Carolina Waterfowl Rescue's Union County shelter is full after the nonprofit pulled hundreds of starving animals from a half-acre property in Iredell County last week.
Iredell County officials alerted the rescue group on Wednesday, Sept. 30, about a property where more than 800 chickens, geese, pigeons, ducks, turkeys, sheep, goats and dogs had been left without food or water, WCNC first reported.
Executive Director Jennifer Gordon said her team worked through the night to prepare for the operation.
"There wasn't a single dish of water on the property anywhere, not even a puddle that they could drink out of," Gordon told WCNC.
By the time crews arrived Thursday, Oct. 1, some animals had already been removed, but hundreds remained. Many were dead or near death. Some lay motionless on the ground. Others had visible wounds.
According to Gordon, the property's previous owners were deported, leaving a teenage daughter to care for the animals, Fox 8 reported. The daughter became overwhelmed, and the animals were eventually left to fend for themselves.
The person responsible agreed to surrender the animals to CWR and other rescue groups.
CWR staff and animal control officers worked together to remove the animals. Each one received a numbered band for identification and a medical chart to track its care. The rescued animals are being divided among several organizations.
Some animals are suffering from refeeding syndrome, a condition that occurs when a starved animal's body cannot safely process food all at once. Reintroducing meals has to be done slowly. Animals needing additional treatment are being taken to a clinic for testing.
Gordon said the rescue is the worst she has handled in six or seven years, though not the largest case she has seen.
The immediate problem for Waxhaw-area residents: CWR's shelter has no room left. The organization cannot accept new animals until some of the current residents are adopted out. Any local bird, goat or other animal in need of rescue faces a wait.
Some rescued animals have already cleared quarantine and are healthy enough to adopt. Gordon said those birds are not coming straight from the neglect situation. They are animals already at the shelter, fully quarantined and disease-tested. Adopting one frees an enclosure for a newly rescued animal.
CWR lists adoption fees at $20 for female ducks or chickens, $5 for males, $35 for geese or turkeys, and $25 for pigeons or doves. Applications are processed in the order received, and approvals can take several weeks.
Residents who want to help can submit an adoption application at cwrescue.org/adopt or make a donation at cwrescue.org. CWR is also asking other rescues or sanctuaries that can take birds to contact the organization directly.
