Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
John Hollenhorst ReportingAccusations of abuse and neglect at a sheep pen in Huntsville. Neighbors and humane workers say many sheep have died on a farm property in the town of Huntsville. They claim the rest have had to live in miserable conditions for many years.
Cheryl Smith, Wasatch Humane: "The hay was being fed on top of the skulls and carcasses of dead bodies that were floating and buried in muck."
The Wasatch Humane organization says this case illustrates the need for tougher laws. It appears that nothing illegal has gone on, but passersby and even other sheepmen have been complaining about what they've seen for years.
Cheryl Smith: "It's clear to any passerby or any citizen that these sheep are severely neglected."
They seem to get plenty of food and water, but dozens are penned in a fraction of an acre, often trampling each other to get hay. They seem to be eating on a plateau of manure several inches high, their wool matted with feces. Observers say wool, tails and feet haven't been trimmed for years.
Cheryl Smith: "That causes serious health problems - maggots, disease."
Sheep expert Libby Nieder says she photographed at least 25 dead sheep last week.
Libby Nieder: "Dead lamb here, dead one here, this one's dead, dead, dead. That one's dead."
The owner removed the dead ones Monday.
No one lives there; the house is occupied by dogs, cats and even sheep. The owner is Weber State professor Susan McKay who refused to be interviewed on camera. She told us the problems are temporary and the death toll not as high as they claim. She says it's partly because of a tough winter, partly because she's had a broken arm and couldn't do some cleanup chores. But neighbors say problems have persisted for years.
Two neighboring sheepmen told us what's going here is a "terrible situation" and something needs to be done about it. But they don't want to go on-camera because of their long-term friendship with Susan McKay.
Neighbors and passersby have complained, unsuccessfully, for years.
Cheryl Smith: "And with weak laws, no laws to back it up, very difficult to do."
Professor McKay told us she'd be fired from Weber State if she is named in the story or if she talked to us on camera. But her department head said he knows of no reason why that would be so. Her attorney emphasized that, in spite of years of complaints, it's never been shown she's broken any laws.
