‘It is really unfortunate and heartbreaking,” says Rebeka Breder, who specializes in animal cruelty cases
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On Tuesday, Rebeka Breder weighed in on the controversy around a Canadian Food Inspection Agency order that Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood destroy its entire flock after an outbreak of avian flu. Some of the birds are over 30 years old and have lived on the farm their entire lives.
“It is really unfortunate and heartbreaking,” said Breder, who specializes in animal cruelty cases. “I don’t know how they can kill this many large birds humanely or without cruelty.”
Ostriches can grow to as large as 140 kilograms.
Breder said cruelty to animals is against the Criminal Code of Canada and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in B.C. Section 441 of the Criminal Code states an animal owner cannot wilfully “permit to be caused unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or a bird.”
She said they could not shoot them because it would cause mass panic. They did not have an enclosed space to gas them and it would difficult to round them up and slit their throats.
According to the CFIA, the farm’s plan to kill the birds must be approved by the agency and “adhere to expected standards,” which must be humane and in compliance with the applicable provincial animal welfare regulations and standards.
“The depopulation may be carried out either by the owner, the CFIA, or by a third party,” the CFIA said.
The agency was unable to comment directly on the Universal Ostrich Farms case, but said it provided mental health supports for farmers who had to kill their flocks.
There are also programs to compensate farmers for their losses.
On Jan. 8, Dr. Lyle Oberg, a board member of the Alberta Health Service Board, wrote a letter to the CFIA stating, “I would urge you to not automatically move to complete culling as you would with other smaller birds.”
On Jan. 9, Steve Morissette, the B.C. NDP MLA for Kootenay-Monashee, wrote a letter to the CFIA stating his opposition to the cull order.
Pasitney said that the farm was working with a lawyer to try to get an extension on the Feb. 1 deadline and, beyond that, to try to challenge the order.