‘Terror and pain was palpable;’ Hundreds of animals rescued from Ohio fur farm

ASHTABULA COUNTY, Ohio — Hundreds of animals were rescued from deplorable conditions at a fur and urine farm in Northeast Ohio.

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The owner of Grand River Fur Exchange died in late December 2024, escalating an “already-dire animal welfare crisis” on the property.

Foxes, raccoons, wolf-dog hybrids, skunks, opossums, and coyotes were living in filthy wire-bottom cages with little to no protection from the frigid conditions, the Humane Society of the United States said.

Some of the animals had missing toes, ears, tails, and limbs.

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Veterinarians said animals lost toes due to cages’ wire flooring, while the animals’ missing limbs and paws had likely been caught in steel-jaw leghold traps on the property.

The animals were being raised and slaughtered for fur, bred for sale as exotic pets, and held captive for urine farming, the humane society said.

“This is one of the most horrific situations I have ever seen—the terror and pain was palpable,” said Adam Parascandola, vice president of the Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Rescue Team. “Our team is exposed to immense cruelty in the criminal cases we regularly respond to like dogfighting and severe neglect, yet this stands out both in terms of suffering and because of these fur farming practices. It’s haunting.”

Due to the circumstances on the property including severe injuries and illness, some of the animals were humanely euthanized on the property during the rescue operation.

More than 330 animals rescued from the property were able to be placed with wildlife rehabbers and sanctuaries.

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