BC SPCA officers spent two days at a Shawnigan Lake property, where more than 200 cows were found to be living in deplorable conditions.
Officers seized 216 "badly neglected" beef cattle, including about 80 weaned calves, after their owner “failed to relieve the distress of the animals.”
The BC SPCA will be recommending charges of animal cruelty to Crown counsel in the case.
“Our officers were on site on Jan. 19 and 20 and finally cleared the property at 9:45 pm last evening,” says Kaley Pugh, regional manager of cruelty investigations for the BC SPCA.
Pugh says the conditions the cattle were living in were “amongst the worst she has ever seen.”
The warrant was executed after the owner failed to comply with several orders to address issues with the animal’s care, including inadequate shelter, lack of sufficient feed and water, living conditions and lack of veterinary care.
The BC SPCA said the cows were being kept in areas where they were knee-deep in mud.
“The animals were suffering from a wide range of issues and illness, including emaciation, lameness, eye infections, as well as pneumonia,” says Pugh.
Pugh added that the BC SPCA is grateful to the many individuals and organizations who assisted in the rescue of the cattle.
The Malahat Fire Department brought a tanker truck to fill water troughs, and the BC Dairy Association helped with access to resources to complete the removal of the animals.
Haulers worked “tirelessly” to make sure the cattle were loaded and transported safely under “extremely challenging circumstances.”
The animals are currently being cared for at an undisclosed location where they are receiving ongoing veterinary treatment and other care.
