The seven sheep from Ina van Lieverloo (73) can stay in their meadow on Mozartlaan in Oss next year. The municipality of orally agreed with their caregiver. That is of course happy with that. “But what will happen after 2026,” she wonders.
Ina and her husband were assigned the place in 2010, when their previous animal meadow was evacuated. Everything went well for years. Even after the death of her husband in 2020, she retained the place. But in January of this year she received a letter from the municipality that the contract had been terminated and that the animals had to leave within two months.
The systems of the municipality were not linked by new privacy legislation, so the accounts remained because the death notice did not end up with the correct department. Ina protested against the rapid evacuation and a delay was granted. But Ina does not want to get rid of the sheep at all.
She finds peace of the animals. “I lost my husband and half a year ago one of my daughters has suddenly died. Then it is nice that you have animals to take care of it. It ensures that I go outside, but also that I can empty my head for a moment.”
After council questions from former politician Henk van Gerven van de SP and reporting from Omroep Brabant, the municipality has contacted Ina van Lieverloo personally. Together they have agreed that she can keep her sheep in the animal meadow until the end of next year. What will happen next is still unclear.
“I proposed to extend the contract until I can no longer take care of the animals, but they still have to meet,” says Ina. “The one who goes over it was then on vacation, so well. I have to see it first. Only when I have it on paper do I have firmness.”
She has hope for a happy ending, but does not dare to cheer. “I need it,” says the 73-year-old. “It’s really an outlet for me to go to the animals. That’s how I process the loss of my husband and daughter.”
“From the municipality they said that if they do well for me, then they have to do well for others. And I understand that. But humanity also plays with it. I am only comfortable when I have the confirmation on paper. But for now I am the pressure of the boiler. I am happy with that, I only hope that I will not get such a letter that I have to get out again in October.”