By MEGGIE. I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor PLAIN CITY, Ohio — On May 25, a radical animal activist group known as Mercy for Animals (MFA) released a graphic video detailing numerous events of violent animal abuse on a family-owned dairy farm in Plain City, Ohio.
“The gratuitous cruelty exhibited in this video is incomprehensible to anyone who is devoted to caring for farm animals,” according to a statement released by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation on Wednesday, May 26. “Clearly, the intent of this employee’s actions was nothing short of torture, and the severity of his acts calls out for punishment.
MFA claimed the undercover video footage was collected over a four-week period between April and May depicting farm employees of Conklin Dairy in central Ohio violently kicking, punching, prodding and beating newborn calves, heifers and milk cows. Shortly thereafter, MFA turned in the investigative materials and video footage to the Union County, Ohio Prosecuting Attorney’s office.
“The matter is being investigated by the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Union County Humane Society agents,” according to a statement from the Office of the Union County Prosecuting Attorney. “Animal cruelty will be prosecuted by the City Attorney’s Office. Rest assured that the matter is being fully investigated; the person depicted in the video is in custody at this time.”
Less than 24 hours after the video was turned in and hit mainstream media, a representative from the dairy confirmed the employee shown abusing Conklin farm calves and cows was fired immediately Wednesday morning.
In fact, on Wednesday afternoon, Union County Sheriff Rock Nelson announced that Billy Joe Gregg, age 25, of Delaware County, was arrested in connection with the video, and charged with a dozen counts of cruelty to animals, a second degree misdemeanor.
“As fourth-generation farmers, our family takes the care of our cows and calves very seriously,” the Conklin statement read. “We take equally seriously the allegations that have been made about our farm operation and the mistreatment of our animals.”
Additionally, farm owner and operator Gary Conklin agreed to cooperate with law enforcement authorities to officially investigate the MFA allegations.
“Further, our farm will institute immediate retraining of all those who remain on the farm, and who work with our animals,” said Conklin.
Specific incidents of abuse depicted in the video footage show a farm employee savagely beating a cow with a crow bar, prodding a cow with a pitchfork, punching, kicking and throwing a newborn calf as well as other violent incidents.
“We will not condone animal abuse on our farm,” said Conklin. “We have launched our own internal investigation into this matter and will be conducting interviews with everyone on our farm who works with our animals.”
Following the release of the MFA video, emotions flared across the ag community. Comments from ag leaders and media representatives on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook demanded answers and action from Conklin Dairy and Mercy for Animals, for that matter.
“There is no question the treatment these animals were subjected to is wrong. But there are additional questions that are not so clear,” according to the OFBF statement. “What motivated this brutal behavior? Why was the cruelty not immediately brought to the attention of the farm owners or law enforcement? Farm Bureau believes it is important that all of facets of this incident be explored and encourages a comprehensive examination by the proper legal authorities.”
“We are also concerned that this incident will be manipulated for political gain by animal rights activists. Any attempt to portray these horrific acts as commonplace on Ohio farms would be deceitful. Farmers take care of their livestock because it’s what decent people do, and because comfortable animals are productive animals. Farmers should not be judged by this aberrant and disgusting event.”
Although some Ohio television stations refused to air the “graphic and disturbing” video content last week, footage can be viewed in full by going online to www.mercyforanimals.org/ohdairy/ |
