Rescued Alpacas receiving treatment at OSU

OREGON -- Nearly 200 alpacas rescued from a ranch in Falls City are being nursed back to health at Oregon State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

One even gave birth this week.

 

The first four dozen animals that went to OSU were the sickest in a herd seized by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in December.

Lyn Smith-Gloria, spokeswoman for OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, said that Polk County Sheriff personnel and Cross Creek Alpaca Rescue began moving the alpacas to Corvallis last week, but were slowed by the snow. More were arriving by the middle of this week.

“They finally got them down here,” Smith-Gloria said.

Robert and Jocelyn Silver, owners of Jocelyn’s Alpacas Ranch in the 20000 block on Parry Road in rural Polk County, have been indicted on two counts of felony animal neglect and 16 counts of misdemeanor animal neglect. Last week, a Polk County court ordered that the seized animals be surrendered.

The two appeared in Polk County Circuit Court Tuesday for a pre-trial conference.

A petition filed by Polk County said that the sheriff’s office had received complaints about mistreatment of a herd of alpacas on the 20-acre property. On Dec. 12 deputies obtained a warrant to enter the ranch accompanied by a licensed veterinarian to conduct a health check and provide the animals with emergency care.

Authorities entered the property and found dead alpacas and evidence that the entire herd was not being provided basic care, the petition said.

 

On Dec. 23, a second warrant authorized the sheriff’s office to impound all alpacas on the property. Deputies, accompanied by another licensed veterinarian found 30 more dead alpacas and two more that had to be destroyed because they were unable to stand. A deputy cited Robert and Jocelyn Silver to appear in Polk County Circuit Court.

The Silvers were indicted by a grand jury on Jan. 15.

Deputy John Kincaid, animal control officer for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, said that the herd has grown since the animals were seized because some have given birth. A number of humane organizations have stepped up to offer assistance with the alpacas but as far as he knows they aren’t being transported anywhere but OSU.

(Statesman Journal - Feb 13, 2014)

Earlier:

• Dead, starving alpacas on Falls City ranch lead to felony animal neglect charges