DALTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — 43 hens are recovering at Indraloka Animal Sanctuary after being rescued last week from a shuttered egg-laying facility in Orangeville, Pennsylvania. The sanctuary also took in several alpacas and a goat during the same week.
According to the sanctuary, the birds were part of a larger flock left in a vulnerable situation after the operation shut down. Veterinarians were called in to assist as the facility prepared to clear out remaining animals by the end of the day.
Dr. Leslie Interlandi, and a member of Indraloka’s veterinary team responded, to the urgent request for help, working to remove the hens from the site and transport them to safety.
The hens were transported to Indraloka Animal Sanctuary. Founder and Executive Director, Indra Lahiri, said the birds are now in the sanctuary’s newly built medical barn, where they are receiving care as they begin their recovery.
“We learned about, an egg laying facility that was closing down, and they were planning to take all of their 14,000 hens to slaughter that day,” said Lahiri.
“They’re in our medical barn now, and we’re really just thrilled to have them. And we’re just one by one getting them healthy and situated,” said Lahiri.
Lahiri said the sanctuary also took in several alpacas and a goat during the same week as the hen rescue. She explained that staff were contacted by a neighbor who was concerned about a resident living with dementia and struggling to care for her livestock, prompting the sanctuary to step in and provide assistance.
“We got a call from a very kind woman who was the neighbor of these alpacas and the goats, and they were much beloved by an older woman who had them for many years. And unfortunately, she was suffering from dementia. And so often, as it happens, people didn’t realize how bad it had gotten. And the care of the animals really declined tremendously. I think over the last year or so. So, they’re in pretty rough shape now, but they were much beloved,” said Lahiri.
Lahiri said the alpacas and goat are now being kept separate from other animals so they can recover and regain their health.
“Now they’re in quarantine. So that’s why they’re separated from the other animals in this kind of smaller space right now. Just getting them into a healthy shape and making sure that they don’t have any transmittable diseases, and then they’ll be living with the other animals and for a hopefully a long, happy life. You can see as you look at them that, many of them are quite thin,” said Lahiri.
Officials said the animals will remain in quarantine for a period ranging from a couple of weeks to about a month.
Lahiri also emphasized that rescues like this would not be possible without the support and generosity of the community.