Animal sanctuary staff in Summerland, B.C., ‘devastated’ by avian flu case

[Shiloh]

Source: https://winnipeg.citynews.ca/2025/1...-summerland-b-c-devastated-by-avian-flu-case/

Animal sanctuary staff in Summerland, B.C., ‘devastated’ by avian flu case
By Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press
Posted November 9, 2025 12:20 pm.
Last Updated November 9, 2025 2:43 pm.

VICTORIA — An animal sanctuary in B.C.’s interior says it is facing a “heartbreaking” experience after discovering a positive case of H5N1, also known as avian flu.

Critteraid, based in Summerland B.C., says in a social media post dated Nov. 7 that its team and volunteers are “devastated” by the discovery because their animals are at the centre of everything, and “the emotional weight of this moment is immense.”

Critteraid says on its website that it provides a home for a variety of rescue animals, with 54 animals listed on its website.

They include house pets, barnyard animals such as pigs, goats and cows, as well as ducks and chickens.

The post says that the situation has required “immediate action” and “coordination” with Interior Health, veterinary professionals and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the organization promises to handle the situation with transparency and accuracy.​..

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...n-avian-influenza-reports-deaths-of-19-birds/

B.C. animal sanctuary shares update on avian influenza, reports deaths of 19 birds
By Lisa Steacy
Published: November 11, 2025 at 7:07PM EST​

An animal sanctuary in B.C.’s Okanagan is sharing more information about an outbreak of avian influenza staff and volunteers have described as “devastating” and “heartbreaking.”

Critteraid, which takes in cats, dogs and farm animals, posted a notice online last week saying it was closed due to a positive case of H5N1 avian influenza.​

In an update Monday, the organization provided additional details, saying its resident rooster, Delta, became sick and died on Oct. 25. The next morning, another three birds were found deceased. Over the next two days, eight more chickens died and two were euthanized, according to the statement.

Avian flu was confirmed by lab testing on Oct. 29.

On Nov. 8, the five resident ducks were euthanized with “love and dignity,” according to the statement.

“Charles was 18 years old, Martin was nine, Cossette was 12, Bernie seven and Thelma five years old. We loved them dearly,” the organization said.

The farm has been closed to everyone but essential personnel since the virus was detected, and Interior Health has been notified and is doing contact-tracing among staff and volunteers, who handled the birds without any protective gear prior to the virus being confirmed.

“Essential personnel at the farm are following strict protocols while they do their tasks, to minimize their risk. We are working with an epidemiologist to make sure that all of our other animals at the farm and cat sanctuary are protected,” the statement continued.​..

 

[Pathfinder]

Critteraid


1d ·
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has reached out to us. How privileged we are to have all of you, our community and such support. I usually try and present content in a more presentable fashion, but we felt it more important to respond. So spelling errors and all, here it is. Your support is medicine to our soul, thank you all so very much.​

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https://www.facebook.com/critteraid...ccMyXY1ib8Jn8QNADAcWddofayKyhTtGcfieVtnmN233l

 

[Pathfinder]

Critteraid's Post

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Critteraid

17h ·

Hi everyone,

We are now on day 21 of what has been an intense crash course in Avian Flu. There are still many questions we are navigating, and we want to share our experience — not as experts, but as volunteers committed to learning and sharing with our community. We are still closed.

This post is long, and we’ve included information on:

How Avian Flu is transmitted,

Guidance we’ve been given on navigating risks,

The challenges of managing sanctuary animals within a system primarily designed for containment in the commercial/consumption industry vs live out their lives in a sanctuary.

Updates on our peacocks.

We are not trying to be controversial. This is simply an effort to share information and experiences so that together we can research, learn, and improve safety for all sanctuary animals. If you disagree with anything, please know that we are volunteers doing our best — not professionals in this field — and we ask for respect in your responses.

While 21 days does not make us experts, it has shown us that there is a real opportunity to create new platforms for sanctuary-level guidance and solutions, and we are committed to participating in that process for growth in safety process for our animals.

