Animal sale: Mendocino menagerie sparks Internet interest

Faced with 145 unwanted feathered, furred and hoofed farm animals, Mendocino County Animal Control administrator Bliss Fisher did what anyone with a garage full of discards would do, she took out an online advertisement.

In less time than it would have taken to sing “Old MacDonald had a farm,” the calls began.

“I fielded over 100 phone calls in three days,” said Fisher, who placed the Internet ad on Friday. “It was pretty incredible.”

The six llamas generated the most calls, followed by six dozen chickens. But there are still animals that need homes, and not everyone who called was qualified to take the animals they sought.

“I'd ask them, do you know anything about llamas and they'd say, ‘No, but I think they're so cool,'” Fisher said.

The animals reside on a Mendocino Coast ranch near the small town of Elk that was offered at a foreclosure auction last week but did not sell.

Tim Jones, the ranch's caretaker, first took in a few unwanted animals about five years ago, said former Mendocino County Supervisor Norman deVall, who helps manage the ranch on a volunteer basis.

“As the recession came in, more and more people could not care for their animals,” he said.

The menagerie grew to include more than six dozen chickens, four turkeys, six llamas, four horses, 16 sheep and more than 30 goats.

The former owner, from San Diego, was surprised to learn her property had turned into an animal sanctuary, said David Canterman, of San Diego-based Lantzman Investments, the mortgage holder and new owner.

DeVall said she had given permission for the first few, but then dropped out of communication for more than two years.

The animals must leave their sanctuary before the property sells, but Canterman said he does not want to rush the process.

I'm an animal person,” Canterman said. “We have time.”

The ranch's asking price is about $1.4 million, he said.

While interest in the animals has been high, especially for the llamas and horses, many remain unclaimed.

Jones said he still needs homes for at least 20 roosters and 30 goats. He said he'll know more after the weekend, when several people have promised to come and pick up animals.

Anyone interested in adopting an animal should call Jones after dark at 877-1756.