Injured, sick animals removed from slaughterhouse
Watsonville, CA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, May 1, 2008
County: Santa Cruz
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Efrain Toledo
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
County Animal Services officers removed more than a dozen injured, sick and underweight livestock from the county's only slaughterhouse Thursday afternoon and said they plan to contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday to inspect the facility.
Animal Services supervisor Todd Stosuy, who initiated the investigation, said he was unsure if the animals' ailments would pose a risk to humans consuming meat products derived from the livestock, but said some of the animals could have died of malnutrition, hoof rot or blood loss without intervention.
"Even though these animals were in line to be slaughtered, they need medical attention, they need proper food and they need proper care," Stosuy said.
Stosuy said he was alerted to the issues at the Lee Road facility, which is both a feedlot and a slaughterhouse, when he saw an injured cow from the road. The cow's horn was squirting blood, as if an artery had ruptured, he said.
He also found a dozen goats in need of medical attention - they were underweight, coughing and some had overgrown hooves - and a malnourished sheep.
The livestock were living in a barren field and Stosuy said he saw no oats or grains, only some hay for them to eat.
"It's appears the majority of them were eating tortillas and taco shells," he said.
There were also two rabbits that were being improperly fed; their main food source was bread.
The 16 animals were confiscated from the unidentified owner, and Animal Services officers are considering animal neglect charges in addition to fines the owner will have to pay for the animals' veterinary care and boarding costs.
The slaughterhouse, which advertises through fliers around town, apparently kills and dresses out livestock for people who come to the facility and select an animal. The meat is not individually packaged for sale at local grocery stores. It's unclear if the business is licensed, but several local agriculture officials said it likely would need to be certified by USDA.
Agriculture officials, including members of the county farm bureau and the former agriculture commissioner, also said they were unaware a slaughterhouse was operating there and did not know who the owner was.
The slaughterhouse owner purchased some of the animals at an area livestock auction and others were bred on-site, according to Stosuy.
Animal Services officers left the majority of the livestock - three cows, 50 pigs, 35 goats, 10 sheep and about 20 chickens - at the feedlot because they did not appear to be sick or injured.
"There were healthy animals there," Stosuy said. "I think it was improper husbandry on this gentleman's part."
Stosuy explained that the level of care required for livestock destined for slaughter is no different than for a pet, like the family dog.
"The owner, he was very apologetic. He stated he wasn't aware that these animals needed to be treated humanely," Stosuy said. "These animals are sentient beings... and require proper care."
No one answered at the phone number associated with the address where the animals were confiscated. Stosuy declined to identify the owner or the business and records searches failed to turn up a name for the business.
Animal Services officers removed the 16 ailing animals Thursday afternoon. The livestock were relocated to a pasture behind the former Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals site on Seventh Avenue and the rabbits were taken to the Animal Services shelter in Scotts Valley. Stosuy has been in contact with two rescue groups in hopes of finding permanent homes for the animals.
"I'm hoping these two other agencies can help us place these animals in loving forever homes," he said.
Case UpdatesCounty animal control officers removed more ailing animals from the Toledo Harkins Slough Ranch and cited the slaughterhouse owner for three misdemeanors on Saturday.
An ill sheep and eight sick goats were confiscated, as well as four healthy baby goats that needed to remain with their mothers, according to Animal Services supervisor Todd Stosuy.
State agriculture officials said Friday there was not an imminent food-safety concern at the slaughterhouse. There are still about 70 healthy livestock at the property and the business has not been closed.
Stosuy said officers returned to the Lee Road facility on Saturday to look for additional ill livestock because a local vet who examined the 16 animals taken from the slaughterhouse Thursday said the 12 goats, sheep, cow and two rabbits already in Animal Services custody were worse off than initially thought. The livestock taken Saturday all had respiratory infections and were emaciated, according to Stosuy.
The slaughterhouse owner, Efrain Toledo, was cited for having a non-ambulatory animal at a slaughterhouse, failing to provide vet care and depriving an animal of food and water.
Stosuy said Toledo is cooperating with the investigation, which is being conducted by Animal Services and the state. | Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel - May 4, 2008
Update posted on May 4, 2008 - 1:02PM |
References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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