The rally was held across the street from the United Feeds Mill, which was destroyed in an Aug. 9 fire. An animal rights group, the Animal Liberation Front, has taken responsibility for both the fire and mink release. The group also has claimed responsibility for dozens of similar incidents all over the country this year, including at least seven in Wisconsin since 1996. Those who raise minks for a living say the attacks by animal rights groups have dramatically changed the way the way they do business. But not anymore.
Every stranger is a suspicious person.
It's 10 hours of work on the farm and 14 hours of security, he said. If animal rights extremists succeed in putting mink farmers out of business, they will just target other farmers who raise animals, she said. Gene Meyer, whose minks were released just before the fire, said the incident has prompted him to give up the business. About 40 farmers were at his home the morning after the minks were released. He recovered all but 50 of the minks, although 28 of them were dead, Meyer said.