WINNIPEG – John Wiebe makes his living hauling a commodity he knows can get him into a lot of trouble.
Chickens.
The truck driver from Niverville, Man. owns a company that specializes in transporting poultry over long distances. He’s grown accustomed to scrutiny on every aspect of how he hauls birds to market.
“We have cars running beside us with a 12-inch zoom lens looking for that special shot just about every time we go out,” he said.
At a seminar on the humane transportation of animals last week, Wiebe told of his operation amidst a hodge-podge of regulations and inspection practices across the country and growing public concern over how livestock is handled by industry.
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In some jurisdictions, an allegation of abuse is enough to have a driver detained or thrown into jail. It turns a seemingly routine task into a venture that is costly, complex and bordering on clandestine.
Because the markets for old laying hens are becoming increasingly sparse and distant, Wiebe’s three trucks are each equipped with $25,000 of specialized ventilation equipment, heat sensors and cellular telephones for the drivers to use in an emergency.
Weather conditions are monitored via satellite dish before the trucks leave on treks which could span six provinces, the northern United States or into the Northwest Territories.
Whenever possible the truckers stay away from populated areas.”We try to fuel at isolated depots away from people,” Wiebe said. “They are not accustomed to livestock, let alone livestock being transported.”
Once a passing tourist complained to police, not about the way the chickens were being carried, but that they were being transported at all. It was enough to have the truck delayed by police for four hours in 32¡ C while they investigated.
Many things can go wrong
But despite precautions, it only takes a surly crew injuring the birds during loading, a freak snowstorm, equipment failure or even an overzealous police officer to have “disastrous” results on the cargo, Wiebe said.
On one occasion, Wiebe’s drivers were jailed and the truck was impounded – birds and all – by an Ontario Provincial Police officer who decided the stock was being improperly transported.
The local humane society intervened to have the truck released so the chickens could be delivered. It took $5,000 in lawyers’ fees and $1,000 in bail to have the drivers released.
Subsequent inspections by humane society officials and Agriculture Canada found no abuse had occurred. Wiebe said he later received a letter of apology from Ontario’s solicitor-general.
