Thyme Is Up At The Ranch
The Thyme and Sage Ranch located in Cazenovia, WI touts itself as an animal sanctuary. Richmond County has worked successfully in conjunction with the sanctuary to help homeless animals.
In January 2009 the county signed a two-year contract with them to take care of rescues and in return the ranch would be paid $750 a month. It appeared to be the perfect arrangement, until this week.
More than 300 dogs – many suffering from open wounds and housed in feces-ridden conditions – were seized Tuesday from a shelter that had been operating as a sanctuary for lost and found animals in Richland County.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at 6 a.m. for Thyme and Sage Ranch in Cazenovia and impounded the dogs and about 20 other animals including horses, rabbits, chickens, goats, horses, sheep and llamas.
“We have found some (dog) carcasses on the property,” said Eric Sakach, senior law enforcement specialist for the Humane Society of the United States.
“Many of the dogs, ranging from small to large breeds, were housed in poor conditions and suffering from ailments including severely matted fur, open wounds, and skin infections,” the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said in a statement. “The dogs were housed in a multiple enclosures, many poorly ventilated, as well as outdoor kennels.”
Larry Wyman, chairman of the Richland County Law Enforcement Committee meets with the Sheriff’s Department once a month and hasn’t had any reports of problems at Thyme and Sage. However, if you go online and search Thyme and Sage Ranch you will see many complaints. It makes you wonder if the county was looking to sweep the issue under the carpet , or if they were really unaware.
The rescued dogs have been taken to the Dane County Humane Society where they are receiving medical care. If you would like to donate to the Dane County Humane Society’s Rescue Relief Fund you can do so through its Web site: www.giveshelter.org.
Anyone with information regarding Thyme and Sage Ranch should contact the Richland County district attorney’s office at 647-3493.
* Lexi is a beautiful girl available for adoption through the DCHS
SICKENING! It will never cease to amaze me at how low humans will go. Very sad:(
This becoming an every month thing or even more often. It makes you wonder, why are these people doing this. There is big money to make in rescue, but seems everyone is wanting to open a rescue/shelter. But the animals are suffering for it and some times dying as well. It is a very sad thing. And it is time to wake the Federal Govenment up and say, there needs to be stronger laws that government it. Also need to wake up the organizations like USHUS and ASPCA you need to investigate the people who opens them as well. It is just happening too often, places to give these dogs and cats as well as other animals a better is actually being the ones who lessen their lives, abuses them and even kills them. Government needs to wake up and so do all of us and say we are not going to allow God’s creatures he gives us to suffer.
I just read that they have given back 10 of her personal compainion dogs. This is crazy and I just cant believe it. This women should never be allowed to have ANY animal. Just trying to wrap my mind around it.