Vicious attack

FUR COMMISSION USA PRESS RELEASE, JUNE 6, 2007

Vicious Attack on Fur Farming Family Results in Dogs Killed, Brutalized Mink and Kits

The Oakwood Mink Farm in Boyers, Marion Township, Pennsylvania, run by the Robert and Kim DeMatteis family (pronounced DeMatts), was attacked during the night of June 5/6. The farm raises 2,800 mink and almost all were removed from their pens and abandoned by the criminals.

With the help of friends, family and other farmers, most of the mink had been recovered and returned to their pens by mid-day. But over 400 mink were reported dead: 300 young kits and 100 nursing females.

"It was an especially brutal attack beyond just the suffering of the mink," commented Kim DeMatteis. "Whoever did this also shot and killed our two dogs."

"Beyond the obvious motive of causing as much financial harm as possible and traumatizing and killing mink, the shooting of the dogs sends an especially vicious message to the family which includes three children under the age of eight," added Teresa Platt, Executive Director of Fur Commission USA, a non-profit association representing mink farmers in 28 states. "We are hoping that anyone who knows anything will come forward and report what they know. FCUSA is offering up to $100,000 as a reward for information leading to the conviction of those involved."

Pennsylvania has strengthened its laws against attacks on its farmers, resource providers and researchers. The Butler County State Police and the FBI are investigating the crime.

The DeMatteis family farm is respected for the high quality of their mink and has been raising mink for 32 years on a farm that was established in 1936.

Pennsylvania is home to nine mink farms which produced 61,000 mink pelts in 2005 valued at approximately $60 each for a total value of $3.660 million.

For those who want to help the family recover from this crime and to rebuild their farm over the next few years, FCUSA has established the "DeMatteis Family Fund." See our Donations page for more info. Include a note on your donation that it is for the DeMatteis Family Fund.

Media coverage (sample):

Attack on local mink farm leaves hundreds dead. Owners' dogs also killed. Wpxi.com, June 7, 2007.

Mink crop value surges on record pelt prices. FCUSA analysis of latest USDA statistics on mink farming, Aug. 20, 2006.

FCUSA Press Kit special feature: Safe Farms Campaign

Pennsylvania Toughens Eco-Terror Law: Legislators, governor united to safeguard people and property. By James Taylor, Environment News, July 1, 2006, published by the Heartland Institute.

Pennsylvania targets eco-terror. Good omen for Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act? FCUSA commentary, Apr. 20, 2006.

For further information contact: Teresa Platt, Executive Director, Fur Commission USA, PMB 506, 826 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118-2698 USA, (619) 575-0139, (619) 272-2467/fax, furfarmers@aol.com, www.furcommission.com. See also Teresa's blog and Facebook.

To take a cyber-tour of a fur farm, visit FCUSA's Fur on Film.

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