Thousands Of Baby Ferrets, Cats, ‘Mini Pigs’ Infected Under Watch Of Petco Supplier

Animal rights group PETA has accused US animal breeding operation Marshall Farms of violating the Animal Welfare Act after revealing that 250,000 baby ferrets had become sick with canine distemper in late 2022. The ferrets, destined for pet stores and laboratories, were found to suffer immensely before death, with untreated animals commonly dying within 72 hours.

PETA is calling on the US Department of Agriculture to formally investigate the disease epidemic and take action against Marshall Farms to prevent further harm to animals. Aside from the sick ferrets, reports also show high percentages of cats and pigs bred by the company testing positive for harmful bacteria, raising concerns about ongoing violations of the Animal Welfare Act and animal welfare standards in the US. Despite the clear links between cramped breeding conditions and disease outbreaks, the US has yet to address these issues, unlike countries such as Italy and Hungary which have taken steps to reduce zoonotic disease risks by banning fur farming.