BSE, depression cited in case of starved cattle
CP 2005-01-26 03:17:35
WALKERTON -- A central Ontario farmer found guilty of animal cruelty and neglect says the mad cow crisis made him so depressed he starved his dairy cattle to death. Robert Hadwen of Mildmay suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of the stress and depression brought on by the economic losses from the BSE crisis, his lawyer told a judge during a sentencing hearing yesterday.
Referring to a psychiatrist's report, Ted Oldfield said his client suffered a depressive episode that turned him into a minimally functioning person.
Hadwen, 47, pleaded guilty Nov. 26 to failing to dispose of dead animals within 48 hours, failure to humanely dispose of an animal that was close to death and neglecting to provide food and water for his dairy cattle.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary pain and suffering by starving and failing to adequately care for animals in his trust.
It was the breakdown of a man who was an otherwise healthy individual, Oldfield said, arguing Hadwen's behaviour was the result of severe depression and not cruelty.
Judge George Brophy heard Hadwen sold his milk quota in July 2003, two months after the discovery of a single Alberta cow with BSE closed the American border to Canadian cattle.
Shortly after that, Hadwen fell into a deep depression and stopped feeding and watering his animals.
The Crown called it a cruel act of animal neglect and is calling for a three-month jail sentence to be served in an institution and not in the community.
The Ontario Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals went to Hadwen's farm on March 26, 2004, and found 15 dead cattle in a state of decomposition.
A live cow was tethered to one that was dead.
Four calves were found starved to death in their calf hutches.
One cow, lying in manure up to her neck trying to reach some hay near a conveyor belt was being trampled by other cattle reaching for the same food.
Several of the 31 animals found dead were tied in their milking stalls.
All the 19 animals removed by veterinarians were so badly starved they couldn't be saved and had to be put down.
Oldfield wants Brophy to suspend the passing of sentence and put Hadwen on probation or, at worst, give him a conditional sentence to be served in the community.
CP 2005-01-26 03:17:35
WALKERTON -- A central Ontario farmer found guilty of animal cruelty and neglect says the mad cow crisis made him so depressed he starved his dairy cattle to death. Robert Hadwen of Mildmay suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of the stress and depression brought on by the economic losses from the BSE crisis, his lawyer told a judge during a sentencing hearing yesterday.
Referring to a psychiatrist's report, Ted Oldfield said his client suffered a depressive episode that turned him into a minimally functioning person.
Hadwen, 47, pleaded guilty Nov. 26 to failing to dispose of dead animals within 48 hours, failure to humanely dispose of an animal that was close to death and neglecting to provide food and water for his dairy cattle.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary pain and suffering by starving and failing to adequately care for animals in his trust.
It was the breakdown of a man who was an otherwise healthy individual, Oldfield said, arguing Hadwen's behaviour was the result of severe depression and not cruelty.
Judge George Brophy heard Hadwen sold his milk quota in July 2003, two months after the discovery of a single Alberta cow with BSE closed the American border to Canadian cattle.
Shortly after that, Hadwen fell into a deep depression and stopped feeding and watering his animals.
The Crown called it a cruel act of animal neglect and is calling for a three-month jail sentence to be served in an institution and not in the community.
The Ontario Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals went to Hadwen's farm on March 26, 2004, and found 15 dead cattle in a state of decomposition.
A live cow was tethered to one that was dead.
Four calves were found starved to death in their calf hutches.
One cow, lying in manure up to her neck trying to reach some hay near a conveyor belt was being trampled by other cattle reaching for the same food.
Several of the 31 animals found dead were tied in their milking stalls.
All the 19 animals removed by veterinarians were so badly starved they couldn't be saved and had to be put down.
Oldfield wants Brophy to suspend the passing of sentence and put Hadwen on probation or, at worst, give him a conditional sentence to be served in the community.
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