HSMO Animal Cruelty Task Force rescues 131 domestic rabbits and 26 other animals in Franklin County

On February 25, 2010, working in cooperation with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force today is rescuing 157 animals from a property in Franklin County near St. Clair, Missouri. The animals include: 131 domestic rabbits, 3 dogs, 4 cats, 1 guinea pig, 3 baby goats, 5 doves, 7 chickens, 2 pigeons and 1 duck.

All of the animals were living in filthy conditions. The rabbits were housed in raised wire-bottom cages with feces piled up high enough to come through the bottom of the cages. Many of their cages had no shelter from the weather. The dogs and fowl were living outside, also with no shelter and the only sources of water were frozen. The cats, goats and guinea pig, which were inside a home on the property, also were living in extremely filthy conditions. The goats appear to be suffering from an upper respiratory illness.

Aware of a possibly neglectful situation, the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force contacted the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department which conducted an investigation resulting in the Sheriff’s Department serving a warrant to remove the animals.

The rescued rabbits, dogs, cats and guinea pig were taken to the Humane Society of Missouri’s Headquarters shelter in St. Louis City for triage and care. The goats, dove, chickens, pigeons, and duck were be taken to the Humane Society of Missouri’s Longmeadow Rescue Ranch in Union, Mo.

As of March 10, the rabbits are stable after receiving fluids for dehydration. They have been treated for ear mites and other bacterial ear infections. Approximately 25% of them are being treated with systemic antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection. They continue to receive excellent care from Humane Society of Missouri staff and the House Rabbit Society of Missouri.