Cleveland, United States - January 25, 2025 A shocking rescue operation has exposed the grim reality of a fur and urine farm in Ashtabula County, where foxes, raccoons, wolf-dog hybrids, skunks, coyotes, and other wild animals were found suffering in deplorable conditions. The Humane Society of the United States, working with Ohio authorities, removed hundreds of animals from the Grand River Fur Exchange after its owner’s death in December 2024 left the property in chaos. Investigators arrived to a horrifying scene: animals crammed into filthy wire-bottom cages with no protection from the bitter cold. Many were emaciated, missing limbs, toes, and tails—victims of brutal steel-jaw leghold traps scattered around the property. Some were found dead, buried in the snow. One coyote was discovered still alive, slowly dying in a trap. The farm had been a hub for fur production, exotic pet sales, and urine farming, where predator urine is bottled and sold for hunting, trapping, and wildlife deterrents. Some animals were bred in captivity, while others were caught in the wild and imprisoned in inhumane conditions. Rescuers found electrocution tools commonly used in fur farming to kill animals without damaging their pelts. “This is one of the most horrific cases I’ve ever seen,” said Adam Parascandola, vice president of the HSUS Animal Rescue Team. “The terror and suffering here were unimaginable. Even in the worst neglect and cruelty cases we handle, this stands out.” Despite the farm being licensed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the state has no laws regulating the care or slaughter of fur-farmed animals. The USDA had previously fined and banned the operator from breeding and selling wild animals in 2011, yet they continued unchecked. Authorities and rescuers worked for weeks in harsh winter conditions to provide care and relocate the animals to licensed sanctuaries and wildlife rehabilitation centers. Some were too sick or injured to survive and had to be humanely euthanized. In total, more than 250 animals were saved. “This farm is just another example of the cruelty the fur trade tries to hide,” said PJ Smith, director of fashion policy for the HSUS. “The suffering, filth, and horror we saw here are the industry’s dark reality.” Documents found on-site linked the farm’s pelts to Fur Harvesters Auction, the last remaining fur auction house in North America. The operation’s shutdown sheds light on an industry long operating in the shadows, profiting from animal cruelty with little oversight. Ohio officials are now calling for stronger laws to prevent such suffering in the future. “We cannot let this happen again,” said Mark Finneran, HSUS Ohio director. “This is a wake-up call. It’s time to end the exploitation of wild animals for profit.”