For anyone who wants to learn more pertaining to animal sanctuaries, we will continue to share what we’ve learned. For those who understand that this is a journey and not perfect, thank you for supporting us as we work to turn this challenging experience into a learning opportunity for all.

Question 1: Is avian flu airborne?

No — avian flu is not airborne for the general public.
It does not spread through the air like seasonal flu or COVID.
You cannot catch it by:
Walking near a sanctuary or farm
Breathing outdoor air
Living beside a property where birds have been sick
Driving past barns
The only environment where airborne risk can exist is inside enclosed barns where infected birds are actively shedding virus into dust or droplets.
This affects only workers inside those barns, not neighbours or the community.

Bottom line

Avian flu is not airborne in the community.

Human infection requires direct, close exposure to sick or dead birds or heavily contaminated material. The general public is not at risk from the air.

Question 2: Can CritterAid volunteers who were exposed pass avian flu to the public?

No — exposed volunteers cannot pass avian flu to anyone.
Here’s the factual breakdown:

1. Avian flu does not spread person-to-person
Worldwide surveillance shows almost zero human-to-human transmission of avian influenza.
There has never been a case of someone catching it from:
Casual contact
Talking with someone
Sharing air
Being in the same room
Passing someone in public
For a person to infect someone else, avian flu would have to mutate into a human-transmissible form — and that has not happened.

2. Exposure ≠ infection (and none of the volunteers are infected)
Being “exposed” simply means being near an affected environment.
It does not mean someone is sick.

3. How are we dealing with biosecurity protocols prevent transmission
Volunteers followed strict containment procedures, including:
PPE in Coops
Footbaths & shoe disinfection
Restricted movement
Cleaning & sanitation
Everyone is cleared through Interior Health that was directly exposed to birds, as we are now past monitoring time frame

4. Just for reference and information to share: The virus cannot travel from an exposed person to the public
There is no mechanism for a volunteer to:
Breathe it out
Cough it into the air
Spread it through clothing
Pass it on in stores, workplaces, or homes
Avian influenza requires direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments.

BOTTOM LINE FOR THE COMMUNITY

Avian flu is not airborne in the community.

It does not spread person-to-person.

CritterAid volunteers cannot pass avian flu to anyone.

The community is completely safe.

The Peacocks: Formal Appeal: Consideration for Peacocks

(I wrote the following letter to CFIA)

I am writing to respectfully request reconsideration regarding the euthanasia order for the peacocks residing at our sanctuary.

We have fully complied with all directives concerning our chickens and ducks. Veterinary appointments are scheduled for Friday to ensure humane euthanasia is carried out in accordance with current biosecurity and containment requirements. While this has been a heartbreaking process as these birds have been with us for as long as 18 years and have names, personalities and are very loved, we understand the necessity of these measures for the protection of animal and public health.

However, I wish to present relevant information for your consideration regarding the peacocks. These birds have been completely isolated from the lower areas of the sanctuary and from all waterfowl. They are not waterfowl species and therefore do not share the same exposure risk factors associated with avian influenza transmission in aquatic environments. Their enclosure is located a significant distance from the affected zones, with no shared food, water sources, or direct contact with other birds under restriction.

Our goal is not to challenge the intent of the directive, but to provide clear context that may allow for a science-based, risk-mitigated exemption in this case. We remain committed to full transparency, continued observation, and any enhanced monitoring or testing deemed necessary to ensure compliance and containment.

Like the ducks, these birds have been part of our sanctuary for many years and have not displayed any clinical signs of illness. But unlike the ducks, because of their separation of locations and protocol, we believe there is a justifiable and manageable path forward that would allow them to be spared without compromising broader containment efforts.

I deeply appreciate your consideration of this request and your understanding of the emotional and ethical complexities involved in such difficult decisions. Please know that we remain cooperative and committed to following all recommendations to ensure both animal welfare and disease control are upheld.

With sincere respect and gratitude,

We are still in an active investigation regarding the Peacocks as the CFIA has to cover their mandates as well. We do not have an answer to date if they will be spared or not.

