CALGARY (Staff) – Too often a missing cow goes unreported because the owner thinks she strayed, when actually she may have been stolen.
Alberta’s one-man livestock investigation section, Emil Smetaniuk of the RCMP, said only about 400 are recovered of the approximately 1,500 cattle reported missing in this province each year. By the time the producer makes a complaint, often too much time has passed to find the animal, he said.
Based in Calgary, Smetaniuk began April 1 to fill a vacancy from the late 1980s when the province turned livestock thefts over to RCMP general investigations. Intensive lobbying by producer groups got one person back in a job once done by five.
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Take care of property
Speaking to the Alberta Cattle Commission, Smetaniuk said as business people they must watch over their property: “You have to take care of your property… you have a responsibility to look after, care for and maintain your goods.”
He will work with detachments, rural crime watch and brand inspectors. Reports of missing animals are sent to the brand office in Stettler and are fanned out by computer network to police and brand inspectors all over the province. Smetaniuk will also be notified.
Because animals have to be hauled to market, he stressed that local detachments check more loads on trailers and trucks, and ask to see the necessary paperwork.
Manifests are required whether animals are going to an auction mart or to slaughter. These checks will also act as a record of who is moving livestock. A manifest isn’t needed when an animal is being hauled to a vet or if it’s being moved on foot to pasture, he said.
“It is a requirement, and some of you people may end up getting a $100 ticket because you didn’t have a manifest, but I think you should be pleased that you got stopped and checked. They are doing that for your protection.”
During summer, the quiet season in the cattle business, Smetaniuk’s goal is to expand the rural crime watch system to every Alberta community. The inspector can be reached at 403-291-6200.
