The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) left hundreds of raccoons to suffer in severely cramped cages in suffocating 100-degree heat at a fur farm, even after inspectors and vets visited and reported the horrendous conditions.
According to the Washington Post, a USDA inspector reported that nearly 300 raccoons at Ruby Fur Farm were being kept in cages piled high in a metal building, enduring heat of 96 degrees and above for at least two days in summer 2017. The inspector said the animals were “panting and drooling” in the humidity and were “in severe heat distress.”
The animals were in such a terrible state, the inspectors promptly seized ten of the raccoons from the horrific conditions, and planned to return to remove the rest.
Image source: Washington Post
However, according to former USDA employees, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue along with senior department officials stepped in, prohibiting the inspectors and vets to remove any more raccoons and demanding that they return the rescued animals to the cruel fur farm.
This move is reportedly representative of Trump and Perdue’s policy regarding animal welfare protection, which leans toward “education” rather than enforcement — placing many animals in g danger with a diminished chance of much-needed rescue.
Image source: Washington Post
“How we treat animals speaks volumes about the values we hold as human beings,” Senator Jeff Merkley said in a statement to The Post. “It’s disturbing that the USDA is cutting back on animal welfare enforcement and going easier on perpetrators of animal cruelty.”
“It feels like your hands are tied behind your back,” explains veterinarian Denise Sofranko, who spent 20 years as an inspector. “You can’t do many things you’re supposed to when it comes to protecting animals. You’re seeing inspectors so frustrated they’re walking out the door.”
The number of animal welfare citations issued by the USDA has fallen markedly since Trump took office, from 4,944 citations in 2016 to 1,716 in 2018, a 65 percent decline.
Sign our petition urging United States Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to enforce laws to protect animals and close Ruby Fur Farm for good.
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I have to say! I am not surprised! The USDA has proved to be worthless! They do nothing to help animal protection rights for animals on factory farms! They always just turn their heads. And allowing meat from China as well as NOT having to state on the packaging where the meat is from! USDA is useless and should be disbanded!
This story is so sick and vile . The USDA is paid with our taxes to save and protect animals not to let them be abused, tortured
and horrifically murdered! save these poor animals now. The whole country is watching to make sure this is stopped now!
Protect animals & stop cruelty!
This insane practice of fur farming must end ASAP!! There is absolutely no reason to kill animals for fur. Technology has the ability to make fake fur!!!! The government needs to shut these hell farms down immediately! Trump and his cronies are the ones who should be put in these facilities – not poor innocent animals! Let the USDA do their job so they can stop this insane abuse!!
How terribly cruel of USDA to not allow vets and inspectors to remove suffering animals. This is heartbreaking.This farm should be closed and owners punished.
How terribly cruel of USDA to not allow vets and inspectors to remove suffering animals. This is heartbreaking.This farm should be closed and owners punished.
This is unacceptable. Raccoons deserve the same right to freedom from abuse. Shut is down NOW!!
USDA is only a small fraction of effect of what it used to be, mostly due to the hate driven maniac in the White House. Both have to be removed and replaced. VOTE!!!!
Those Racoon farmers should be given the same punishment as the way they subject these innocent small animals suffer in vain. This is totally unacceptable & cruel beyond imagination. STOP BREEDING RACOONS ASAP.
Justice to the victims!
This is a horrible and disgusting story and I CAN’T believe that those who are paid to save and protect animals would let this happen to all these poor animals. RIP POOR ANIMALS AND WE THE PUBLIC DEMAND JUSTICE FOR YOUR TREATMENT!!
The USDA has become a violently cruel organization. I dislike them intensely.
They have no conscience and no heart. This is not my government.
The cruelty never stops.
this farm existed long before Trump became president. I’m not saying that he isn’t a bit of an enemy of animals, but, it isn’t ALL his fault ALL the time.
and here I thought the U.S. was civilized.
Abuse of any living creature is a heinous crime! Stop this NOW!
This disgusting abuse MUST stop
The USDA has continually refused to act according to their mission statements. I honestly do not know why these people are in this department and should not receive a salary as they are failing to do their job or even an approximation.
Mr. Perdue, you should be REMOVED from you position for DERELICT OF DUTY. Your DEPARTMENT, AND BANK ACCOUNTS should be AUDITED also. WHY IN GOD’S NAME WOULD YOU SEND THEM BACK?! I hope this goes viral and you and your dept are CLOSELY SCRUTINIZED. I urge you to right this SHAMEFUL TRAVESTY!
America’s animal welfare laws are starting to be no better than some third world countries. Shame on them.
This is horrific abuse and has got to stop.
These people are pat of the PROBLEM,not part of the SOLUTION. Leading by example is what’s required : the people tormenting these animals are BEYOND any type of education. There is no excuse for failing to take action to help the voiceless and powerless.
I hope you pukes that buy fur and support this industry can take a minute and see what is happening. Shame on you. If there is no demand this would not be happening.
Animals are not here for your pleasure and to do what you want with them. Get it through your head you pukes! Stop this now!
USDA, you are a disgrace!!!!
This is just plain sadistic, there is no reason these poor raccoons can not be humanly treated while they are being housed for eventual murder.
Raccoons play their part in their respective ecosystems. To deny them life and reduce them to basic resources in the fur industry cannot be allowed nor acceptable. Their lives should be considered more valuable than their fur.
Raccoons play their part in their respective ecosystems. To deny them life and reduce them to basic resources in the fur industry cannot be allowed nor acceptable. Their lives should be considered more valuable than their fur.
Heartless, evil people.
HANIOUS
STOP the depraved, sadistic cruelty to Animals — SHUT DOWN these unlawful, unconscionably horrific FUR FARMS — there is NO MARKET for Animal Fur.
Do these people have any soul?
No. They don’t. They have had a far-too-long exposure to our Jerk-in-Chief. You don’t need a soul when you’re a heartless neanderthal. Just an ego the size of Godzilla’s butt.