Centennial Livestock Auction, Fort Collins, CO 2/16/11

Investigators arrived at the auction at 10:45 am and noticed that there were at least 900 sheep and approximately 700 goats on the premises. A stock trailer owned by one of the slaughter buyers was parked in lot, already loaded with goats and sheep on two floors.  The animals were so overcrowded that they could not move around or lay down.  In three of the inside pens were approx. 100 baby goats, which looked to be less than a couple of weeks old. Investigators were told that all of the babies had been delivered to the auction the night before and had not received any food or water since.  Several appeared dehydrated or sick. Two baby goats had died and the other babies were trampling over their bodies in the crowded pen. 36 pigs were sold, among them a boar with a serious left front shoulder injury.  None of the sheep, goats and pigs had access to water. The auction management has posted a sign: “No feed and water unless requested”. This is not acceptable, especially if animals have to spend an extended period of time at the auction. Animals’ Angels will file a complaint and urge the auction management to change this policy.  Kill buyer Charles Carter arrived for the horse sale at 3:00pm and bought 37 of the 42 horses sold that day. Many of the horses were in poor condition, emaciated and with multiple leg injuries. One had a fresh cut over the right eye, most likely a transport injury. Carter loaded all of his horses on a double deck trailer.