Farm Sanctuary Offers Rescue and Refuge for Animals Victimized in Ohio Dairy Farm Cruelty Case

Today, as the nation
continues to express outrage over the vicious and malicious animal
cruelty documented
by undercover video inside the Conklin Dairy Farm in Union County, Ohio,
Farm Sanctuary, the
nation's leading
farm animal protection organization, has contacted local authorities to
offer rehabilitative
care and lifelong refuge for any of the abused cows and calves in need
as a
result of the ongoing investigation. The undercover footage, which was
released
yesterday and obtained over the past several weeks by the animal
protection
group Mercy For Animals, shows workers beating cows in the face with
crowbars,
stabbing them with pitchforks, breaking their tails, and punching,
throwing and
kicking calves- all while bragging and gloating about the abuse.

"Thousands of people are calling for Conklin
Dairy
Farm to be shut down and the animals removed," said Gene Baur, president
and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary. "We have received countless calls from
people all across the country expressing outrage upon viewing this
video, and
calling not only for prosecution of those individuals involved in these
abusive
acts, but also the rescue and refuge of the animals on this farm. We are
equipped to provide protection for abused farm animals and we have
expressed
our willingness to help with local authorities." In a statement issued
yesterday, Baur called the video "an eye-opener to anyone still unsure
of
what all the fuss is about concerning the treatment of farm animals in
Ohio," a reference to the campaign currently underway in the state to
place a measure on the ballot to enact modest reforms and protect farm
animals.

Farm Sanctuary operates the largest rescue
and refuge
network for farm animals in North America through a 175 acre shelter in
New York State
and a 300 acre refuge in northern California,
as well as an extensive Farm Animal
Adoption
Network. Since 1986, the nonprofit organization has rescued
more
than 8,000 animals and found homes for another 2,500 in need. The group
also
works with local law enforcement on farm animal cruelty cases helping to
document conditions of the animals in partnership with local
veterinarians,
provide rehabilitation at their shelters for the most vulnerable animals
in
need, and find permanent placement for seized farm animals.

"Throughout our many years caring for abused
dairy cows
and calves, we've seen firsthand the severe toll such abuse takes on
these
sensitive, gentle beings," said Susie Coston, national shelter director
for Farm Sanctuary. "Fortunately, we've also seen how resilient
their broken bodies and spirits can be when given proper rehabilitative
care
and treated with kindness and respect for the first time in their lives.
On
behalf of our 230,000 members and supporters, and the scores of outraged
citizens
we've been hearing from who have taken up our cause to end cruelty to
farm animals after seeing this video, we hope to see justice and a safe
refuge
for the animals on Conklin's farm."

Citizens are now collecting signatures to
place a measure on
the Ohio
ballot to enact modest reforms and protect farm animals.

If you
would like to speak with Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm
Sanctuary,
a leading supporter of Ohioans For Humane Farms, or Susie Coston,
national
shelter director for Farm Sanctuary, please contact Meredith Turner at
646-369-6212 or mturner@farmsanctuary.org.

Photos of Farm Sanctuary's shelters available
upon
request.