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Dozens of sheep, goats and pigs being rescued from Washington County property

News

November 23rd, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Dozens of farm animals are being rescued from a property in southeast Iowa. Tom Colvin is the C-E-O of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. “It’s an evolving situation quite frankly at this point,” Colvin says. Three dozen adult pigs were brought to Colvin’s facility in central Iowa last (Tuesday) night. Rescue teams are back at the property in Washington County today (Wednesday) and Colvin expects dozens more animals to be removed.

“Basically what we found upon arriving was that there were sheep, goats and pigs living in terrible conditions, along with dead animals,” Colvin says. “…The animals had no adequate food or water.” Colvin says while the Animal Rescue League is often associated with retrieving malnourished and mistreated dogs and cats, the organization is prepared for all animals.

“We take the name ‘Animal’ in our name literally,” Colvin says. “We have evertying you can imagine come to the Animal Rescue League, including farm animals. As I often say, we receive everything from hamsters to horses and everything in between.” The Animal Rescue League and the Iowa Farm Sanctuary in Oxford are handling the rescues. Some of the animals found alive at the property in Washington County are in critical condition, according to a statement from the Iowa Farm Sanctuary.

Colvin says beyond the lack of food and water, the animals did not have adequate shelter from winter temperatures.