Sheriff search seems to counter Petaluma duck farm abuse claim

PETALUMA -- An initial Sonoma County Sheriff's Department investigation Wednesday seems to have found that claims of animal cruelty at a duck farm west of Petaluma appear to be unfounded, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

The sheriff's office on Thursday clarified that the operation searched Wednesday was Reichert Duck Farm at 3770 Middle Two Rock Rd. and not Sonoma County Poultry, a Penngrove-based producer of the Liberty Ducks brand sold in local stores. Jim Reichert, who describes himself as a fourth-generation poultry farmer, started Sonoma County Poultry in 1992. John Reichert is general manager fo Reichert Duck Farm, which said it was founded in San Francisco in 1901.

A video recorded by a worker at Reichert Duck Farm affiliated with the animal-rights group Mercy for Animals prompted the Sheriff's Department to send deputies, detectives, two veterinarians and an animal-control officer to the property, according to the Press Democrat. One of the vets told the publication that the practices are in line with industry standards.

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