Ashley Fox, owner of CNY Event Ranch in Hannibal, was contacted to help with what is likely the largest animal rescue in Oswego County history after State Police discovered over 150 animals in poor conditions on a farm near Sandy Creek. The animals included horses, livestock, cats, dogs, exotic birds, and fish. Volunteers from the Oswego County SPCA coordinated the massive rescue effort, moving nearly all animals to safer locations with the help of community members and veterinarians. Fox and other first-time rescuers took in animals, including horses and fish, many of which appeared neglected but not physically abused.

The farm’s owner, Jeffrey Zehr, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty, marking a repeat offense from a 2019 case. Tanya Semchenko, head of the SPCA chapter, highlighted the limitations of New York’s animal cruelty laws, which mostly classify such offenses as misdemeanors with relatively light penalties. The rescued animals are now receiving medical care and rehabilitation, with efforts ongoing to place them in permanent, safe homes. The community’s response and volunteer support were praised as extraordinary in managing this unprecedented rescue.