Rancher's Rare Cattle Herd Stolen, Two Left For Dead

FIDDLETOWN (CBS13) - It's been a few weeks and there are still no leads in the case of a rare herd heist in Amador County.

The owner is speaking out only to CBS13 in frustration that no one has come forward. He's outraged someone would steal some of his highland cattle and leave others to die.

An evening on Rick Sanders' Fiddletown ranch is normally quiet, but not this night.

"They herded them on there and loaded them up, about eight young females and left an old female and a steer," Sanders said of the thieves.

The two left behind died of thirst while the others vanished without a trace.

"The eight have disappeared and we have no idea where they went," Sanders said.

And, they have no idea why someone would do this.

"I don't understand. I don't see what the point was," said Pam Hirschel, a director of a nearby local animal sanctuary.

"For all I know they're on a lunch truck some place. That's not what they're made for. Those things are really nice animals. They made good pets, if you will," said Sanders.

Sanders says if they thought about using them for breeding to make a quick buck, it's a mistake.

"They're wrong, because we're the only people in the U.S. who founded a herd here," said Sanders.

Sanders has put up wanted posters in the area, hoping someone would come forward. But, weeks have passed and still nothing.

"Somebody to leave two animals to die of thirst, I have no goodwill for them at all. I would like to see them at least in prison," said Sanders.

Hirschel, director at Shmily Acres Camel Sanctuary, says theft is a big concern for her.

"We are with them all the time. We have a house out there, stay with them, so that decreases the chance of anyone coming out," said Hirschel.

As for Sanders, he just wants answers.

"They're important to me," Sanders said. "They're smart. They're fun to be around, and to think they're in somebody's hamburger someplace really bothers me."

There are fewer than 100 of these cattle in the United States.