Referral alleges systemic animal cruelty, painful killings of dogs and unlawful euthanasia practices at North Rose breeding facility
NORTH ROSE, N.Y, September 22, 2026. – The Coalition to Save the Marshall Dogs has asked the Wayne County district attorney and sheriff to open an immediate criminal investigation into alleged violations of New York animal-cruelty and veterinary-practice laws at Marshall Farms Group Ltd., also known as Marshall BioResources.
The 12-page referral, submitted Aug. 31 by attorney and former federal prosecutor Bonnie S. Klapper, alleges that dogs at Marshall’s North Rose commercial breeding facility were killed by untrained, non-veterinary employees using painful abdominal injections while the animals were fully conscious. The coalition asks authorities to conduct an unannounced inspection, investigate potential criminal violations and protect animals as warranted by law.
The referral is based on a former employee’s account, photographs and video taken inside the facility, a veterinary expert report and U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection records. The allegations have not been adjudicated, and filing the referral does not establish criminal liability.
“Every day that passes is another day of suffering for the thousands of animals confined at Marshall,” Klapper wrote in the referral.
Allegations detailed in the referral
- Painful killings by unqualified personnel. A former employee alleges that, from approximately early 2021 through late 2022, employees who were not veterinarians or certified euthanasia technicians routinely killed dogs by lethal injection. When a vein could not be located, the employee says dogs were injected in the abdomen without sedation or anesthesia and screamed, thrashed and struggled before dying.
- Healthy dogs killed for commercial reasons. The referral alleges that healthy dogs were killed to create cage space, because they were no longer useful for breeding or because of traits such as blue eyes or kinked tails.
- A dog died during mask training. The former employee alleges that dogs were restrained on tables with tight-fitting masks over their snouts and that one dog panicked, became tangled in the harness and died.
- Unsafe and unsanitary conditions. The referral describes alleged rough handling, cold buildings, preventable puppy deaths, accumulated feces, unsafe flooring, contaminated feeding containers and failures to identify or treat painful medical conditions.
- Possible concealment from inspectors. The former employee alleges that workers received advance notice of USDA inspections, conducted intensive cleaning before inspectors arrived and suspended mask training during inspections.
Veterinary expert calls for immediate intervention
Dr. Sherstin L. Rosenberg, a California veterinarian with more than 25 years of experience, reviewed the evidence for the coalition. Her report concludes that the described killing method did not satisfy federal or recognized professional standards for euthanasia and could cause severe tissue damage and extreme pain. She also concluded that the alleged killings were not medically justified and that the described confinement conditions failed to meet minimum shelter, sanitation and feeding requirements.
“These findings would warrant immediate veterinary intervention at any facility where they were observed,” Rosenberg wrote.
Coalition requests law-enforcement action
The coalition asks Wayne County authorities to investigate potential violations of New York Agriculture and Markets Law Sections 353, 353-a and 356 and Education Law Section 6512. It also requests coordination with law enforcement and authorized humane officers for an unannounced inspection and, where legally warranted, the seizure and protection of animals.
The referral was submitted on behalf of the Coalition to Save the Marshall Dogs by Klapper. Participating organizations listed in the filing include The Simple Heart, Rise for Animals, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Voters For Animal Rights.
About the Coalition to Save the Marshall Dogs
The Coalition to Save the Marshall Dogs is an alliance of animal-protection advocates and organizations seeking accountability and protection for dogs bred at Marshall BioResources.
Honey Paws and the March for Animals
Honey Paws, an animal welfare initiative of Greater Honeycomb, is participating in the March for Animals campaign through financial and outreach support. Honey Paws created a dedicated merchandise store benefiting the march, with 85% of profits helping to cover expenses such as insurance, permits, signage and support vehicles. The organization is also contacting elected officials along the 200-mile route from Albany to Marshall BioResources in North Rose to invite their participation and broaden awareness of the campaign.
About Honey Paws
Honey Paws is an initiative of Greater Honeycomb dedicated to supporting animal rescue and welfare organizations and advocating for more humane treatment of dogs bred in commercial puppy mills. Honey Paws combines awareness, advocacy and sustainable fundraising initiatives to help nonprofit organizations generate resources and expand public involvement in animal welfare.
You can read the full lawsuit here.