MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – According to H..O.P.E Acres Rescue representatives, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control seized more than 30 animals found suffering from extreme heat and other deplorable conditions inside an abandoned, metal trailer in the parking lot of the Tractor Supply store in Moncks Corner over the holiday weekend.
The trailer was discovered by a Good Samaritan who reported it to the store. The public tried to get water into the trailer pan and do what they could until authorities arrived on scene, representatives for the nonprofit, H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue said.
Upon further investigation at the owner’s property, the animal rescue group said 20-plus animals were seized. The animal nonprofit said animals were found covered in muck, their own feces, extremely dehydrated, malnourished and each with their own medical ailments requiring medical attention. All animals were safely transported to H.O.P.E Acres Rescue.
H.O.P.E Acres Rescue said it currently has the following animals in custody:
- 1 – Kangaroo
- 1 – Alpaca
- 4 – Chickens
- 8 – Ducks
- 2 – Rabbits
- 7 – Pigs
- 17 – Goats (2 of which are pregnant)
- 1 – Sheep
- 1 – Mule
- 2 – Mini horses
- 1 – Donkey
- 1 – Horse
Justin Culley of Moncks Corner has been cited for inhumane care and treatment of animals, according to Captain Michael Crumley of the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office.
“Extreme heat and neglect resulted in this devastating situation, ” Heather McDowell, Executive Director, Berkeley Animal Center, said in a news release. “However, thanks to H.O.P.E Acres Rescue, many animals were saved. In addition to our Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control team, this local organization played a critical role by stepping up to help without hesitation. Because our shelter is already at max capacity, we didn’t have the space to properly care for an additional influx of animals at this time. H.O.P.E Acres Rescue saved us tremendously, and we cannot say ‘Thank you’ enough for their support in this emergency situation. We encourage our community to also step up, if possible, and consider providing financial donations to H.O.P.E Acres Rescue to aid in covering the cost of the animals’ continued care.”
“To say we are overwhelmed, is an understatement,” said Tracey Sawyer, President of H.O.P.E Acres Rescue. “When we got the call about abandoned animals being left on the hottest day of the year, we were devastated. We are a volunteer-run organization, with very limited resources whose mission is to support Equines, but we all looked at each other and said, let’s go, they need us. Our team has been working around the clock to build temporary shelters, get emergent medical care, purchase food and supplies.”
“Right now, the 46 animals will remain in our care for the next few weeks while Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office conducts their investigation,” said Sawyer. “Our job is to get them stable, and on a healthier path forward. Our priority is their care but we will not be able to take care of them without donations.”
Following the news of the citation and that the animal rescue had taken in his animals, Culley posted the following comment on Facebook:
“By now surely everyone has heard about the incident with our animals. The news is spreading defamation and inaccurate claims. Nothing wrong was done. Our business is being blasted and our name is being run in the dirt and nobody even knows the situation. We do not abuse our animals, we love our animals with all our heart.
Anyone who knows us and sees us regularly knows the care, compassion and effort we put into our animals. They are clean with shiny coats, well fed and are met with love and joy by everyone around them. We are heart broken because of what has occurred. All of our animals are treated as if they were our children. We take pride in our animals and enjoy sharing the joy of animals with our customers and anyone else who would take the time to spend with them at any event we attend. The news has made outrageous claims that our animals were abandoned, malnourished and covered in feces. None of this is true and those who know us know this to be false claims.
The situation was twisted and manipulated to make it seem as if we are abusive and neglectful. We simply had a flat tire on the trailer, plain and simple. The trailer was backed into the shade, jacked up with the tire off and disconnected at tractor supply where I felt they would be safe so that I could run around the corner to Mavis tire. The tire was mounted, balanced and I returned back to the trailer to a nightmarish scene.
The animals were not seized, I voluntarily released the animals into their care under a temporary release. They also only took a portion of the animals, leaving us with many of our animals ranging from rabbits and pigs to ducks and chickens along with all of our domestic animals. Do you think they would leave us with any animals if we were so unfit? You can see from pictures of our animals exactly how well kept and healthy they are, with the exception of the horse who was given to us in even worse condition. We have had her a short period of time and has been on weight gainer for the last month. We want nothing but the best for our animals but also want to cooperate with the local enforcement. Our animals will be released back to us.
We take pride in what we do, we love what we do and we love our animals with every ounce of our being. We have bonds with our animals that half of you would never understand. We spend more money every week feeding each of them than most people even earn in a week. We devote all of our time and efforts into providing the best environment we possibly can. I know every animals name, their personality their demeanor and could tell you every detail about every single one of them. We would never knowingly gamble with their lives or jeopardize their well-being.”
According to H.O.P.E Acres Rescue, donations are needed to ensure these animals get the medical and animal care they need. To make a donation, see information below:
Online: https://www.hopeacresrescue.org
Venmo: @hopeacresrescue
Checks: H.O.P.E Acres Rescue, P.O. Box 2037, Goose Creek, SC 29445
In-Kind: To donate in-kind supplies please email [email protected]
“We are extremely grateful to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Team as well as Berkeley Animal Center for their support, ” said Sawyer. “We do not have the vehicles, other equipment or manpower to have transported these animals and without them, we would not have been able to help so quickly.”
Ongoing investigations are underway by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office regarding the future of these animals.
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