Stiffer Laws for Releasing Animals Sought

By Carol Hollenbeck

ESCANABA, Michigan: While Spalding Township residents Tom and Carol Pipkorn struggle to rebuild their mink farming business, the federal and some state governments are considering legislation to toughen penalties for releasing domesticated animals.

The Pipkorns were the victims of what supporters call a terrorist attack on Oct. 26, 1998. Members of a group called the Earth Liberation Front, a sister group of the Animal Liberation Front, released 5,000 of the Pipkorn's mink.

Hundreds of friends and neighbors turned out to help recapture the animals, but the act severely disrupted the Pipkorns' mink-breeding program, according to Carol Pipkorn.

The mink can't be tattooed or ear-tagged for identification like other domesticated animals, their records are kept on their cages, Pipkorn explains. Once out of their cages, there's no way to tell which animal is which. "It's a real frustrating thing," she said. "The sheriff's department and FBI are continuing to investigate it. They're trying to put the pieces together here and nationwide."

The local investigation has revealed ties to an earlier bombing attack at a Vail, Colo., ski lodge, according to Teresa Platt, executive director of Fur Commission USA, Coronado, Calif.

Platt and Pipkorn agree a concerted effort must be made to document all the attacks, even internationally. "We need to evaluate how big it is and put it into perspective." Platt said. "I don't think the government took it seriously or acted as quickly as they should have."

Attacks ranging from sabotage to bombings have occurred in the agriculture industry where even horses and dogs have been released from breeding farms, and the forestry and mining industries, Platt said. She believes all attacks are related and need to be investigated that way.

Platt fears that attacks in the U.S. may escalate to the level that they have in Britain. A London newspaper, The Independent, called the ALF attacks, "the most sustained and sophisticated bombing campaign in mainland Britain since the IRA was at its height."

Pipkorn added that the fur industry is the first target of the animal rightist. "Their philosophy is to work from one industry to another," she said.

Pipkorn and Platt said that the Wilson attack was probably the act of nonresidents. Pipkorn said she believes the national group had some help from local residents in finding the farm.

Platt and Pipkorn agree a careful watch must be kept on those who breed and raise domesticated animals to prevent abuse and neglect. In some cases, improvements need to be made in the way animals are treated. But they say, it's unfortunate that the animal rights activists are taking such an extreme view.

"Water, undrinkable salt water to boot, still covers 75 percent of the Earth's surface. About 10 percent of the landmass, or just 2.5 percent of the planet, can support agriculture to feed and clothe us. The other 97.5 percent of the planet can support grazers and predators and birds and fish, animals which consume what are, to us, inedible plants and animal life, and convert them to food and clothing for us. But we must take the lives of these animals to reap these benefits. The domestication of animals over the last 10,000 years has contributed greatly to the Earth's ability to provide to all of us," Platt said in a May 18 speech to the Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health. "These terrorists are working hard to ensure that humans abandon most of the Earth's surface, but we are as dependent today as we were in the Stone Age on animals for food and clothing - all six billion of us and counting. Even vegetarians, who oppose the direct harvesting of animals, are unwittingly supporting the taking of animal life in the production of food and clothing. Agriculture is a leading cause of wildlife habitat loss worldwide, and hundreds of millions of animals die in fields each year to pesticides and at harvest time. So much for cruelty-free pasta and veggies."

Platt said she believes the animal rights mentality is the result of our industrialized society. She said she believes that many of the activists have never handled livestock or other domesticated animals.

"They think of it like 'Bambi'," Pipkorn agreed. "They don't realize that domesticated animals can't take care of themselves when they're released. We were catching mink for months after they were released. People were calling us because they were seeing mink around the foundations of their buildings. They were looking for food."

Platt said U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch has introduced legislation to toughen penalties for releasing domesticated animals. That's being considered in committee now. Wisconsin and Minnesota are looking at similar laws on the state level.

"Society must address the cause and cure the disease." Platt said in her speech. "Political will is what it takes. Peaceful protest and civil discourse are welcome. But we must find out how we, as a society, can stop an international crime spree driven by a poorly conceived and fundamentally flawed philosophy - a confused amalgam of animal rights and environmentalism."

See also:

Domesticated Mink Released in Michigan; From Vail, Colorado to Michigan, Animal Rights / Eco-Terrorist Attacks Escalate FCUSA press release; background on Pipkorn farm raid; Oct. 26, 1998.

Engaging Political Will (HTML or PDF) Animal rights terrorism moves up FBI priority list; FCUSA commentary on animal rights / eco-terrorism; Mar. 4, 1999.

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