27 indicted in largest animal cruelty case in New England

[TexasTowelie]

The owner of a Westport farm and 26 tenants that rent out space on the property have been charged with mistreating more than 1,400 animals, in what authorities are calling the largest animal cruelty case in New England.

Attorney General Maura Healey said a grand jury handed up the 151-count indictment on Thursday after investigators presented evidence that the animals – including dogs, cats, chickens, horses and cows - were found in overcrowded, dangerous living conditions, often without enough food or water.

Some of the animals were housed with carcasses and others were kept in such deep manure that their hooves had rotted off, and they were suffering from painful eye, intestinal and skin ailments, Healey’s office said. Some had to be euthanized.

“This situation is unparalleled to anything I’ve seen in my 37 years as an animal law enforcement officer,” Lieutenant Alan Borgal of the Animal Rescue League of Boston said in a statement released by Healey’s office. “The sheer number of animals in dire need of care, and the cruel and unsanitary conditions we found were deplorable. It took an all-out effort of state and local officials along with multiple humane organizations to get all of those animals out of that horrible situation.”

Read more: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/03/31/indicted-westport-farm-animal-cruelty-case/Hl4uT0LJkJH9XwhaqNg2fM/story.html

[democrank]

1. So disturbing

I wish so much that states would rethink their animal cruelty statutes and toughen the penalties. I know of a couple of states that are doing that, but it should be a nationwide effort.

In my opinion, animal cruelty should be a felony.

[Phoenix61]

2. Absolutely!

If your heart is so hardened you would treat a helpless animal that way your half a step away from treating your fellow human the same way.

[Warpy]

3. It looks like Medeiros rented out mini farm 2-3 acre plots and a bunch of people

who liked the idea of being farmers but had no idea of the daily care both large and small animals require rented those plots, building jerrybuilt structures but never mucking them out or doing any other routine care.

This is just really, really sad in so many ways. Amateur farmers who aren't motivated to pick stalls or shovel out barns should stick to reading about it and maybe having a garden in the back yard.

[democrank]

4. It takes a special kind of "amateur farmer" to let an animal stand in manure so long that

their hooves rot off.

[Warpy]

5. No shit, like somebody who mucked out a few times,

throwing up into the bushes each time, and decided to leave the animals to be "natural."

Yes, I've met a few cretins like that, but not quite to this extent.