Daniel A. Rohrer Jr., 60, of Boonsboro faces 318 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty stemming from a Nov. 24 search and seizure of livestock at his farm, including many inside a barn where rotting animal carcasses were found, according to humane society officials and court records.
"I've never seen anything this bad," said Crystal Mowery, a field service officer with the humane society. "I actually felt like I was seeing something off TV. ... I didn't think this would be happening in our community."
If convicted, each count against Rohrer carries as many as 90 days in prison and/or a fine not to exceed $1,000.
Forty cows, 51 sheep and four goats were seized. Many of the cows were determined to have a body condition score of 1 or 2, based on a 1-9 scale with 1 being emaciated and 9 being obese, humane society officials said.
All of the animals seized have been moved to foster farms in undisclosed locations.
"The sheer number of animals involved, the extent of the neglect that they suffered and their body condition, we simply could not turn our backs on this case," said Kimberley Intino, chief executive officer of the humane society. "It was something that we felt was very important to pursue."
An attorney for Rohrer said Wednesday afternoon that she was unaware of the charges filed against her client and could not comment. She said she's filed a temporary restraining order and injunction against the humane society for its seizure of the animals.
According to statements made in court documents, a number of complaints have been made about the property owner and conditions of his farm in the past, but little had been done about it until the seizure on Nov. 24.
Removing the animals
Acting on a tip received Nov. 19, humane society officials and a large animal veterinarian responded to Rohrer's farm in the 6800 block of Wheeler Road west of Boonsboro that same day to find numerous "emaciated" animals in a largely barren pasture, Mowery said.
"There was no feed present for any of the animals. The pasture was bare. There was no hay out there for any of them," she said. "They were all crying at the fence, hungry for food."
Mowery said she asked the property owner, who was present at the time, to inspect the barn on the property, but he told them they would need a warrant to do so. A search-and-seizure warrant was secured on Nov. 21 and served three days later.
"When we served the warrant, that was when the decision was made to remove the animals," she said, noting the discovery of dozens of dead animals, bones and "rotting carcasses too numerous to count."
"Inside the barn, there was cows, sheep, goats, chickens and pigs alike all in amongst the dead animals," Mowery said. "There was no food for the animals inside the barn. There was no palatable water. And the veterinarian was on scene and the decision was made for the health and safety to remove the animals."
Charges were filed against Rohrer on Monday, relating to the conditions faced by each animal from a lack of food, air, space and veterinary care as well as counts for unnecessary pain and suffering, Mowery said.
"We had quite a few sheep and goats with overgrown hooves that could barely walk and were down on their knees," she said.
Defendant's response
Rohrer's attorney, Rebekah Lusk, said her client has been violated his right to due process and should be given the opportunity to show he has been giving adequate care to his livestock.
"From the warrant, my client adamantly disputes that the animals were not cared for. He provides excellent care to his animals," Lusk said. "... Many of the animals were ready to go to slaughter. This is his livelihood."
A hearing on Lusk's filings against the humane society is scheduled for today at 11 a.m. in Washington County Circuit Court, she said.
Intino said she had no comment about Lusk's case filed against the humane society.
Court records show a trial date for Rohrer in Washington County District Court on March 4, 2015, at 1 p.m.
'Very emotional moment'
The entire seizure of the animals took about two and a half weeks, Mowery said, noting how "emotionally and mentally draining" the process has been.
"Even though we seized (the animals on Nov. 24), all the animals weren't removed, but they did become temporary custody of ours and we started feeding and caring for them immediately," she said. "Just to see the animals running for food was a very emotional moment."
In general, state and local laws treat farm animals differently from other pets like cats and dogs, Intino said, noting that laws that apply to farm animals are minimal and the owner failed to meet even those requirements.
"That's something that is challenging for animal welfare advocates because we would like to see all animals held to the same standards and treated the same way, but with regard to that, nobody is supposed to deprive any animal – farm or not – of food, water, proper shelter, proper care," Intino said.
"And that was the case here, so we're very pleased to bring this to light because we want to promote these just basic standards of care for all animals," she added.
Intino thanked the farming community of Boonsboro, which she said "prides itself on good standards of care for animals," for bringing to light the situation at the farm.
(Herald Mail - Dec 18, 2014)
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