Demand A Full Investigation of Fur Keeps Animal Shelter
- by: Anna Drechsler
- recipient: Regina Burris,Mark Ernst - IL Department of Agriculture & Kathy Kelly- Illinois Attorney General Office
Thank you for helping to surpass the goal of 1,000 signatures!
ATTENTION: THE PETITION IS NOT CLOSED...WE NEED TO ADD SIGNATURES to achieve our goal of 1,000 signatures from the State of Illinois.
Please encourage friends, family and aquaintances who are residents of Illinois to sign the petiton.
PETITION IS OPEN UNTIL THE END OF MAY
Dr. Debra Rykoff is a respected holistic veterinarian, President of Fur Keeps Animal Shelter, Inc. and Owner of Ventur-On Farm Clinic. Dr. Rykoff through her charity has raised in excess of $100,000 in 2010 of which over $60,000 was spent on "veterinary services" (according to tax documents). With such a substantial expenditure on care one would expect to find healthy, well- cared for animals at her facility.
INSTEAD - what I have found are many examples of horrifying animal neglect. As is abundantly clear from the photos Dr.Rykoff is not taking good care of these animals.
I have found:
Dogs kept in dark and crowded barn stalls meant for horses - walking, sleeping, and eating in the same place where they defecate. Forced to stand for long periods of time on straw soaked with urine and feces.
Dogs not provided with proper medical care for injuries sustained from fighting with other dogs in the close confines of their stall. As is evident from the photos, dogs with bite marks, scratch markes and other injuries are left to fend for themselves.
Sick dogs, dogs with infected wounds not provided with proper medical care resulting in their eventual death. While waiting for any kind of treatment these same dogs are kept in cages where they can neither stand up nor move.
Complaints have been made and are on file with the Illinois Department of Agriculture. There is also a pending investigation with the Illinois Attorney General. However, thus far the concerns and complaints have fallen on deaf ears. Meanwhile Fur Keeps continues to operate under its alleged mission of "promoting respect and compassion of all animals" - generous donors continue to give and the animals under Fur Keeps' care continue to suffer.
Please, help me to bring attention to this issue and stop the abuse going on at Fur Keeps! Thus far the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Attorney General have been unable or unwilling to ask the tough questions and to act.
HELP COMMEMORATE BE KIND TO ANIMALS WEEK BY GATHERING 1,000 SIGNATURES BY MAY 7TH!
WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY:
Contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Attorney General and tell them to thouroghly investigate Fur Keeps Animal Shelter
Read and distribute the press release , encourage local reporters to write about this issue
Sign the petition, share the petition and the pictures with others, encourage them to act
Thank you for taking a moment of your time to hear our concerns.
Dr. Debra Rykoff, President of Fur Keeps Animal Shelter, Inc. and owner of Ventur-On Farm Clinic (located at the same address) has through her charity raised in excess of $100,000 in 2010 of which over $60,000 was spent on veterinary services. With such a large expenditure for veterinary care one would expect to find healthy, well cared for animals at her facility located at 142 Old Dundee Rd., Barrington Hills, IL.
Instead (as evident in photos) animals are kept in dark and dirty barn stalls, they stand on straw soaked in urine and feces, they are not allowed to leave the barn and are sometimes confined to cages where they can't stand or move. Their wounds, injuries and illnesses are left untreated resulting in their suffering and often their death.
There have been numerous complaints made against the facility and no action has been taken to close it down. It is clear from the photos available and the complaints of volunteers that animals at this facility are being neglected if not abused.
I implore you to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of Dr. Rykoff and Fur Keeps Animal Shelter - close down this facility and help to end the suffering of defenseless animals.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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