Take Action for 1,000 Pigs Starved to Death

FROM  Animal Law Coalition

ACTION

Please call on the Fulton County District Attorney to prosecute the owner to the fullest extent of the law for the egregious crime of shutting 1,000 pigs in a barn and allowing them to starve to death. These animals suffered terribly before they finally died.

Contact the realtor and let her know that starving animals to death is not "very normal," that it is animal cruelty that must be prosecuted.

Sign an online petition

And/Or make direct contact:

Fulton County District Attorney Travis L. Kendall
126 North 2nd Street
McConnellsburg, PA 17233
phone (717) 485-5419
email

Realtor Rebecca A. Glesner
fax  (301) 416-8452
Office Number 1 (301) 797-2300 X 8318
Office Number 2 (301) 992-2481
website email form

INFORMATION / TALKING POINTS

Nearly 1,000 pigs were found dead on a Pennsylvania farm; they were shut in barns, left to starve.

A realtor trying to sell the place described this as a “very normal” situation. But there is nothing normal about animal cruelty.

Please call on the Fulton County District Attorney to prosecute the owner to the fullest extent of the law for this egregious crime. These animals suffered terribly before they finally died.

Nearly 1,000 pigs, shut in barns, were left to starve and probably had no water. The owner of the property in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, Daniel Clark, was last there in August. His wife, Kerron Clark, left in 2008.

The bodies of the pigs estimated to have died in the last several months were found still inside the barns for the most part. Humane officer Dennis Bumbaugh described the situation as "horrible". He said the pigs "struggled" and "fought" to get out. These intelligent animals suffered terribly.

The property has been listed for sale, and Realtor Rebecca A. Glesner is reported to have said the barn full of dead pigs is "very normal" and not likely to affect the property value. Or her commission.

It is illegal in Pennsylvania to "wantonly or cruelly ill treat[],... or neglect[] any animal ...or abandon[] any animal, or deprives any animal of necessary sustenance, drink". 18 Pa.C.S. § 5511 Like many states, this law does not apply to "normal agricultural operations". Farm animals have few legal protections. And a violation is only a summary offense punishable by a fine of $50 to $750 or jail for not more than 90 days, or both.

There is nothing "normal" about this, and nearly 1,000 counts of animal cruelty could mean justice for these animals.

Thank you for everything you do for animals!