NEW SHARON – Workers at the Augusta humane society were scrambling Tuesday to learn how to care for 33 animals, several of them exotic, seized from a New Sharon farm.

An estimated 70 animals, some illegal, were taken to Kennebec Valley Humane Society and staff members were surfing the Internet to find out how to care for hedgehogs, chinchillas, sugar gliders – a type of flying squirrel – a peacock, pot belly pigs, tortoises, parrots, doves, pigeons and six dogs, including a couple with special needs.

Some of the animals were in the house owned by Carol Murphy.

The society needs donations of food and money to help care for the animals, Executive Director Roxanne Brann said.

Livestock taken, including horses, goats and sheep, are in the care of farmers the state Department of Animal Welfare works with.

The state is seeking a court order to take permanent possession of the animals.

According to the state, the animals were inhumanely treated, malnourished – no food or water, lived in filth and lacked veterinary care. A duck that had no feet had legs that were so infected it had to be euthanized, said Animal Welfare Director Norma Worley.

Murphy, 59, said she was sick for a while and unable to care for the animals or clean the barn.

Worley said the situation fits the profile of an animal hoarder, a behavior similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder, that leads people to collect animals they can’t care for.

Worley said 43 animals were taken from the site Monday.

“When we opened the door (to the house) the stench almost knocked me down,” she said.

Brann said Tuesday that the exotic animals are being kept in temporary quarters in the educational center of the shelter.

Franklin County Animal Shelter has been closed since February due to an outbreak of ringworm among some kittens and was unable to take any of the animals.

Brann said one of the four potbelly pigs was about to give birth soon.

The shelter is crowded now.

“We’re handling it as best we can,” Brann said.

She was looking on the Internet to find out exactly what sugar gliders, the peacock, hedgehogs ate, she said.

“This is a learning lesson for myself and everybody,” Brann said. “We’re trying to be humorous about it but holy cow, it’s not what we’ve ever had here.”

The shelter is in desperate need of straw, pot belly pig food, fruits, vegetables, eggs, bird food, chinchilla sand, high quality kitten and dog food and money to help with veterinary bills and to buy supplies.

“We’re happy to help out and be able to get these animals out of the situation they were in,” Brann said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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