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No criminal charges will be brought against Christensen Farms for animal abuse allocations brought by Last Chance for Animals, an animal activist group.
Assistant County Attorney Jeff Haubrich reviewed the allegations and Sheriff’s Office investigation, and released his findings in a letter dated Oct. 7.
“We are declining to prosecute any alleged violations of law,” the letter stated.
“It is not within our consideration of this matter whether or not industry standard practices, such as the euthanization boxes or gestation crates, are acceptable to the Last Chance for Animals.”
The letter was addressed to Sgt. Jeff Wieneke, an investigator with the Rock County Sheriff’s Office.
“This is not to say that our office condones the specific isolated actions of certain employees uncovered in the course of observations … but rather, it is a decision based upon whether or not the actions rise to the level that criminal prosecution is necessary.”
Last Chance for Animals, headquartered in California, released its findings from an undercover investigation in early August. Included in its finding was hidden-camera video taken this spring in a Christensen Farms’ breed-to-wean confinement facility located in northwestern Rock County.
The video footage was released to its website www.factoryfarm360.org on Aug. 11.
Using the video as primary evidence, the group filed a complaint with the Rock County Sheriff’s Office detailing 18 incidents of animal cruelty, 17 incidents of animal mistreatment by neglect and one instance of mistreatment by deprivation.
According to Haubrich, the video was the reason his office did not proceed with criminal charges.
“The video and reports were obviously highly edited and filtered to enhance the position they are advocating and they lack the basic requirements for admissibility in court,” Haubrich stated.
From the initial complaint, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office completed its own investigation.
Wieneke consulted with Paul Ruen a vet-partner with the Fairmont Veterinary Clinic. Ruen found no widespread problems at the Rock County facility or with the facility employees who remained employed after the video’s release.
“Dr. Ruen found the facilities and methods acceptable within industry standards,” stated Haubrich.
“The farm facility was in good working repair and in my professional opinion the animals were well cared for.”
Haubrich concluded that no criminal charges would be brought against any Christensen Farms employees.
After the video’s August release, Christensen Farms suspended seven of its employees for allegedly violating the company’s animal welfare policies.
Christensen Farms is a family-owned pork production company based in Sleepy Eye. It markets approximately four million hogs per year through 54 sow farms in six states, and major retailers sell its products across the U.S., including Walmart.