ALF says it raided Ore. fur farm

4/24/2008, 12:54 a.m. PT The Associated Press

JEFFERSON, Ore. (AP) — The Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for releasing mink and destroying breeding records at the Jefferson Fur Farm this week.

The Fur Commission USA, an industry group, reported that more than 50 mink were taken, but all were recovered. The dollar loss for the destroyed breeding records was $5,000, said Teresa Platt, the group's executive director.

FBI agents spent Wednesday morning gathering evidence at the farm, agency spokeswoman Beth Ann Steele said. The released mink were discovered about 6 a.m. Monday, Steele said. Guard dogs started barking, and the owners woke up and were able to recover them all, Steele said.

A press release placed online Tuesday by the Animal Liberation Front contained a threat against the farm's owners. It was signed by ALF-Cascadia.

"Consider this your first warning," it read. "Tear down this death camp and let the mink live free. If you don't, we will be back to finish the job."

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Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com