Ontario Turkey Farm Employees Charged Following Animal Abuse Investigation

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

The Ontario Society of the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (OSPCA) has placed 11 charges connected to the alleged animal abuse at one of the country’s top turkey producers, Hybrid Turkeys.

An animal rights group, Mercy for Animals Canada (MAC), released an undercover video in March 2014 at a Hybrid Turkeys farm in Bright, Ont., which shows farm workers abusing the birds. When the farm in question had learned about the misconduct, it immediately fired the perpetrators (five employees) who were identified in the video footage.

Following the release of MAC’s video, the OSPCA launched an investigation jointly with the Ontario Provincial Police and says that it is charging Hybrid Turkeys and the five employees who were involved in the incident.

The 11 charges include: four counts of causing distress by killing an animal in a manner that causes undo suffering, two counts of failing to kill an animal (turkeys) by a method that is humane/minimizes stress or pain, three accounts of permitting distress, one count of failing to provide adequate (medical) care, and one count of failing to provide the care necessary for basic animal welfare.

According to MAC, this is the first time that animal cruelty charges have been laid (in Canada) following the release of one of its undercover video missions. The OSPCA says the first court appearance will be held on August 13, 2014 in Woodstock, Ont.

Related story:

The Story behind Hybrid Turkeys