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Owners of the seized cattle from the Stoughton area are under investigation

A livestock farm operator located north of Stoughton attracted the attention of the Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan (APSS).

A livestock farm operator located north of Stoughton attracted the attention of the Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan (APSS).

After conducting an investigation on a reported case the APSS, with the assistance of the Fillmore RCMP, seized over 300 cows on Feb. 13-14.

“We did execute a search warrant in Stoughton area. We deemed that there were animals in distress on the property or properties, and subsequently removed over 300 cattle from those locations,” said APSS executive director Don Ferguson.

The animals, found on different properties, were in a poor condition. Ferguson pointed out that under the Animal Protection Act, an individual cannot allow an animal to be in distress.

“In the new Animal Protection Act from September 2018 distress is defined, but is not limited to, being deprived of food or water in sufficient quantity to maintain an animal in good health, that they have reasonable protection from injuries, heat and cold; they also have access to shelter, veterinary care, and they are not kept in conditions that will significantly impair the animal’s health or well-being over time,” said Ferguson.

As the investigation is going, the APSS has the possession of the seized cattle. According to the Animal Protection Act, animals taken from the owner have to be delivered either to the local humane society or to a caretaker. Since the humane society is not set up to take in 300 cows or cattle in general, APSS had to find a caretaker.

“We take them to a caretaker and that is any location that will be able to provide them with adequate food, water, shelter, easy access to the veterinarian. In a lot of cases we use the auction markets that are set up for the caring and feeding of the livestock,” said Ferguson.

No decisions were made yet in relation to the case. The offenders could face charges under the Criminal Code of Canada pertaining to animals, specifically Section 446, 1b and Section 4 of the Animal Protection Act for allowing animals to be in distress.

When the investigation is complete the owner will have an option to claim the animals back. Yet, they will have to meet a number of conditions.

“They would be required to pay the costs associated with the seizure and then we, as Animal Protection Services, would have to inspect the location where the animals would be taken to, to ensure that they weren’t in distress and the location would have to be able to show that they can provide adequate food, water, shelter, veterinary care, all of those things prior to being released and returned back to the owner,” Ferguson said.

The previous experience suggests that usually the costs associated with the seizure are generally prohibitive from people getting their animals back. In most cases, the financial situation or other human-related issues keeps those livestock operators from maintaining the proper conditions to begin with.

“So obtaining the funds and correcting the things that would be required just generally don’t happen,” Ferguson said.

If the owner doesn’t claim cattle after the period of time that is allowed in the regulations, the APSS can either sell, gift or disposition animals.

“In the case of livestock, they are generally checked, ensured that they are able to go through the auction, and they are generally sold then,” Ferguson said.

Since the investigation wasn’t finalized at the time of the interview, no names could be released. Ferguson only mentioned that individuals involved with this farm operation were already known to the APSS.

Ferguson also noted that due to the extreme cold weather and the limited quantity and quality of feed this year the APSS had an increased amount of reports in January and February throughout Saskatchewan.