‘Horrific situation’ at Ohio fur farm as foxes, raccoons, wolf-dog hybrids rescued. Where are they now?
Foxes, raccoons, wolf-dog hybrids, skunks, opossums and coyotes were found neglected at and rescued from a fur and urine farm near Cleveland, Ohio, according to The Humane Society of the United States.
The owner of the farm, the Grand River Fur Exchange, died in late December 2024, leaving hundreds of animals neglected in frigid temperatures and snow with little to no protection. The operation, conducted by the Humane Society of the United States and Ohio authorities to remove the animals, concluded on Jan 25, 2025.
Ohio fur farm east of Cleveland held animals for fur, urine, exotic pet trade
You might be surprised to find these wild animals on a farm like this.
They were being raised and slaughtered for their fur, bred for sale as exotic pets, and held captive for urine farming, which is used for hunting, trapping, dog training, and wild animal deterrents.
Rescuers saw ‘one of the most horrific situations’ at fur farm
The animals, including foxes, raccoons, wolf-dog hybrids, skunks, opossums and coyotes, were found neglected after the owner of the farm died in December 2024.
Some of the animals were found dead or severely malnourished. Many of them had missing toes, ears, tails and limbs, likely due to the cages’ wire flooring and steel-jaw leg hold traps found around the property.
Leg-hold traps can cause serious physical damage to an animal, including lacerations, muscle damage, and nerve damage that could potentially lead to paralysis. Animals caught in leg-hold traps may self-mutilate and inadvertently cause more damage as they try to escape, according to the Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey.
“This is one of the most horrific situations I have ever seen—the terror and pain were palpable. 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 these fur farming practices are legal. It’s haunting.”
Adam Parascandola, vice president of the Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Rescue Team
How many animals were rescued? Where did the animals go?
More than 250 animals were rescued and relocated with wildlife rehabbers and sanctuaries. A non-profit called Red Riding Hood Rescue in Middletown, Ohio, accepted a few of the rescue wolf dogs, according to WLWT.
However, some of the animals were humanely euthanized due to their severe illnesses and injuries.
Are there regulations for animals farmed for their fur and other items?
According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are no federal regulations governing the welfare, care, or slaughter of animals raised for their fur in the United States.
However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the licensing and inspection of businesses that breed wild animals for pet sales, including wolf hybrids and skunks.
Ohio has no laws or standards regarding the treatment of fur farms and the slaughter process, according to the Humane Society.
New York is the only state that has banned anal and genital electrocution of foxes, having the only state-level law on fur farm welfare, the Humane Society reports.
Was the Grand River Fur Exchange allowed to do these practices on animals?
The Grand River Fur Exchange holds a license from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, per the Humane Society.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture fined the owner and barred them from breeding and selling wild animals in 2011. However, the owners continued breeding anyway without any further enforcement actions, per the Humane Society.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Foxes, raccoons among 250 animals rescued from Ohio farm. Where they are now?
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