rowid,hash_id,code,kind,repeat,desc,narrative
3428,23011900609e252e,2.40(b)(3),Direct,0,Attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (dealers and exhibitors).,"The facility failed to identify an animal with a significant medical issue. On 9/16/23 at approximately 9:40AM a member of
the public informed USDA personnel that there was a calf who couldn’t stand up, and who had been in the same position
since yesterday. USDA personnel observed the animal, which was lying down with its back legs splayed out in an
abnormal position. USDA personnel notified one of the auction veterinarians, who oversaw the movement of the animal
into a trailer. The animal was unable to stand so employees carried the animal. The veterinarian stated that the animal
had not been consigned to the auction this weekend, but was left over from an earlier sale. The veterinarian stated that he
did not have the authority to treat the animal and so it was loaded on a trailer and taken off site without receiving medical
treatment. Daily observation of animals is important for the prompt identification and treatment of medical issues. Animals
who are not observed adequately may suffer from medical problems that go untreated. Correct by 9/17/23 by ensuring
that daily observation is conducted so that medical issues are identified and communicated to the Attending Veterinarian
promptly and so that medical care can be provided."
3429,23011900609e252e,2.131(c)(1),,1,Handling of animals.,"In the warm room building, members of the public were observed touching rabbits who were in cages stacked on wagons.
Additionally, during the auction, in the staging areas near the sale ring, members of the public were observed touching
several animals including a capuchin monkey, a kinkajou, a fox, and skunks. In these areas, although the facility
sporadically had readily identifiable employees on hand, the employees did not serve as effective barriers to stop
members of the public from touching the animals. Effective distance and/or barriers are important for ensuring that
members of the public do not cause harm to the animals or become injured themselves. Correct by ensuring that animals
are exhibited so there is minimal risk of harm to the animal and public and the facility must ensure that there are barriers
with sufficient distance to assure the safety of both."
3430,23011900609e252e,3.61(a),,1,Primary enclosures used to transport live rabbits.,"A majority of the primary transport enclosures for rabbits did not contain adequate handholds or projecting rims.
Approximately 90% of enclosures did not have projecting rims to ensure adequate ventilation is maintained, or handholds
to prevent tilting and contact with the animal. Projecting rims and handholds on transport enclosures is important for
ensuring adequate ventilation when cages are stacked, and proper handling when moving cages. Correct by ensuring that
rabbit transport crates are complaint with the AWA regulations including having projecting rims and handles."
3431,23011900609e252e,3.63(a),Direct,0,Food and water requirements.,"On the morning of September 15, 2023 at approximately 9:00 AM Eastern Time, UDSA personnel inspected rabbits which
were located in the “warm room” building; most or all of these rabbits had been present overnight. Some of the rabbits
had no drinking water. When water was provided some rabbits drank ravenously for a prolonged time. A black male
Flemish giant rabbit (tag #6659) drank for over 4 minutes, requiring the water cup to be refilled. A grey and black female
rabbit (tag #4058) drank for over 2.5 minutes when water was provided (this animal had small babies in the enclosure with
her). A female white lionhead rabbit (tag #4059) drank for more than 40 seconds when water was provided (this animal
also had small babies in the enclosure with her). The facility representative was informed and the remaining rabbits who
didn’t have water were promptly provided with water. One female white rabbit and 7 kits (tag #4102) was extremely
restless and hungry. The rabbits were trying to reach a half-eaten carrot that was beside their cage. When USDA
personnel placed the carrot into the cage, the rabbits ravenously ate it, pushing each other out of the way. The kits
continued to lick the bars of the cage where the carrot had been. Facility staff were informed and the rabbit was provided
with food. The morning of 9/16/23 some cages of rabbits had empty or no water bowls. USDA personnel requested that
water be provided to the cages, and when it was provided the rabbits showed signs of extreme thirst: A brown lop eared
rabbit (tag 5626) drank water for 4 minutes, a grey rabbit (tag 4454) drank for 2 minutes, a brown Flemish giant rabbit (tag
7725) drank for over 2.5 minutes, and 5 young rabbits in one cage (tag 7716) drank for 5 minutes (pushing each other out
of the way to get to the water bowl). Food and water are important for animal health and wellbeing. Animals that do not
have adequate food and water may suffer from thirst, hunger, dehydration, low blood sugar, or death. Lactating female
animals require more water in order to produce milk for their offspring. Correct by 9/17/23 by ensuring that rabbits in
transport for more than 6 hours have adequate quantity and quality of food and drinking water."
3432,23011900609e252e,3.87(a),,0,Primary enclosures used to transport nonhuman primates.,"A capuchin monkey (tag 8219) was contained in a transport enclosure that had no handle, no protruding rim for
ventilation, and for which the openings in the sides of the enclosure were large enough to allow the animal to reach
through. Cages for other nonhuman primates including an infant ring-tailed lemur (tag 8036), and an infant squirrel
monkey (tag 6756), also had ventilation openings that were large enough to allow the animals to put limbs outside the
enclosure in a way that could cause injury to the animal. The squirrel monkey was observed repeatedly putting its arms
through the openings in the wire door of the enclosure. Animals that put body parts outside of their transport enclosure
may become injured or may injure other animals nearby. Correct by ensuring that nonhuman primates are contained in
enclosures that keep all body parts inside the enclosure."
3433,23011900609e252e,3.137(a),,1,Primary enclosures used to transport live animals.,"Many animal transport enclosures did not have projecting rims, adequate ventilation, or handles. For example, two
chinchillas (tag 4545 and 4544) were in wood and wire enclosures that lacked handles and projecting rims. Three foxes
(tag 7702, 7701, 7700) did not have adequate space to turn around and make normal postural adjustments. A fox (tag
7871) was contained in a wire crate that did not have handles or protruding rims. A juvenile opossum (tag 7870) was
contained in a crate that only had ventilation openings on the top. Numerous hedgehogs were contained in wood and wire
transport enclosures that did not have protruding rims or handles. A lack of appropriate openings, adequate space and
ventilation, projecting rims, and handholds on primary transport enclosures can make it difficult to remove the animal in
the case of an emergency, allow for inadequate ventilation particularly when the cages are stacked when placed on the
cart to move between the auction floor and holding area, and can cause unintentional contact between the handler and
the animal during transport. Correct by ensuring that all primary transport enclosures for subpart F animals contain
openings that are always easily accessible for emergency removal of live animals, contain projecting rims or other devices
on the exterior walls to prevent obstruction of the ventilation, provide the animals with adequate space and ventilation
openings on the sides of the enclosures, and provide adequate handholds for lifting animals without tilting or risk of
contact with the animal."
3434,23011900609e252e,3.162(a),,0,Primary enclosures used to transport live birds.,"Two primary enclosures failed to securely contain the birds within- one Pigeon escaped on 9/14/23, and a pheasant was
observed in the rafters of the barn on the morning of 9/15/23. Numerous birds were observed sticking their heads or tails
outside of their enclosures. Many enclosures were constructed so that birds could not be safety removed in the event of
an emergency. Birds that escape or put body parts outside of the enclosure may be come injured or killed. Correct by
9/17/23 by ensuring that bird transport enclosures securely contain the birds to prevent injury and escape.
This inspection and exit interview were conducted with the facility representatives.
Additional Inspectors:
Jonathan Tomkovitch, VETERINARY MEDICAL OFFICER
Mark Sanderbeck, ANIMAL CARE INSPECTOR
Charles Palmer, VETERINARY MEDICAL OFFICER
Lauren Murphy, VETERINARY MEDICAL OFFICER n"