Activists suspected in mink farm incident

BUTLER, Pa., June 10 (UPI) -- Officials in the fur industry say they suspect animal rights activists were likely behind a raid on a Pennsylvania mink farm that ended with animals dead.

Nearly 2,800 minks were released in last week's incident at the Oakwood Mink Farm in Butler County and more than 400 animals were killed, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said Sunday.

The deaths of scores of minks, paired with the beheadings of two pet dogs at the farm, were being investigated by state and federal authorities, as well as the Fur Commission USA.

Commission official Teresa Platt said allegations that animal rights activists were behind the attack prompted the group's involvement. Platt said the incident was reminiscent of prior attacks linked to a group known as the Animal Liberation Front.

However, a spokeswoman for that group denied the allegation, citing the deaths of animals as proof.

"The fact that animals were injured in a wanton and cruel fashion indicates to me that animal rights activists were not behind it," ALF spokeswoman Camille Hankins told the newspaper.