Oregon Grass-fed Ranchers Face Criminal Charges for Grazing Animals

‘My partner, Ross, and I are small ranchers in eastern Oregon. We produce grass-fed beef and lamb. We’re passionate about our work and life. But now we stand accused as criminals, facing animal neglect accusations. We are being charged with 45 counts of neglect. If convicted, these charges could result in a significant jail sentence. We are being targeted by a joint effort between the Union County District Attorney’s Office and essentially an animal rights foundation because of how we manage our livestock which we raise to provide meat for our customers.

What we do is considered immoral and criminal by the California-based Animal Legal Defense Fund and we are being prosecuted by the only special prosecutor in the country whose salary is paid by a private special interest group. Jacob Kamins is the State of Oregon “Animal Cruelty DDA.” His position is funded by an annual grant from the Animal Legal Defense Fund. His home office is the Benton County, Oregon District Attorney’s office, but he appears in cases all over the state, including our case in Union County.’

Read more: Oregon Grass-fed Ranchers Face Criminal Charges for Grazing Animals