Barrington Farm Comes Under Criticism After Death Of Bear Cub
SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. (CBS) -- A north suburban farm has come under criticism for the way that it treats animals. The Facebook page for Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch has been barraged by comments complaining about the farm after the death of a bear cub this weekend.
CBS 2's Jim Williams reports the farm is taking the criticism head on.
Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm in South Barrington is always popular this time of year. An added attraction: the animals here for several weeks before Halloween.
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But hundreds of comments on Facebook are taking the farm to task, charging the animals are mistreated. The criticism stepped up when a bear cub died here.
"We were in the tent when this all happened. I KNEW he was dead!!! So sad!" said Jennifer Schullo Illarde on Facebook.
Elizabeth Reynolds is among the critics.
"These animals do not have the proper environment, or diet or care," Reynolds said.
Farm owner Lee Goebbert says the investigation into the bear's death is not finished but insists there's no abuse.
"We been doing it for 25 years and they've always taken really good care of the animals," Goebbert said.
Goebbert's manager Holly Danielson says a necropsy was inconclusive.
"Obviously we hope to get an answer from the veterinarian - the toxicology report. This is something that we take very seriously and is not something that will be swept under the rug or completely ignored.
Mark Schoebel owns the animals.
"People can say all kinds of stuff, the animals are in very good condition," Schoebel said. "You've got to remember this is a temporary show. This is not their permanent residency."
We wanted an independent voice so we asked the Hooves Animal Protection Society to come to the farm.
"As far as what we saw today all the animals look great," said Rhonda Griffin of HARPS. "All the conditions, living conditions clean, impeccable -- a really nice facility."
The animals are set to go back to a big farm in Wisconsin on Saturday. CBS 2 talked to the South Barrington Police, who said they investigated a single complaint at the farm a year ago and found no infractions.
Danielson says the question of whether to continue to keep animals on the property - as they've done for 20 years - will be up for discussion.
