Edgewood, B.C. — The mother and daughter co-owners of Universal Ostrich Farm were released after being detained earlier today by RCMP. The arrests occurred when the pair reportedly refused to leave their ostrich enclosure as Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officials moved ahead with a cull ordered due to an avian influenza outbreak.
The BC SPCA reiterated that it has no authority to intervene in CFIA disease-control decisions but emphasized that any euthanasia must be carried out humanely, minimizing pain, fear, and anxiety for the animals involved.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the cull proceeds under federal oversight.