Animal shelters in Delaware are working to find new homes for thousands of chicks that were left in postal trucks for three days.
Many of the chicks, unfortunately, perished while trapped in warm containers without food or water.
Authorities are still trying to figure out how 12,000 chicks ended up abandoned in a truck at the Delaware Postal Distribution Center.
The U.S. Postal Service has acknowledged the situation and is investigating the incident.
A spokesperson for Freedom Ranger Hatchery, based in Pennsylvania, mentioned they regularly raise chicks for distribution across the country. However, due to biosecurity issues, they cannot take the chicks back.
The spokesperson suggested that it is better for the USPS to handle the chicks since the receiving parties are prepared to care for them.
For over two weeks, the surviving chicks have been looked after at the First State Animal Center and the SPCA, according to John Parana.
Last Tuesday, shelters began the adoption process for the birds, but sadly, only a few hundred have found new homes.
There isn’t a precise count of the chicks, as shelters lack a reliable method to track them, though Parana estimates there are over 200,000 available.
Some inquiries about purchasing birds for meat have been turned down, as the shelters are committed to keeping them alive.
The demand for animal care has increased, prompting the need for shelters to operate around the clock and boost staffing, Parana stated.
Funding remains a major worry for these non-profits, with some staff even using personal funds to help sustain operations.
Among the birds rescued were young turkeys, geese, and quail, but the majority were Freedom Ranger chicks.
Parana expressed concern about the growing need for space and resources, noting that it takes about ten weeks for these chicks to mature.
The Delaware Department of Agriculture directed the animals to the shelters after a call from the USPS. They have a partnership agreement with the Animal Center to provide support.
The department claims responsibility for funding the shelters for the chicks, charging a fee of $5 per day.
Jimmy Cruon, a planner for the department, indicated that discussions are ongoing, but Parana mentioned the department is struggling to allocate adequate funds for the chicks.
Both sides agreed that the initial funding rate seemed unreasonable given the current circumstances.
“They mentioned they would pursue the postal service for some reimbursement,” Parana said. “But that doesn’t help us right now.”
