Chilliwack dairy farm workers sentenced to jail in ‘precedent-setting’ ruling
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Chilliwack dairy farm workers sentenced to jail in ‘precedent-setting’ ruling

May 29, 2017

Three dairy farm workers from the Fraser Valley have been sentenced to jail for causing distress to an animal in a landmark ruling.

The sentencing, handed down in Chilliwack Provincial Court last month, stems from a BC SPCA cruelty investigation into Chilliwack Cattle Sales Ltd. after an undercover video showed several employees abusing dairy cows.

Jamie Visser and Chris Vandyke must spend 60 days in jail each; Travis Keefer must spend seven days in jail. All pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges. Visser and Vandyke must also serve six month’s probation and are prohibited from having animals in their custody for three years.

The sentencing of the employees was preceded by the sentencing late last year of  Chilliwack Cattle Sales Ltd. Company president Ken Kooyman and his brother, Wesley, a company director, who pleaded guilty to four counts of animal cruelty. Both were sentenced to pay fines of $75,000 for each of the four counts – the maximum possible. Wesley Kooyman was sentenced to pay $75,000 plus a victim surcharge of $11,250, while Chilliwack Cattle Sales Ltd., in the person of Ken Kooyman, was fined a total of $225,000 plus a victim surcharge of $33,750. Wesley Kooyman was also prohibited from serving as a director or officer of the company or caring for the farm’s cattle (save feeding them with supervision) for one year.

BC SPCA chief prevention and enforcement officer Marcie Moriarty says she believes this is the first time a company has been held responsible for the acts of cruelty by its employees on a farm in Canada.

“We rarely see convictions involving farm animal cases in the context of animal cruelty. This is absolutely precedent-setting.,” Moriarty says.

She says the convictions show the courts are now taking these types of cases seriously. The impact of this investigation was not limited to the courts, but also resulted in changes which included the incorporation of the Dairy Code of Practice into the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which will ultimately assist in improving welfare for all dairy cows.

“We worked hand-in-hand with the B.C. dairy industry, milk marketing board and the Ministry of Agriculture to see lasting changes in legislation,” Moriarty says.

“It was a huge feat for all these parties to come together with the goal of preventing animal cruelty.”

Several other former employees still face various charges related to the investigation. Instead of going to trial, three employees – Cody Larson, Brad Genereux and Lloyd Blackwell – pleaded guilty on June 15. Crown is seeking prohibitions on owning or working with animals and short jail terms for Larson and Genereux.

Jonathan Talbot, the last of the accused, is scheduled to appear in court on June 27.

Original story (March 1, 2016):

Animal cruelty charges laid in dairy cattle abuse case

Crown counsel has laid a total of 20 counts of animal cruelty against Chilliwack Cattle Sales LTD. Company and seven of its employees, following a BC SPCA investigation. Sixteen of the 20 counts are under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and concern the various cruelty acts against dairy cows, while four of the counts are under the Wildlife Act and concern the treatment of a pigeon.

“On June 2, 2014 the BC SPCA received an undercover video that showed employees at Chilliwack Cattle Sales using chains, canes, rakes, their booted feet and their fists to viciously whip, punch, kick and beat the dairy cows, including downed and trapped cows who could not escape the abuse,” said Marcie Moriarty, the BC SPCA’s chief prevention and enforcement officer. “We immediately launched an investigation into the case and recommended charges against the employees identified in the video and the company.”

Company employees Travis Keefer, Jonathan Talbot, Jamie Visser, Chris Vandyke, Cody Larson, and Brad Genereux are each charged with causing distress pursuant to s.9.1(2) of the PCA Act contrary to s.24(1) and one count of failing to care and protect an animal from distress pursuant to section 9.1(1) of the PCA Act. Chris Vandyke, Travis Keefer, and Jamie Visser also face an additional two charges (s.9.1(2) and s.9.1(1) of the PCA Act)  specifically related to taking part in the lifting by a chain, kicking, and hitting of a cow, causing it to be in distress. An additional seventh employee, Lloyd Blackwell, faces charges in association with this incident.

“We are extremely pleased that in addition to laying charges against the individual employees, Crown has also held the company and its directors accountable for this unacceptable treatment of the animals,” adds Moriarty.

John Kooyman, Kenneth Kooyman, Wesley Kooyman, Jeffery Kooyman and Bradley Kooyman have each been charged with causing or permitting animals to be, or to continue to be in distress in violation of section 9.1(2) of the PCA Act and section 9.1(1) which imposes a positive duty on the part of a person responsible to adequately care and protect animals from circumstances that are likely to cause an animal distress. Moriarty notes that this is the first time a B.C. company has been held accountable for acts of animal cruelty on a farm.

Maximum sentences for each count under the PCA Act is a fine of up to $75,000, up to a two-year jail term and up to a lifetime ban on owning animals. Employees charged under the Wildlife Act, could face on a first conviction, a fine of up to $100,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both.

Moriarty said the BC SPCA investigation and the public outcry over the disturbing images of abuse have led to positive changes for B.C. dairy cattle.

“On July 8, 2015 the B.C. government announced it would adopt a new regulation to improve protection of dairy cattle within the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act.”

This new regulation incorporates the 2009 Dairy Code of Canada into the PCA Act, specifically outlining what is considered a ‘generally accepted practice’.

“Anyone causing distress to an animal while conducting a ‘generally accepted practice’ is exempt from prosecution for animal cruelty but until now, these generally accepted practices have not been as clearly defined in B.C. as they are in a number of other provinces,” explains Moriarty. “Having the dairy code as part of the PCA Act gives our constables the authority to move quickly if the code is not being upheld.”

Moriarty adds that the BC Milk Marketing Board has also incorporated the Dairy Code into its requirements for farms, and the Dairy Farmers of Canada have adopted the code into its new national ProAction on-farm assessment program.

“It is important that producers have clear expectations around standards of care for farm animals and that there is a system in place to monitor and enforce these standards,” said Moriarty.

She said the humane treatment of farm animals is an issue that resonates strongly with the public.

“The images in this case were distressing and clearly unacceptable,” said Moriarty.  “British Columbians are increasingly concerned about the treatment of farm animals and we look forward to continuing to work with government and industry on solutions to prevent further neglect and abuse among the 100 million farm animals raised in B.C. each year.”

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