Central Missouri Humane Society takes custody of dozens of barnyard animals

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Central Missouri Missouri Humane Society is scrambling to find homes for more than 70 farm animals after a massive Boone County impoundment case concluded.

Columbia/Boone County Animal Control seized the animals "several weeks ago," according to CMHS. The animals arrived at the Humane Society on Monday.

The Humane Society is housing them temporarily while the investigation continues. The group of 71 farm animals includes 24 sheep, goats, and lambs, along with 45 chickens and two turkeys of varying ages.

"Large impoundment cases like this are heartbreaking, and caring for so many animals at once requires a tremendous amount of coordination and resources," Julie Aber, executive director of CMHS, said in the news release.

CMHS operates primarily as a companion animal shelter and is unequipped to routinely house livestock. Shelter officials noted that all of the livestock have been evaluated and treated by a licensed veterinarian since arriving at the facility.

The shelter has opened a specialized vetting process to place the sheep, goats, poultry and turkeys into appropriate agricultural settings.