HADLEY — About 400 farm animals, including 317 taken from a Hadley sanctuary in January, will be featured at an open house and adoption event in Methuen this weekend.
The Come Say Hay event is being held at the Massachusetts Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell at Nevins Farm, 400 Broadway, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The farm has been operating at full capacity due to law enforcement activity, according to an official with the organization, with most of the animals seized from Cloa’s Ark on Lawrence Plain Road.
Patrick Veistroffer, who has run Cloa’s Ark in Hadley since 2018, is facing 21 felony counts of animal cruelty and seven misdemeanor counts of unlawful possession of wildlife in Hampshire Superior Court in Northampton.
Veistroffer was arraigned on the charges on April 15 and his case is pending, a Northwestern district attorney’s office spokeswoman said. He is expected back in court on June 18.
Among the animals seized were domestic birds, like cockatiels, parrots, parakeets, doves and pigeons, farm birds like chickens, ducks, turkeys and peafowls, and the goats, cows, pigs, sheep, rabbits and one pony, and some wildlife, such as a deer and some Canada geese, that were allegedly being kept illegally as pets.
Cloa’s Ark operated with the help of volunteers and donations, and no full-time staff, since first opening in Marlborough in 2002, starting with a rescued cockatiel. A $30,000 budget was used to feed the animals, to buy hay and grain, and to pay for veterinary bills.
Up until this weekend, the animals Veistroffer had at Cloa’s Ark, and others taken by the organization, were unavailable for adoption while court proceedings were underway.
Kaycie McCarthy, equine and farm animal outreach and rescue manager at the MSPCA-Angell, said in a statement that the organization is the only shelter system in the region equipped to accommodate large volumes of farm animals from seizures and surrenders.
“Needless to say, our space and resources are stretched thin,” McCarthy said. “Now that we’ve gained custody of these farm animals, we’re finally able to start finding them homes.”
The open house will ensure that people understand how to meet each animal’s unique needs. During the event, potential adopters will have the chance to meet the animals and speak with shelter staff to begin this matchmaking process.
Most of the animals are birds, including chickens and ducks, but there will also be some horses, goats, cows and pigs, along with zebus, which are available for the first time through the MSPCA-Angell. One expected challenge will be placing roosters.
Those intending to adopt should not expect to bring the animals home from the event, but many of the animals are expected to be ready for placement within days or weeks.
“Regardless of the type of animal, many of them came to us in need of medical care and are at different stages in their rehabilitation journeys,” McCarthy said. “By hosting this open house, our goal is to start identifying thoughtful matches now so everything is lined up when the time is right for each animal to go to their new home.”
No RSVP is required, though an inquiry form can be submitted in advance at mspca.org/openhouse.
