Four teenagers from Strathmore, Alta., have been charged with trespass and one of them charged with endangering cattle after a flock of sheep was harassed and injured.
Sheep fall under the cattle classification in the criminal code.
The owners of the sheep, David and Mel Smart, said in an e-mail they were upset and disappointed in the level of charges, which, upon conviction, would result in a fine of $287.
On June 22 RCMP were contacted by local residents who twice saw a group of teenagers chasing and beating the sheep.
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A lamb was found dead and an adult sheep was hurt so severely it had to be put down.
The animals were penned on the Strathmore Agriculture Society Grounds to graze grass and weeds. At the time of the attacks they were on the rodeo grounds, which are enclosed by a high chain link fence.
The Smarts have since added a guard dog to protect the flock of 300.
“A six foot chain link surrounds the grounds, so predators were not considered a risk, but human predators were not even thought of,” David Smart wrote.
