In July of 2022 it was discovered that Ashley DiFelice, founder and operator of "Twist of Fate Farm Sanctuary" in New Jersey had been neglecting the 100+ animal residents for months (and in some cases even years) and that many had already died due to starvation or untreated illnesses.

 

 

Ashley DiFelice and her then-boyfriend (now fiancé), Keith Garner (@kgarnermusic). 

The sight was horrific - goats, sheep, and pigs had been locked in pens and left to starve, while the survivors were forced to live among the decaying remains of their family members and friends. Horse, donkey, sheep and goat hooves were left ungroomed and were so overgrown that many animals could not walk or had difficulty walking. Sheep were left un-sheared in the hot summer months, and ducks, turkeys and chickens were left without protection at night, leaving them to die violent deaths at the hands of predators. She had many ruminants on the property that could have survived if given access to grassy fields or collected rainwater, but instead she knowingly and willingly locked them up to slowly starve to death. 

 

 

One of the filthy stalls where animals were locked in and left to die a slow and agonizing death. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above: the property was littered with the bones of the deceased animals. The bones sat there for months, all while other animals had to see, smell, and step over the decomposing bodies of their friends and family members (as in the case of sheep Poe/Ethan above). 

 

 

Most of the animals had overgrown and neglected hooves.

About 30 other sanctuaries from around the country stepped in and took in the survivors (at their own expense), and they were also left to clean up the decaying bodies and the animals' remains. The first people on the scene, Caitlin and Len of Rancho Relaxo (@boochaces and @hispees) made an absolutely horrifying discovery of dead animals discarded in a large pile at the back of the property, all of whom had died while under Ashley's “care” and were sadly discarded like trash. The sanctuaries and other volunteers also had to clean up the hoarder-like property, home, and other structures that Ashley left behind that were filled with feces, urine, debris and garbage. Cleaning up and re-homing the survivors took several weeks and the sanctuary volunteers had to run the property and care for the animals during that time, again at their own expense, all while Ashley lived on the property and yet barely lifted a finger to help out. The ones that stepped in to help even found bags and bags of unopened food, and a barn full of hay that was just...never given out to the animals. Ashley purchased food for the animals but refused to give it to them. Among the hundreds of forgotten animals was a semi-paralyzed dog named Bolt who was left without his mobile cart and was forced to drag his body through the poop and trash anytime he wanted to move around. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The five images above are just a few of the examples of the condition of the property when she left it as well as the condition of the property while Ashley was living there with her 7 year old son, endangering his life and his physical and mental health as well. The last photo is his bedroom - the bed is stained with animal waste. 

 

 

 

 

Above, Bolt the dog, skin and bones shortly after his rescue and then happy, healthy and loved at Doe Eyes Animal Rescue (@doe.eyes.animal.rescue). Ashley had raised the money for one of his operations but denied him the procedure, instead spending the money on herself.

The entire time that the animals back on her property were dying, Ashley was out having fun with her boyfriend and young son enjoying outings to baseball games and spas as well as vacations, all with money donated by people under the impression that the money was going towards the care of the animals and that Twist of Fate was a 501c3 non-profit facility. In reality she had lost her 501c3 status in May of 2020, yet was still collecting and spending donations and failed to notify her donors and followers. This is fraud. Ashley had numerous ongoing fundraisers on multiple platforms to raise money "for the animals".

Ashley DiFelice was all smiles in photos of these trips and outings on her boyfriend's Instagram, yet she's claiming that the neglect happened because of a "mental illness", which is a statement that no one in her former inner circle believes. It's also an insult to  anyone that actually suffers from a legitimate mental illness, suggesting that anyone could or would be capable of such vicious cruelty, and the crimes of fraud, theft, and child endangerment. She made many calculated moves in attempt to avoid consequences for her actions such as moving animals before authorities came in one instance to keeping her few well-looked-after animals in plain view near the street of her property to avoid raising suspicions. She refused numerous offers for help from sanctuary owners and friends and deflected any questions, concerns, or requests to visit with stories or lies. Her claiming to have a mental illness is just another willing and pre-meditated move, along with her current "not guilty" plea in court. 

 

 

Ashley DiFelice and her boyfriend (now fiancé) Keith Garner at a baseball game on July 6, 2022. The abuse finally came to light later that month.

Ashley is currently awaiting trial and sentencing. Please join us in requesting that the DA not offer her a plea deal, and that when it comes time to sentence her for her numerous crimes of neglect, abuse, fraud and child endangerment that she is charged consecutively and not concurrently. This means that each animal represented by each charge may have some sense of justice for the horrific acts Ashley caused and concealed, instead of sweeping this mass cruelty case under the rug. While the protective laws for animals in every state of the US are sadly and unfortunately subpar (especially for farmed animals) this does not mean that Ashley DiFelice should be permitted to get away with how she treated hundreds of living, breathing, sentient beings. Currently Ashley is only being charged with 17 counts of animal cruelty, despite the fact that hundreds were neglected and dozens died, some even after they were rescued as a result of their prior treatment or untreated illnesses, like Brienne, Norman, & Johnny. One goat was even found deceased still attached to his mobility cart and had been locked in a barn. Many animals (or their remains) were never accounted for or found. 

