EMERGENCY FARMED ANIMAL RESCUE HELP NEEDED

Last week, Animal Acres received an emergency request for assistance from the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC). Dozens of sheep, goats, pigs and piglets were being warehoused at a private butcher facility without food, water, or basic care in La Puente, CA.

When a humane officer arrived on the scene, he expected to give a citation requiring the animals to be cared for properly - instead what he found compelled him to call in back up for an emergency seizure and relocation of the animals. The owner of the private "back yard" butcher store was selling animals for meat, slaughtering the animals at the premises, and FEEDING BUTCHERED ANIMAL PARTS THAT COULD NOT BE USED FOR HUMAN FOOD BACK TO THE ANIMALS! The sheep and goats were severely emaciated, and there were several pigs with hernias and other ailments. One of the piglets was almost dead from a severe worm infestation, and had to be euthanized immediately. In the words of the investigator on the scene, the conditions were "disgusting."

26 SHEEP AND GOATS, ONE HORSE, AND 18 PIGS AND PIGLETS were taken to three Los Angeles county shelters for emergency care. After several days of rehabilitation, the animals were strong enough to be moved from DACC. THE COUNTY'S MAJOR CASE UNIT CALLED ANIMAL ACRES TO ASSIST, AND ANIMAL ACRES STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PICKED UP ALL OF THE ANIMALS FROM THE COUNTY SHELTERS.

We are currently using our fire evacuation center to house, feed, and provide continued veterinary care for the sheep, goats, and pigs (the horse is at our sanctuary) as we do not have enough rehabilitation housing barns for all the animals at the sanctuary. The evacuation center is a 30 minute drive from Animal Acres, which is putting a strain on our caregiver staff, but it is the only emergency rescue facility option available for us at this time.

DACC's MAJOR CASE UNIT is currently building the case, and expects to file cruelty charges soon. We are grateful to DACC for acting on behalf of these suffering farmed animals, and working with Animal Acres to ensure each and every victim is given a new beginning at Animal Acres. Please join with us to stop farmed animal cruelty and provide safe refuge for abused and neglected farmed animals.

WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP TO PROVIDE CARE FOR ALL OF THE RESCUED ANIMALS. YOU CAN HELP BY...

1. VOLUNTEERING to care for the sanctuary animals and rescued animals residing at our evacuation site. The more people we have to provide daily care for the animals at the sanctuary, the more time we will have to attend to the new rescued animals. Volunteer caregivers are needed 7 days a week, and we ask all volunteers to arrive between 10 -11 a.m. The weather has been getting colder, so please dress warmly for outdoor shelter tasks. No appointment is necessary, but it is helpful to let us know if you are joining us for a day by emailing info@animalacres.org or calling 661-269-5404 and leaving a message on extension 300.

2. DONATING for emergency care costs, including veterinary treatments, food, and housing needs for the animals. The animals will need to be at the evacuation site for at least 60-90 days as they have diseases and parasites that are transmissible to other animals, and we currently do not have enough housing barn space to accommodate all of the animals. THE TOTAL RESCUE COSTS (including transporting animals to permanent, safe adoptive homes when they have fully recovered) WILL BE OVER $20,000. We are now counting on our members to help fund this large rescue effort. If you can help, please click here to make an online donation to our EMERGENCY RESCUE FUND today. Some of the current costs include:

1. Veterinary Treatments - our veterinarian is scheduled to do a complete health check on every animal early next week, and he will also need to perform several neutering and hernia surgeries. We will also be doing parasite treatments on all of the animals. Total - $3,500 to 5,000 estimate.

2. Feed (hay, pig grain, supplements) 60-90 feed supply - $4,600 3. Siding for housing pens and other housing needs - $2,000 (We were not expecting to use the evacuation site for more than a few days and not during winter months. Temperatures at the evacuation site are in the 40's and below in the evening now, and the animals need protection from the cold and wind.) 4. Animal Transportation for rescue and relocation to permanent homes - $3,200

Your support is urgently needed, and greatly appreciated by each and every animal we can save, thanks to caring Animal Acres members like YOU. THANK YOU for coming to our rescue now, so we can continue providing rescue, sanctuary, and hope for suffering farmed animals in need.