South Yorkshire Times January 7, 1967

Tetanus Scare After Mink Are Found Dead

Fears that “raiders” who broke into a Mink farm at Swinton killed three of the animals may have caught a tetanus infection from scratches or bites were partly allayed when West Riding Police learned that the mink had been killed by a dog.

Patrol cars and loudspeaker vans had toured Swinton on Monday urging vandals who had broken into the Hazeldine Mink Farm, Fitzwilliam Street, Swinton to see their doctors for immediate treatment should they have received any bites or scratches.

It was at first thought that they must have received some sort of injury when killing the animals.

However, on Tuesday the farm owner told police that he had since examine the pelts and thought a dog was to blame.

Still Stands

“We don’t know whether the dog broke in or was set on the mink,” said a police spokesman, “but the warning still stands. If anyone was there they may have been bitten no cloak. Mink aren’t very clean creatures, and there is a possibility that tetanus could develop from a wound inflicted by them.”

Mr B.C.B.Butler, farm owner, said: “I think youngsters must have been involved, and that was why we were so worried about bites. An experienced person would never handle the creatures – they are too vicious.

“Two animals were killed outright, and a third has since died. I processed the pelts and found them full of teeth marks, so it looks as though a dog was involved.

“However, the mink may still have been handled, and I would advise anyone who has been scratched or bitten to contact a doctor straight away. Tetanus is deadly.

The mink were worth about £20 each

The pelts of the mink believed to have been killed by a dog at Hazeldene Mink Farm.