 

 

Brienne, rescued and living at Fawn's Fortress (@fawnsfortress) until she passed away shortly afterward as a result of Ashley's neglect.

 

 

Norman, rescued and living at Goats of Anarchy (@goatsofanarchy) until he passed away shortly afterward as a result of Ashley's neglect.

 

 

Johnny, rescued along with three other goats and living at EZ's Rescue Ranch (@ezsrescueranch) until his death the day after his rescue. He suffered immensely before his death and his body simply could not recover from Ashley's neglect. You can view his story here, and read his necropsy report here and here. 

 

 

The cat pictured above is Bravo and the goat is Leader. Leader was originally rescued in February of 2021 from a cruelty case that horrifically mirrored that of Twist of Fate. He was not among the survivors, and his body was not found. 

In addition, Ashley also illegally took animals across state lines to a private property and those animals are unfortunately still under her "care". The welfare of any of these animals is still unknown, even over a year later. We are also requesting the removal of these animals and any other animals that she kept from her former sanctuary or that she has obtained since to be removed from her and sent to live at reputable sanctuaries for the rest of their lives. Because of Ashley's former treatment of hundreds of animals, she should NOT be allowed to keep these animals, and she should not be permitted to "own" or "care" for any animals ever again. If she were really under "mental duress" then she would have surrendered ALL animals in order to get the help that she needs after committing so many cruel and heinous acts, but instead she picked her favorites and quite literally damned the rest. 

We are asking that this case be brought to the light of the public and that Ashley DiFelice's trial be used as an example to ALL animal abusers everywhere. Please sign and share. 

Thank you.

You can read all of the Updates to the petition here with additional info about the case, how to help, and specific animals and rescues that were involved, and the Updates are also located at the bottom of the petition page and by clicking 'Next' in the lower right corner:

Update 1 - How to Help, Update 2 - More Ways to Help, Update 3 - A Few Actions That You Can Take, Update 4 - An Update on the Life of Ashley DiFelice, Update 5 - Johnny's Story, Update 6 - Johnny's Necropsy Report Page 1, Update 7 - Johnny's Necropsy Report Page 2, Update 8 - A Summary of the May 25 Court Hearing, Update 9 - Instructions for Looking Up Ashley DiFelice's Animal Cruelty Case Details, Update 10 - A Summary of the July 14th Court Hearing, Update 11 - One Year Later, Update 12 - Ashley DiFelice's Next Court Date, Update 13 - Rigel, Update 14 - Mint Paddy, Update 15 - Artemis & Apollo, Update 16 - Ethan, Update 17 - Waffles, Update 18 - Waffles' Passing, Update 19 - Brienne, Update 20 - Midge, Update 21 - Clovis, Update 22 - Cecil & Hazel, Update 23 - Gatsby, Update 24 - Laurel & Hardy, Update 25 - Bolt, Update 26 - The 17 Charges of Animal Cruelty Against Ashley DiFelice, Update 27 - The Latest Update in the Case, and Donkeys Benny & Forest., Update 28 - Pluto, Update 29 - Lilac & Runner, Update 30 - Jasper & Eloise, Update 31 - Hank, Papa, & Bruce, Update 32 -  Stefan, Damon, Garth, & George, Update 33 - Boots , Update 34 - Tommy, Update 35 - Elliot, Hamilton, and the other hostages, Update 36 - Ivy, Simba, & Nala, Update 37 - A Summary of the October 12th Court Hearing, Update 38 - Sassy & Phoenix, who saved them all , Update 39 - Tricky, Update 40 - Jovie, Update 41 - Rumi, Update 42 - Shirley & Pepper, Update 43 - Thea, Update 44 - Leader & Robin, Update 45 - Mintaka & Betelgeuse, Update 46 - Yuma, Update 47 - George, Update 48 - Linc, Zero, Lucy, & Mama Smoke, Update 49 - Anastasia, Letta, & the other offsite property horses, Update 50 - Jimi, Cash, & Hendrix, Update 51 - Nilla, Wafer, Nikki, & Tori. , Update 52 - Tony, Vinny, & Pauly, Update 53 - Luna & Star, Update 54 - Trudi, Update 55 - Marshmallow, Update 56 - River, Update 57 - Finneas & Billie, Update 58 - Cosmo & Yarrow, Update 59 - Stormy & Ghost, Update 60 - Aria, Bravo, Cute, & the other barn cats, Update 61 - 25 Horses, Update 62 - Mama Karen, Len, & Leanne, Update 63 - Cupid & Blitzen, Update 64 - Alex, Update 65 - Ashley DiFelice's Next Court Date, Update 66 - Queso, Update 67 - Herbie, Update 68 - Harry, Update 69 - Amelia & Rosa, Update 70 - Bernie, Update 71 - Karen & Buttercup, Update 72 - Rosie & Peppermint, Update 73 - Moose, Update 74 - The Missing, Nameless, & Unidentified, Update 75 - Ashley DiFelice, Convicted Animal Abuser.