The Saskatchewan SPCA has seized almost 900 sheep and four dogs from a farm in the southern part of the province.
“This is definitely the largest seizure that we have ever done,” said Kaley Pugh, manager of animal protection services at the Saskatchewan SPCA.
“I think our previous (record) was about 300 head of cattle a couple of different times.”
The animals were removed from a farm in the Rural Municipality of Key West, near Kayville, Sask., April 1.
The SPCA received a complaint about the farm Feb. 3. Bengough RCMP helped with the investigation.
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The RCMP said Jian Min Liu of Moose Jaw has been charged with one count each for causing unnecessary suffering to sheep, failure to provide adequate food and shelter for sheep and willfully causing sheep to be in distress. Liu is scheduled to appear in provincial court in Assiniboia, Sask., June 12.
Pugh credits the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board for providing the SPCA with local contacts that helped remove, transport and house the animals nearby. It will also help with lambing and shearing before the animals are sold.
“We’ve had excellent help and some very good caretakers to help us out with these animals,” Pugh said.
The four guard dogs had to be separated from the herd but were placed in appropriate homes where they could remain working.
Pugh said cause of death could have been an assortment of issues relating to nutrition, cold weather and lack of care during lambing.
Lack of adequate shelter for lambing ewes was one the main concerns for the SPCA, said Pugh. The sheep are a Rideau Arcott purebred breed that requires more attention to nutrition and lambing management.
Pugh said this past winter broke another record for the SPCA. It has four investigation officers for the province, which involves constant prioritization of cases.
“We had 735 new cases for the year (April 1-March 31),” she said. “It’s the highest number of new cases that we’ve opened in our history. Our previous record was 730 cases.”
