Tiverton animal sanctuary looks for homes for chickens from livestream house

TIVERTON, R.I. (WLNE) — The West Place Animal Sanctuary said it is urgently looking for homes for chickens that it said were recently rescued from a home in Cumberland.

Director of Development and Communications Patrick Cole said the 10 chickens were taken from a house where a livestreamed reality show, Fishtank Live, was taking place, and the chickens were allegedly subject to abuse.

A spokesperson for Fishtank argued against this characterization, however.

“According to the complainant, the contestants on the show were ‘ashing their cigarettes on them’ and verbally mentioned abuse,” he said. “The producers discussed abandoning the domestic birds outside or leaving them on the highway.”

The spokesperson for the livestream said that the chickens themselves were taken from “horrible conditions” at a local market and that no charges were ever filed.

“The sanctuary confirmed the chickens were completely unharmed upon their inspection. We fed them live on camera and they roamed openly in the house,” the spokesperson said. “The chickens were not ‘rescued’ from us. We appreciate Tiverton taking them, but most would argue there would have been no issue killing the chickens to consume, which we didn’t even want to do.”

A screenshot of the livestream where the chickens can be seen. (West Place Animal Sanctuary)

Cole added that the shelter can only keep some of the chickens themselves, as it already has 100 animals under its care.

“We have found a safe home for three [chickens], but we are seeking good homes for the other chickens,” he said. “We are also seeking donations to help with the care of these birds who were carelessly and cruelly purchased for a reality show stunt.”

More donations to the shelter can be given here.