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THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015
chilliwacktimes.com
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Still no charges laid in cattle abuse case BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com
O
ne year after animal cruelty charges were recommended against a Chilliwack dairy farm and eight employees, an animal rights group is concerned with the delay. “We hope the Crown is taking this case seriously and will move forward on charges soon,” Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) spokesperson Peter Fricker said in a statement issued Monday. The case involves Canada’s largest dairy farm, Chilliwack Cattle Sales, located on Prairie Central Road in Chilliwack. Last June the national media spotlight was on the community and eight
It’s been more than a year since animal abuse video at local dairy farm led to investigation and boycott employees were fired after a video was released by the vegan-lifestyle organization Mercy For Animals (MFA) that showed hitting, punching, kicking and hanging of cows. At the time, Lorie Chortyk of the BC SPCA said she had seen a lot of disturbing animal abuse videos, but “I have seen nothing that sickened me like this.” In an interview Monday, Fricker said a year seemed like a long time compared to other animal abuse cases. “This was a very high profile case that had a lot of public interest. The video that appeared on television
screens across the country showed some pretty graphic abuse of animals so I think there was an expectation, at least in the animal welfare community, that there would be some charges laid fairly soon.” Despite the delay, the regional Crown counsel said the case had not been pushed aside. “It’s still under review,” James MacAulay told the Times. “I expect a decision fairly soon.” He added that it is not unusual for a decision to press charges to take this long “in these circumstances.” Asked if he could be more specif-
ic about what “fairly soon” meant, MacAulay said, simply, “No.” While the Vancouver Humane Society expressed concern the case was not being taken seriously, Chortyk at the BC SPCA is not worried about the delay. “It is longer than we were expecting but we know Crown always does a thorough job,” she told the Times Monday. “We are confident they are dealing with it properly.” Chortyk said the SPCA has checked in with Crown over the past year “and they have been doing their due diligence.”
Canadian Press photo
Fallen cows get tangled in a rotating milking system at Chilliwack Cattle Sales in a video released in June 2014 that caused outrage. It was widely reported last year that charges were to be considered against the eight employees who were fired { See CHARGES, page A3 }
‘Crack shack’ has gotta go A BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com
property on the northwest corner of First Avenue and Broadway Street called a “crack shack” by neighbours has been remediated, according to city hall. But Ivan and Ann Coutu say after nine years of dealing with thefts, vandalism, unsightly premises, noise, drugs, prostitution and bad smells at the house, they don’t believe it and Paul J. Henderson/TIMES
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Broadway Avenue resident Ivan Coutu in front of the First Avenue house next to his that has been the source of numerous problems over the last nine years.
they’ve had enough. First Avenue neighbour Colombe “We want our neighbourhood Fex held a sign that said: “Tear down back,” Ann said last Friday. your crackshack. No more renters In an act the couple called a last squatters.” Ann’s sign said “Nine years resort, the Coutus made signs on of problems” on one side, and on the cardboard and staged other, “Get this proba one-hour protest on lem off our backs. the sidewalk in front No more.” Ivan’s sign “We want our of the house. said: “Slum property. neighbourhood Absentee Vancou“People really want this gone,” Ivan said ver landlord.”During back.” of the property owned their one hour of sign by someone who lists waving, dozens of cars - Ann Coutu Vancouver as a home driving through the address. intersection honked The Coutus and in support.”Thank two other neighbours held signs you!” one person yelled as they and hung others from a fence on honked and waved. The property in their property: “Absentee land- question has been the subject of 28 lord accountability,” “Protect resi- complaints since 2007, according dent homeowners,” and “Enough is { See SHACK, page A4 } enough,” among others.
604.792.5151 8645 Young Rd. Chilliwack www.jadamandsons.com
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