An Alberta man has been fined $10,000 and prevented from owning or
caring for animals for 10 years after pleading guilty Nov. 28 to
neglecting his animals.
Barry Graham of Drumheller, Alta., was given the largest fine in
Alberta history for neglecting livestock. It was also the longest time
any livestock producer has been prohibited from owning or caring for
animals. Owners of companion animals, like cats and dogs, have been
given lifetime prohibitions, but not livestock owners.
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Morris Airey, director of enforcement for the Alberta Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the conviction sends a strong
message that people must provide for the needs of their animals.
“I see it as a benchmark to reflect society’s views on care of
livestock.”
For Alberta SPCA special constable Chris Whitfield of Red Deer, the
work began almost two years ago on Jan. 2, 2001 when he was called to
the Drumheller farm. He seized 138 horses, 119 cows and three dogs from
the farm after observing a lack of feed and poor management.
The day Whitfield arrived was bitterly cold with snow and there was no
supplemental feed for the animals. Charges were laid under the Animal
Protection Act and the Criminal Code for neglecting to care for the
animals.
Shortly afterward, Graham paid for all the expenses of caring for the
animals while they were off his farm, and they were returned to him.
On March 28, 2002, 48 cattle were seized, but they were returned April
16 after Graham again paid for the expenses of caring for the animals.
Over the two year period while the case made its way to court, 21
horses and nine cattle were found dead at the farm.
“That’s what’s frustrating, is it took so long,” said Whitfield.
Under the Alberta legislation that guides the Alberta SPCA, if a
livestock owner pays for the expenses of looking after his animals
while they are seized, the animals must be returned.
“Our act limited us a bit,” said Whitfield.
Susan Church, Alberta Farm Animal Care Association manager, said the
message should be clear that the public and the rural community do not
tolerate this kind of animal neglect.
“The size of the fine is a very strong message.”
Church said the biggest complaint her group gets is that fines are too
small to act as a deterrent to animal neglect.
In another SPCA matter in recent weeks, the association removed 47
horses from a central Alberta farm, alleging the animals weren’t being
given adequate feed.
Janet Litvak and Edward Pyesmany of Winfield have been charged under
the Animal Protection Act for failing to provide adequate feed, said an
SPCA News release
news.
The animals were removed after the two refused to reduce the herd or
provide adequate feed during a monitoring process when the horses’
condition continued to deteriorate, said the release.
“The livestock industry expects all owners of livestock to responsibly
care for their animals,” said Church.
“Neglect and abuse are not tolerated.”
