
The founder of a so-called animal sanctuary has been charged with animal cruelty after 600 dead animals were discovered at her farm.
Corrinne DiLorenzo founded EARTH Animal Sanctuary in Thawville, IL, US, and was arrested after a horrific scene was discovered at her organisation.
Last year Jodie Wiederkehr, founder of animal welfare group Chicago Alliance for Animals, read of a barn fire at EARTH on GoFundMe.
She was surprised by the news as nobody in her circle of activists was aware of the fire, which seemed unlikely.
Wiederkehr was later informed by an acquaintance of DiLorenzo that all 600 animals at the farm had died – possibly from a fire or from unknown causes.
Mass burial
Board member of EARTH Melissa Summer Pena then reportedly fund a mass burial site containing remains of all the animals.
Many of the animal parts were found in plastic bags, as revealed by Pena on Facebook.





She found skulls of pigs, cats, dogs, birds and turtles. The Chicago Alliance for Animals has built a case against DiLorenzo over the past six months, leading to her arrest.
Viral
DiLorenzo came to prominence in 2014 after posting a video in 2014 of her singing pig named Bentley.
The viral post led to donations from around the world which helped her to open EARTH for rescued farm animals.
Activists who say they helped her with labor and materials to set the sanctuary up claim she then became uncontactable, leading to their investigation.
After discovering the harrowing scene, Wiederkehr told VegNews: “It was simply devastating. This is a person who I had admired before I got to know her and when I did get to know her, we became pretty good friends.
“My first reaction was incredible sadness and the sadness, once I learned more, quickly turned to anger.”
DiLorenzo was charged with Aggravated Animal Abuse, which is a Class Four Felony.
Are punishments for animal abuse too lenient? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
What is a vegan shampoo? And 11 fantastic brands to try
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 27th January 2023
Do you know which ingredients make your shampoo non-vegan? The cosmetic industry has gone through a radical shift in the last few years as more consumers become aware of the impact their purchases make. As a result, the demand for vegan hair care products has soared. Consumers are becoming more conscious of the ingredients in …
Continue reading “What is a vegan shampoo? And 11 fantastic brands to try”
Dietitians claim plant-based diet can stunt growth of infants
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 18th January 2023
The NHS Start for Life website has added information about vegan and vegetarian babies. Nutritionists and dietitians have raised concerns about the health implications of vegan diets for babies following the publication of the NHS’s vegan infant nutrition guide. The NHS Start for Life website, which provides guidance for new parents, has added a new …
Continue reading “Dietitians claim plant-based diet can stunt growth of infants”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
Continue reading “QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert”
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
Continue reading “QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?”
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …