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Animals find peace at farm

Sanctuary cares for abused, neglected creatures and hopes state will improve anti-cruelty laws

By Connie Bloom
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Monday, Apr 07, 2008

Annette Fisher found her calling in 2001, when she discovered a potbellied pig that was frozen to the ground and would die unless someone helped.

Eight years later, she's running Ohio's only sanctuary for farm animals — Ravenna's Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary, which became the permanent home of Janice the potbellied pig, its honorary founder, until her recent death.

The nonprofit all-volunteer haven for countless abused, abandoned and neglected farm creatures — goats, pigs, horses, sheep, cows, cattle, birds — is networked with agencies of like-minded individuals across the country. The sanctuary has raised the compassion profile of Ohio, which has the reputation of having the weakest animal cruelty laws in the country.

Happy Trails works in cooperation with county humane societies, animal protective leagues and local and state law enforcement officers, but receives no government funding. It's financed exclusively by donations.

Fisher, who completed humane officer training at a local police academy, said she is usually involved in two or three animal cruelty court cases at any time.

She was in the center of the Brimfield Never Rest Ranch case, and will be present at 9 a.m. today, at the final sentencing hearing in Portage County Common Pleas Court. Ranch owner Diane Silbaugh pleaded guilty March 18 to 10 counts of cruelty to animals and was sentenced to 180 days of jail time, 100 hours of community service and restitution. The amount was to be determined today.

Q: What was Happy Trails' role in the Brimfield horse case?

A: Our help was requested by the Brimfield police and Portage County Animal Protective League. Basically, the APL is not set up to care for large animals, so we provided expertise that included finding the proper equine vets to tend the animals and set up follow-up appointments.

We took photographs and cataloged horses, both living and dead. We also helped provide trailers to move the horses and assess and find foster homes for them, the places they would stay during the trial. We helped create awareness of the situation and collected funds and helped pay for basic expenses, including hay, food and medical care.

I am required to be at the final sentencing. I'm not sure why. I might be a witness as to the photos taken, the conditions found or something else.

Q: Was the outcome of the case satisfactory in the eyes of the rescue community?

A: I don't think so, considering the incredible suffering the horses went through. Diane Silbaugh's sentence was 180 days of jail time and 100 hours of community service and restitution in an amount to be determined (today). She will be on probation for five years, not allowed to own or board any horses.

I don't think a slap on the hand is appropriate, especially when there's seven dead. It's not like this was an accident. It's a clear pattern of abuse with other charges of animal cruelty being brought against her in other counties.

When we were giving our testimony in court, I talked about the first horse I was asked to look at, that supposedly had a scratch on her neck. She was standing in manure up to the ankles and . . . she had a huge wound over her withers and her back covered by a blanket. When I picked up the blanket, fur and skin picked up right with it. Worse, the people in the courtroom who should have been most concerned looked totally bored and disconnected. There appeared to be no interest whatsoever.

I have been in farm animal rescue for eight years, and the conditions on that ranch were probably the most disgusting thing I've ever seen. I talked in court about how we walked through the field in back and walked into the standing skeleton of a horse that was still
alive. I was explaining all of this, and throughout the trial, it seemed clear that the people in the court system don't get that animal abuse is totally tied into violent crime. That was the first thing we learned in the police academy.

Q: What keeps you going against such great odds?

A: Several things motivate me. I see the huge difference we have made in Ohio spreading kindness and compassion for all animals. And I would like to see Ohio raise up from our current status as having the worst animal cruelty laws. It's important that we continue to bring awareness to the community of all levels of animal cruelty that happens daily. Many people aren't aware it's even going on. It affects our society and the neighborhoods in which our children are raised.

Q: What can readers do to change the plight of animals in the future?

A: At the state level, people can help by writing letters to the state legislators to encourage stricter laws to protect all animals.

It wouldn't hurt to mention they'll be watching the way their representatives vote and that type of thing.

Locally, people should not be shy about reporting abuse to their APLs or humane societies. People who aren't guilty generally do not mind a visit from their local humane officer. It will make a huge difference when people refuse to allow abuse or neglect to happen anymore.

We also encourage people to volunteer with any animal organization. There are so many rescue groups out there that are doing good work.

People who want to get involved in a hands-on way at Happy Trails can join our emergency rescue crew.

The rescue crew is on standby during a police or sheriff's investigation to do things like setting up emergency pens, filling water buckets, trailering horses, getting stalls ready, doing dispatch and arranging for emergency foster homes.

Applications are on our Web site at http://www.happytrailsfarm.org. There are many other types of volunteer work explained there.

There are two ways people can donate, through Pay Pal or by sending a check to Happy Trails at 5623 New Milford Road, Ravenna, OH 44266.

Connie Bloom can be reached at 330-996-3568 or cbloom@thebeaconjournal.com.

Annette Fisher found her calling in 2001, when she discovered a potbellied pig that was frozen to the ground and would die unless someone helped.

Get the full article here.



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