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January 22, 2022 - 1:03 PM
More than 200 cows were seized from a Vancouver Island property after the B.C. SPCA determined they were living in some of the worst conditions the animal welfare society's cruelty investigator has ever seen.
The B.C. SPCA executed a warrant to remove the cattle after the owner was ordered to meet the basic needs of the animals and did not comply, according to a press release from the B.C. SPCA.
The order required the owner to address inadequate shelter, the lack of sufficient feed and water, poor living conditions such as leaving the cattle kept knee-deep in mud, and lack of veterinary care.
Kaley Pugh, cruelty investigator with the B.C. SPCA, said the cattle were living in conditions that were "among the worst I’ve ever seen."
“The animals were suffering from a wide range of issues and illness, including emaciation, lameness, eye infections, as well as pneumonia,” she said, in the news release.
Officers were on site Jan. 19, 20 and 21 and finished clearing the property at 9:45 p.m. Jan. 21, Pugh said in the release.
READ MORE: B.C. SPCA returns 38 seized dogs to Kamloops-area breeder
A tot of 216 neglected beef cattle were seized including 80 calves.
Pugh credits other volunteers and organizations for their help rescuing the cattle.
“We received invaluable help from the Malahat Fire Department, which brought a tanker truck to the location to fill water troughs,” she said.
“We also received assistance from the B.C. Dairy Association, who helped us access many of the resources we needed for such a large seizure, and tremendous help from the haulers who worked tirelessly to ensure the cattle were loaded and transported safely under extremely challenging circumstances.”
The cattle are now being cared for at a secret location and receiving ongoing vet care. Animal cruelty charges have been recommended Crown counsel.
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