A long-running argument over a shared fence line in rural Wisconsin turned into one of the more disturbing animal cruelty cases of the year. Farmer Dean Ress discovered 13 of his goats dead in October 2024 in Marathon County, Wisconsin. Some had been shot, including in the head and hips. Others had been run over with a four-wheeler. Investigators say his neighbor, Eric Seelow, admitted in August to taking a rifle, shooting one goat, and using an ATV on others that crossed onto his property.
The dispute centered on a shared fence both men blamed the other for maintaining. Deputies noted that this kind of property disagreement is normally a civil matter, since law enforcement doesn’t have the authority to decide which section of fence belongs to whom. Seelow told deputies he felt compelled to “confess his sins” after speaking with his pastor. Ress says the emotional toll has stretched across two years. Deputies say they have enough evidence to charge Seelow in four of the deaths, and he faces felony and misdemeanor charges with an initial appearance scheduled for Nov. 18. If convicted, he could face up to 14 years in prison.
Cases like this raise a difficult question for anyone who owns property, whether it’s acres in Wisconsin or a shared fence here on the Suncoast after a storm. When does a neighbor dispute stop being a conversation and start being a call to authorities? Have you ever dealt with a property line disagreement? Tell us how you handled it in the comments.
