ROY, Wash. – Dozens of abused animals are recovering at a Roy sanctuary after being removed from what rescuers describe as one of the most shocking cruelty cases they have ever seen.
Disturbing Discovery in Rochester
On Saturday, Heartwood Haven Sanctuary responded to a call about animals in distress on a Thurston County property in Rochester. When rescuers arrived, they found pigs, chickens, and waterfowl living in deplorable conditions — without food or water, surrounded by filth, and alongside rotting carcasses.
“The pens were full of feces. There were dead bodies in pretty much every single pen,” said Kate Tsyrklevich of Heartwood Haven.
In total, the sanctuary took in 67 animals. Tsyrklevich explained they were told to either rescue all of them or watch as they were sent to slaughter. “Once we saw the conditions they were in, we decided to take everything, including the birds,” she said.
Emergency Care and Quarantine
The rescued animals are now in quarantine fields at Heartwood Haven, where they are receiving veterinary care. Staff are conducting disease testing, including bloodwork, fecal exams, and mouth swabs, before making the animals available for adoption.
Many were severely malnourished. Tsyrklevich noted one pot-bellied pig whose spine and hip bones were visible.
“Pigs should never be this thin. Where you can see bones sticking out like that,” she said, adding that many are also suffering from mange.
The lack of water was particularly dangerous for pigs during summer, as it’s their only way to regulate body temperature.
Signs of Recovery
Despite the trauma, some animals are already showing progress. Pigs are wagging their tails and building nests in hay, an early sign they are regaining comfort and strength.
Heartwood Haven rescues 200–300 animals each year, with about 85% coming from cruelty cases. This summer has been especially busy, with multiple large-scale rescues in recent weeks.
Call for Community Support
Tsyrklevich says rescues of this magnitude are resource-intensive, requiring volunteers, supplies, and funding.
“Because we deal with cruelty cases on a large scale multiple times a year, we could always use volunteers, donations — those things make the world go round for us,” she said.
Ongoing Investigation
FOX 13 reached out to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office for more details on the seizure but has not yet received a response. The investigation into the property owner and potential charges is ongoing.
For now, the priority is rehabilitation — and giving the rescued animals a safe, healthy future far from the neglect they endured.
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