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Thursday, August 26, 2004 12:00 AM
Cherokee Ridge Animal Rescue 8/26/04
We've told you about Cherokee Ridge Animal Rescue in Ravena before. It's a place that takes in animals nobody else wants. But now, some experts say the farm has gotten in over its head — and the animals are in danger. So our I-Team decided to check it out for ourselves: Sound of dogs barking Sue Peters/Cherokee Ridge CEO: "These two are wild Mustangs." When our news crew visited Cherokee Ridge Animal Rescue 3 years ago...Susan Peters showed us the ones she'd saved from abuse and neglect. And vowed to keep going. Tom Mailey: "Is it going to keep getting bigger?" Susan Peters: I hope so." It did get bigger. But fellow animal lovers...say it's so big the rescue cannot keep up. Tina Murray/Animal Rescuer: "Unbelievable." That's how Tina Murray describes her first visit to Cherokee Ridge. Tina Murray/Animal Rescuer: "There were four dogs in a kennel with a dead rat laying there." She says animals were fed donated baked goods. Tina Murray/Animal Rescuer: "You don't feed farm animals muffins." Sound of producer walking in We sent our producer there and she was asked to unwrap muffins for the animals with another worker.... Sound of muffins in bucket Then she got a tour of the barn — where two bone thin horses live — and was told about two deer the Department of Environmental Conservation has not given them permission to keep. Priscilla Mix/Volunteer: "It'd be too bad if they just can't get out...I'd like them to actually stay here." Our photographer went back...and got a tour of the filthy basement filled with rats, snakes and mice. Florence Traver/Neighbor "I think it's outrageous." The Traver family has lived next door for years — and points to a stack of complaints they've filed with police about Cherokee Ridge. Florence Traver/Neighbor: "I happen to love animals myself — but not what she's doing." We went to Cherokee Ridge a third time and CEO Susan Peters said the animals are healthy. Susan Peters/Cherokee Ridge CEO: "They're all well fed and well cared for..." As for feeding them bagels and muffins? Amy: "Is that healthy though for a rabbit?" Susan Peters: "A rabbit to eat bread? Why not?" She showed us around...and showed us the list of daily chores. Susan Peters reading list: "Food...refill or change as needed and sanitize bowls." We told her what visitors reported... Amy: "They said things were not clean. What would you say to that?" Susan Peters: "Come grab a shovel and help." And pointed to the food rotting around us. Amy: "Why do you leave this out like this?" Susan Peters: "We only have so many hands." When we asked about these two horses...Sue told us they're just very old. Susan Peters/Cherokee Ridge CEO: "It's just so hard to put the weight on them." Veterinarian and animal hoarding expert Dr. Holly Cheever calls that bologna. She went to Cherokee Ridge herself two weeks ago...but was out of town this week, so we spoke to her on the phone. Dr. Holly Cheever/Animal Hoarding Expert: "It's not normal and people who are animal hoarders who let their horses get too thin...they always use the excuse that that is simply an old horse and we can't keep it heavy." Cheever says the animals are in danger there — and should not be fed baked goods. She says often, officials are wary of shutting hoarders down because the public will side with them. Dr. Holly Cheever/Animal Hoarding Expert: "And all they see is a lovely woman busting her heinie to try and save the animals from being killed. And therefore she's a saint....and if she let things get a little out of control, we shouldn't blame her." The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society admits it's fielded a dozen complaints about Cherokee Ridge. And it's gone there. But, it says, it's hard to prove someone's breaking State Ag and Markets law for "failure to provide necessary food or drink" to animals. Robert Guyer/Mohawk & Hudson Humane Society: "Right now, we do have an open file...we are investigating Cherokee Ridge." We did some investigating into the farm's charity status — since it asks for money for food and its truck. But the Attorney General's office told us Cherokee Ridge had not registered with them — and needs to by law. It's now asked them to submit their annual reports. Sue Peters called it a mixup. Susan Peters/Cherokee Ridge CEO: "Yeah, my accountant is supposed to be taking care of that." As we were leaving Cherokee Ridge for the last time, a man arrived who couldn't care for his kittens. This...she said...is precisely why the rescue keeps getting bigger. Susan Peters/Cherokee Ridge CEO: "How do you say no?....Do you want to tell him no? I don't." The Humane Society just got back from another visit to Cherokee Ridge and is having a vet examine the horses there — we'll keep you posted on the situation. The Town of Coeymans told us it is in between animal control officers right now. But we did learn that the town found Sue Peters guilty of several zoning violations and she's due in court September 16. If she doesn't show or come into compliance, the town attorney told us he will ask for an injunction to shut her down.
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