Animal Liberation Front activists broke into an Iowa fur farm early on the morning of August 18 and released more than 1,200 mink.
In an e-mail message sent to ALF spokesperson David Barbarash, the group claimed it cut a fence and emptied out animals from five sheds on the Misty Moonlight Mink Ranch, which is near Waverly, Iowa.
Farm owner Becky Demuth told the Associated Press on Monday that about 600 of the animals had been recovered, but that many had already been killed by vehicles and dogs.
In addition to releasing the mink, the ALF destroyed half of the farm’s fences, the mink pens, cut up watering hoses and damaged neighboring soybean fields (see, even the ALF would prefer we eat meat rather than soy!)
“We’re talking thousands of dollars in damage,” Demuth said. “Our family farm has truly been hit in its heart. It’s been a very sad couple of days.”
Barbarash told the Associated Press that releasing the mink gave them “a chance of freedom.” He went on to add,
A percentage will die, there’s no doubt about that. But all of them would die at the hands of the mink farmer if they weren’t released. Outside their cages, they do have a fighting chance of survival.
Yeah, because mink frequently win when taking on large vehicles and predatory animals.
Under Iowa law, anyone arrested for the mink release would face up to 10 years in jail for interfering with an animal enterprise.
Source:
Animal rights group claims they released mink from farm. Associated Press, August 19, 2002.