The sun was setting over northeastern Ohio on a below-freezing evening in January as the last animal being rescued from a fur and urine farm, a wolf-dog hybrid, in a warm car, went into labor and soon began giving birth to lively, wiggly pups.
It was a heartwarming conclusion to a rescue operation focused on more than 300 animals at a fur and urine farm just an hour from Cleveland.
This was a deployment that brought our rescue responders face-to-face with appalling suffering. During two grueling weeks, our team helped to rescue foxes, coyotes, wolf-dog hybrids, skunks and raccoons from the site. What they saw was disturbing: animals missing ears, tails and limbs; some languishing in filthy wire-bottom cages in frigid conditions; and some already dead and covered in snow.
Foxes, raccoons, wolf-dog hybrids, skunks, opossums and coyotes were confined in filthy wire-bottom cages with little to no protection from the frigid conditions. More than 250 animals have now been safely relocated from this abysmal operation in Hartsgrove, Ohio, to rehabilitators and sanctuaries.
The animals were being raised for fur, bred for sale as exotic pets, and held for urine farming. (Predator urine is sometimes used in hunting, trapping, dog training, and ironically, as a “humane” wild animal deterrent for gardeners.) The property’s owner had died, and Ashtabula County officials contacted us for support.
Day after day, our rescue team members persevered through bone-chilling conditions and inches of snow, to provide necessary care and attention. Veterinarians evaluated the animals, noting tumors, suspected pregnancies, renal failure and severe wounds from steel-jaw leghold traps (some had been trapped and brought to the facility) and the extreme conditions of confinement. The response team worked in cooperation with wildlife rehabilitation specialists and local authorities to organize transport for the survivors. For some, sadly, the kindest option was humane euthanasia.
Even for seasoned responders, this was a tough assignment. “By that last day, there was such a sense of quiet on the property,” said Gaia Bonini, senior specialist for international disaster response. “I had this moment where it really hit me—the hundreds of animals who had suffered and died there over decades.”
The wolf-dog hybrid’s mate had already gone to the Indiana Coyote Rescue Center earlier that day. Kelly Donithan, our director of animal disaster response, had been hoping she wouldn't go into labor until she was safely in the care of the sanctuary.
However, as they prepared to drive away from the property, the responders realized that she was in labor.
She gave birth to her first two pups quickly but became increasingly distressed as her labor appeared to stall. Kelly took her and the pups to a veterinary clinic and stayed by her side with clinic staff members until after midnight. The following morning, with three happy and healthy pups tucked cozily at her belly, the new mother’s journey to sanctuary resumed.
“I like to think she finally felt safe,” said Gaia. “It’s kind of like she got out of the cold and into a heated car and thought, ‘Well, it’s time! This is my delivery suite!’”
Gaia Bonini/Humane World for Animals
We were so glad to hear that in the weeks since her arrival at the sanctuary the mother has been caring for her pups, and they are all doing well. We were grateful to be able to help with this case, and we’ll continue to fight for permanent change so that other animals will never have to endure this kind of mistreatment, which is sadly not unique. The fur industry is on its way out, and we hope you’ll join us in helping shut the door on it for good.
For now, this lucky canine family is a beautiful reminder of the good we can accomplish. Once condemned to suffer for one of the many products of animal exploitation we can easily do without, they’re now enjoying the happy lives we want for every animal.
