An Ontario mink farm is being charged with 14 counts of
animal cruelty in the wake of an investigation conducted by the Ontario Society For The Protection Of Animals (OSPCA).
Charges
The charges
laid against the mink farm are for ‘permitting’ and ‘causing an animal to be in
distress’, and for ‘failing to provide adequate and appropriate medical attention’,
‘general welfare’, or ‘appropriate sanitary conditions’ to the minks.
Investigation
The OSPCA
investigation began last February, after reports of poor conditions on the
premises reached the animal welfare organization.
Sick and
injured animals who were mishandled and poorly cared for were uncovered during
the process.
In one
statement, the OSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Jennifer Bluhm said: “No one is exempt from the law when it comes
to providing for the animals in their care.”
Industry in jeopardy
The fur industry is showing
signs of distress throughout much of Canada.
While this investigation
follows a large scale undercover investigation conducted by the Kitchener
Ontario Animal Liberation Alliance, Eastern Canadian fur farms are shutting
down and unable to repay government loans.