- Minnesota, USA -
On Monday, June 27, the Savage Police Department responded to a property on McColl Drive in Savage, after receiving a report of animal neglect.
The reporting party told authorities that 51-years-old STEPHANIE HOPE SMITH, who rented out a barn on site, was on vacation, and the caller was worried about the state of the rabbits on the property. The caller also said that when she went into the barn, she found some dead and sick rabbits.
4Paws and Animal Humane Society (AHS) responded to the scene.
Inside the barn, officers found dirty food bowls and rabbits running loose.
CBS News Minnesota reports that according to a criminal complaint, officers could smell “death, feces and urine.” The following day, a search warrant was executed at the barn.
Officers were assisted by AHS Veterinarian Dr. Sara Lewis.
Dr. Lewis euthanized two rabbits. The first, an adult rabbit had a broken back. The second rabbit was neonatal and was infested with maggots.
The majority of the rabbits were not in cages and were running around free inside of the barn.
According to the criminal complaint: “Officers found plywood boards drilled into the concrete with multiple access points for the rabbits to get underneath the boards. As the boards were being lifted up, officers saw several deceased rabbits in various stages of decomposition. In the piles of manure and straw that had been underneath the plywood, were rabbit carcasses. In multiple areas of the barn, officers located either a skull or a leg bone. It was unable to be determined if the skull belonged to a different carcass than the one that was found nearby, as multiple carcasses still had fur on them. In the cages, officer saw almost all of the cages did not have any water for the rabbits, and several did not have any food.”
SMITH arrived while officials were on site.
She confirmed to authorities that she is the CEO of Peace Bunny Foundation along with her husband. She also said that the rabbits were her 17-year-old son’s and confirmed that he founded the rabbit rescue as part of a 4-H project.
FOX 9 published part of the Scott County’s search warrant which reads: “I observed very poor animal husbandry, below normal standards of care. l observed neglect and cruelty. l observed animals in need of veterinary care and poor conditions that in my professional opinion, did not occur overnight. l observed 2 deceased and decaying carcasses. These animals are not being properly cared for. The rescue is not providing care that is adequate or compliant with Minnesota law. I believe this situation has been going on for quite some time and is [chargeable]. The rabbits I observed should be removed from this situation, seen by veterinary professionals and provided the care they are required. These rabbits are not being given consistent proper nutrition/forage and enough water. Their cages were too small, unsanitary and the air quality was very poor. There were flies, mice and rats observed. There are most likely several pregnant females. I observed babies that were so tiny, they were able to get through the metal of their enclosures and then had difficulties getting back into the cages of where l observed larger adult rabbits, assumed to be their mothers. Some dishes were too big for these little bunnies to drink from and one almost fell into the bowl trying desperately to drink.”
On June 30, 2022, Dr. Lewis submitted her findings to the authorities which reported:
Two adult rabbits in need of critical care.
Two litters of orphaned bunnies were taken.
Two rabbits (one adult, one neonatal) were euthanized on scene due to irremediable suffering.
A total of forty-seven rabbits were found dead on arrival.
Nineteen rabbits were in need of immediate attention/follow-up care by the owner, Peacebunny Foundation.
An additional fifty+ caged rabbits and a hundred and fifty+ free-roaming rabbits were photographed for ear injuries, etc.
On Friday, July 1, charges were filed against SMITH.
She is charged with overwork/mistreatment of animals-torture, overwork/mistreatment of animals-cruelty, overwork/mistreatment of animals-deprive of food/shelter, overwork/mistreatment of animals-unwholesome enclosure, and overwork/mistreatment of animals-abandon.
SMITH is scheduled to appear in court on August 22, 2022.
Linda Sue started a petition also addressed to Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar asking to “Prosecute and Shut Down Bunny Killing Fraud Peacebunny Cottage/Island.” The beginning reads: “We the petitioners demand a fraud and misuse of nonprofit funds investigation along with prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, shut down and never allowed to reopen a rabbit business.”
The petition also refers to SMITH’s son, entrepreneur and media celebrity sensation CALEB SMITH, and rightfully said: “Caleb will be 18 on July 4th, charge him as an adult.”
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#animalcruelty #animalneglect #deadanimals #rabbits #deadrabbits #bunnies #investigation #scottcounty #calebsmith #petition #animalslivesmatter
