A California family has reached a $300,000 settlement with the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office following a legal battle over the seizure and subsequent slaughter of their 9-year-old daughter’s pet goat, Cedar. The agreement marks the resolution of a contentious and highly publicized dispute that began in 2022 when lawmakers drove nearly 500 miles round trip to rescue 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, intending to raise her for auction at the Shasta County District Fair. However, when the time came for Sedir to be sold for meat, the young girl formed a deep bond with the animal and could not bear to part with it. According to court documents, Cedar was seen “sobbing” next to his pen, expressing his pain at the prospect of her being murdered.

Despite the family’s objections, fair 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 cancel the purchase after learning of the girl’s devotion to Cedar. Long even offered to reimburse the fair for the minimal commission from the sale, but the association refused to back down from the offer.

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 later obtained a search warrant for the farm but received the wrong location. Deputies eventually found Cedar at a different farm and captured him without a warrant and took him back to Shasta County, where he was said to have been slaughtered. Details of what happened to Cedar next remain unclear, but reports indicate his meat may have been included in a community barbecue.

Long filed the lawsuit in 2023, arguing that the sheriff’s actions were overreaching and violated his family’s rights. The case attracted significant attention and criticism from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office for what many saw as an overreaction to a minor civil dispute. Animal Improvement Law, which is representing the family, said in a statement that the settlement was “a step towards accountability” but lamented that “unfortunately, this case cannot bring Cedar home.”

The family’s settlement with the sheriff’s office does not settle all aspects of the legal battle. The lawsuit against defendants connected to the Shasta County Fair and related youth program is still ongoing. Meanwhile, the $300,000 payment will be entrusted to Long’s daughter, who is now 11 years old. Despite the financial solution, the emotional toll remains significant. Underlining the pain and trauma experienced by the family, the lawsuit states, “The young girl who raised Cedar lost him, and Cedar lost his life.” The statement was included.

In response to the settlement, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office and the fair association have remained largely silent. The case sparked broader debates about government overreach, the ethical treatment of animals in youth programs, and the limits of law enforcement authority in civil matters. For Long and her daughter, the ordeal surrounding Cedar’s memory and fate is a reminder of a painful chapter that, despite the legal victory, left a lasting scar.

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