287 Head Seized..........Theft?

[stubblejumper]

It takes a lot of calls to get the SPCA involved. There are two sides to this story.

[burnt]

Here in Ontario the OSPCA will show up on a mere complaint by a passerby or disgruntled neighbor.

They no have any credibility in the rural areas and have more power than the police, with no one overseeing their activities. They have charged dog owners for their dogs having tartar on their teeth.

They are run by a collective of animal welfarists who have stated that "every farm is an opportunity".

So if the western chapters are anything like those here in the east, they are just a bunch of brain-dead zealots who love to stage high profile "rescue ops" for the purpose of raising money from bleeding hearts who see them as "protectors of dumb animals".

[stubblejumper]

A large seizure of cattle last month in south-central Saskatchewan is stirring up some controversy.

After the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was alerted to nearly 300 head without enough water or food, it gave the owners five days to fix the problem.

After that, on May 21, semi-trucks pulled into Allen and Bryan Lowden's farm in the Assiniboia area with an RCMP escort.

assiniboia, saskatchewanHundreds of cattle were seized near Assiniboia in south-central Saskatchewan.The men were arrested, the cattle seized.

The SPCA says the animals were in distress, although one of the owners says the seizure went too far.

"They said they would only take the ones in poor condition," said Allen Lowden. "But they took pretty well all our breeding animals. All they left us was ... some big steers and some bulls."

Lowden said he wasn't given enough time to make things right.

Today, the rest of his animals are being sold at auction.

The SPCA's Kaley Pugh said she can't comment on the particulars of the case because the investigation is ongoing, but she did say this isn't the first complaint about this farm.

"We have been dealing with these folks for a significant amount of time," she said.

The SPCA doesn't act on its own, but requires the approval of a veterinarian before proceeding with a seizure, she said.

"It's a last resort," she said.

Charges have been laid under the Animal Protection Act and the Criminal Code, Pugh said.

[ColevilleH2S]

The,"no comment because they are still
investigating" is a bullshit statement.
If they were not finished their
investigation, why did they proceed with
the action? She makes it sound like they
run a cart-before-the-horse operation.

[TSIPP]

I went to the sale and bid on a few 3 week old calves and put them back with there mothers, its sure nice to see.

[sumdumguy]

Thsnk you TSIPP. There is no reason that
animals should be treated poorly. Not in one of
the richest and most bountiful nations in the
world. As for feeling sorry for this " poor farmer". I
think these cattle were not being looked after
properly according to reports by credible
professionals.

[TSIPP]

sum, I do agree, the smaller animals where to feed in separate pens, but with record snow and cold its hard to do. I had to start my d8 cat way to many times to clean a spot just to feed cows.

[Choice2U]

He had 287 head....what kind of BS comment is "I didn't have enough time to get things right?" You don't grow to 287 head unless you can handle them. I'll side with SPGA on this one unless I find out more. Where there is smoke, there is usually fire and bad management of animals is a crime in my books. How stupid does one need to be to not understand the need for adequate feed, water and shelter from the wind.

[sumdumguy]

I know it was a bad winter, but where there's a
will, there's a way. We had similar issues with
blowing snow every other day and 8 foot banks
to feed a herd, but still you gotta keep them as
protected as possible and fed. If you have too
many, there's an auction house.

[Choice2U]

"They said they would only take the poor ones"....WHY ARE THERE ANY POOR ONES? If sick, a vet should have been notified.

[hobbyfrmr]

i agree with choice. there should not be poor
ones.
i dont understand people who call themselves
cattleman/ranchers but never have enough time
to do a good job of anything, and somehow
never be able to "afford" anything especially
products (like good feed) to keep their herd
healthy.
I am willing to bet this farm/ranch had bales.left
out in the field over winter.

[TSIPP]

when there is 400 head there is big ones fat ones and ity bity skinny ones, cant say there were any sick ones that were not treated.

[TSIPP]

sume yes the biggest problem hear was not selling the ones most people usualy sell...

[Painter]

I have a neighbour that has over 60 dead and
counting here in alberta and the kicker is that this
is not the first year. Spca was out but had to
follow afac's guide lines to work with the "guy"
after he lost calves and numerous cows , like
dozens last year. Some of the cows which were
being eated alive by coyotes and birds.
Now the spca was out again this passed week to
deal with the over 60 dead but haven't been able
to seize them and there they are still in the " care"
if thats what you want to call it.
We need some teeth in the spca in alberta to get
these a$$holes from having animals cause they
dont look after them and let the. Starve and died.
I am a producer and i know there are challenges
at times but if you run low on feed , buy it, or sell a
few head. That is what a producer does looks
after the well being of the animals he is to make a
living off of.
As for all you a$$hole who suppoe these guy that
the spca has to come out too you are just as bad
as them!

[TSIPP]

painter pull you head out of your arse, the cows were on feed and these guys did chores all day, just because someone somewere had a bone to pick dosent make this right.

there was a lot of big changes in the sspca after all the wrong was done