x
Breaking News
More () »

Black Beauty Ranch rehabilitating animals rescued from cruelty in Maryland

Upon arrival, animals are placed in quarantine until they are healthy enough to interact with the other animals.

MURCHISON, Texas — We hear time and time again about animals being seized from their homes due to neglect or abuse. 

Recently, 17 animals being seized from a place in Maryland and brought to the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison.

Credit: KYTX

Ten goats, three sheep and four cows were brought to the sanctuary about a month ago and have been in quarantine ever since. 

RELATED: 17 animals rescued from cruelty in Maryland recovering at East Texas sanctuary

Black Beauty Ranch Director Noelle Almrud spoke with CBS19 about the types of cases they've seen. 

"We typically see a lot of cruelty and neglect exhibit in the form of malnutrition or emaciation," Almrud explained, "They 're usually a lot thinner than they should be, malnourished, they could have bone issues, metabolic bone disease is quite common in some of our animals."

While the ranch was able to take these animals in, it's not always easy even with the amount of space they have.

"Unfortunately we receive more requests for sanctuary placement than we can handle," Almrud said. We started on 80 acres and over the years we've grown into 1,400 acres."

The Black Beauty Ranch was founded in 1979 by Cleveland Amory who was an animal advocate and author. 

Amory started out by rescuing burros out of the Grand Canyon when they were set to be exterminated by the Bureau of Land Management.

"We currently have over 800 animals and over 40 different species; from farmed animals to horses and donkeys, to exotic birds, exotic hoof stock, primates that have been retired from biomedical research or the pet trade, black bears, large cats that have been retired from the entertainment industry, or rescued from substandard conditions," Almrud said.

Credit: KYTX

Upon arrival, animals are placed in quarantine until they are healthy enough to interact with the other animals. 

For the animals from Maryland, it's been a slow process.

"They were, had very little access to food and water, no shelter, they were knee deep in their own manure, and just very thin, and just poor doing," Almrud said. "Once they are healthy, they will be introduced into our other pastures that have other goats and cows, and sheep."

Credit: KYTX

The sanctuary is not a breeding facility, so with this rescue came a nice little surprise.

"One of our goats has had two babies, so that's two additional animals," said Almrud. "The mom arrived pregnant."

Credit: KYTX

All animals that arrive at the non-profit live out their lives at the sanctuary.

 "Our goal is to put ourselves out of business because there's no need for animals to be rescued any longer," Almrud said.

While this sanctuary is a private facility, they do provide educational tours for the public once a month. 

Before You Leave, Check This Out