More than 250 animals, including foxes, coyotes, wolf-dog hybrids and skunks, have been removed from a fur and urine farm in Ashtabula county, Ohio, after they were found in what officials described as “horrific” conditions.
According to a press release from the Humane Society of the United States, Ashtabula county commissioners asked the agency for assistance after the owner of Grand River Fur Exchange died late last month, which they describe as “escalating an already-dire animal welfare crisis on the property”.
“This is one of the most horrific situations I have ever seen – the terror and pain was palpable,” Adam Parascandola, vice-president of the Humane Society of the US animal rescue team, said in a statement.
The Humane Society alleges that the farm was used to raise and slaughter animals for their fur and urine, in addition to selling them as exotic pets.
During an investigation into the property, officials found the animals living in “filthy wire-bottom cages” with “little to no protection from the frigid conditions”. Several animals were missing limbs, ears, tails and other body parts.
According to the press release, veterinarians determined that the animals had likely lost toes due to getting caught in the wire flooring of the cages, and missing limbs were likely caused by various steel-jaw traps found scattered around the property. When investigators first arrived on the scene, they discovered a dying coyote caught in one of the traps.
Many animals were found already deceased covered in snow. Others were starving and severely dehydrated.
“Our team is exposed to immense cruelty in the criminal cases we regularly respond to like dogfighting and severe neglect, yet this stands out both in terms of suffering and because of these fur farming practices,” Parascandola said. “It’s haunting.”
The last of the animals were removed from the property on Saturday. According to the Humane Society, some animals were euthanized because they were critically injured or sick, but over 250 were rescued and taken to wildlife rehabilitation facilities and animal sanctuaries.
West Wildlife Rehab, a nonprofit located in south-west Ohio, confirmed on Facebook that they had taken in some of the rescued animals.
“We are still processing everything we saw and experienced, because it was devastating,” the post reads. “The profound suffering of the animals was almost too much to bear.”
It goes on to say that though the animals are “all traumatized and timid, none have been aggressive”.
West Wildlife also confirmed in a comment under a post that the owner of the fur exchange died of cancer in December.
Wildlife trading has long operated under that radar in America, with this operation offering a rare look inside the world of fur and urine farming in the US. Predator urine is used in hunting, trapping, dog training, and as a wild animal deterrent for gardeners.
