Authorities in central Iowa have charged a Collins man with 41 counts of animal abuse, criminal mischief and trespassing. The Story County Sheriff’s department says 21 year old Jonathan Wright is accused of killing or injuring dozens of hogs earlier this month on the Don Struthers’ farm near Collins.
Struthers’ son-in-law Eric Finch works on the farm and says about half of the 41 hogs involved died or had to be euthanized. Finch says 20 hogs were lost, while 21 others are making a recovery. Most of the hogs that were killed or euthanized were market ready. "The total losses right now are between $3,500 and $4,000," Finch said.
Wright turned himself in to the sheriff’s department this morning. Investigators say Wright freed the animals on the night of March 8. He allegedly chased the hogs with his pickup through farm fields, hitting some of the hogs with his vehicle.
Finch told Radio Iowa today that, while his family knows Jonathon Wright, there is no feud between the two families. "As far as we’re concerned, we’re just glad something came about from the sheriff’s department," Finch said. "They did their job and we’re pleased the case is solved. We’re moving forward with farming as we always have." The Struthers’ farm is considered the largest family owned and operated hog farm in Story County.