, underscoring the lingering grief and trauma experienced by the family.
In response to the settlement, the Shasta County Sheriff's Office and the fair association have remained largely silent. The case has ignited broader discussions about government overreach, the ethical treatment of animals involved in youth programs, and the limits of law enforcement authority in civil matters. For Long and her daughter, the memory of Cedar and the ordeal surrounding his fate are reminders of a painful chapter that, despite the legal victory, leaves a lasting scar.