This experience has also raised serious questions about the future of “domestic animals” and how sanctuaries can reasonably operate under standards designed for commercial farms. I am still completing the required reports on the peacocks, but this has been an eye-opening process—highlighting both what we are doing correctly and what is simply beyond our control. As a sanctuary, it is impossible for us to meet commercial-level biosecurity requirements for confined for consumption animals vs live their lives forever in safety.

In every other respect, we meet the expectations placed on us. This situation is a harsh but instantly makes us look at the important part we may be looking at in what does the future hold for all domestic animals. We do believe that we may have been put on this path to assist the future generations to navigate as we are truly left with many concerns and not alot of answers. We truly don't know what this means for the future of our sanctuary. This is not meant to send shockwaves but we have been given a glimpse of what the options to us and our animals are. Now as a sanctuary, we are unsure of what this means. I have more questions than answers but we will share. Thank you for the support.

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https://www.facebook.com/critteraid...G1w2rVwFQqCnrQJM7CJscHZmsaeSjzYAMZFkZoRktJFRl

 

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

An animal sanctuary is contesting the order to cull its peacocks

Charlotte Groulx
Published on November 18 at 4:54 PM CST

Following an outbreak of the H5N1 subtype avian influenza virus, the Critteraid animal shelter, located in Summerland, British Columbia, is asking the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to spare its peacocks from its culling order, as they would be isolated from the rest of the facility.

On Facebook (in English), an excerpt from the letter addressed to the ACIA expresses its plea to spare the peacocks, as they are located a considerable distance from the affected areas . However, it states that the refuge has complied with the guidelines of the ACIA regarding the euthanasia of two chickens and five ducks.

Between October 25 and 28, a dozen birds died at the animal sanctuary. On October 29, the sanctuary was informed that its chickens had avian influenza of the H5N1 subtype, after sending samples to laboratories.

Since then, the farm has been closed to the public, with the exception of essential personnel .

Critteraid shelter did not respond to Radio-Canada's request for an interview.

The slaughter exemptions of the ACIA

ACIA, when contacted about this, was unable to comment on the exemption request, as it is still pending. They did, however, share information regarding challenges to slaughter orders in recent years.

Since 2021, of the 571 farms infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, the ACIA granted a total of 14 slaughter exemptions under their sanitary slaughter policy.

The organization mentions that, in certain exceptional circumstances , a population considered as a distinct epidemiological unit may be exempt from slaughter in an infected establishment.

Three categories for recognizing a distinct epidemiological unit :

Separate units (physically separated and equipped with sufficient biosecurity measures);

Genetically rare species;

Pet birds.

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

A… human dimension?

In the wake of the highly publicized case of the Edgewood ostrich farm in British Columbia, Carl A. Gagnon, a tenured professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Montreal, expects more livestock owners to try to challenge culling orders.ACIA.

In its Facebook post, the animal shelter mentions that the euthanasia process is heartbreaking , because some birds have lived with [them] for almost 18 years, have names, personalities and are very loved .

Nevertheless, the Critteraid team says they understand the need for these measures to protect animal and public health .

The size and age of the farm

According to Carl A. Gagnon, it is important to distinguish commercial poultry farms from backyard poultry farms , where the birds are seen as pets.

With 20,000 birds, I'm not sure an owner could name each one, let alone know exactly what their names are [...]. It's easy to develop certain feelings when you have four chickens. When you have 20,000, it's not quite the same.

When I saw the ostrich case, I thought it was only the beginning , says the man who is also the scientific director of the Veterinary Virological Diagnostic Laboratory at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

He adds, however, that the Supreme Court of Canada's refusal to hear the appeal of the owners of Universal Ostrich Farm could also deter some from taking the path of legal challenge.

While the approach of the Summerland refuge differs from that of the Edgewood farm, notably in its respect for the slaughter order concerning chickens and ducks, Critteraid 's plea also contains traces of anthropomorphism, that is to say, the animal is considered as a human being , points out Carl A. Gagnon.

The animal is considered a full member of the family with all the rights, as if it were a person , he continues.
A quote fromCarl A. Gagnon, Full Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal

He points out that British Columbia is currently the province most affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza. This is attributed to its geographic location – rich in valleys and bodies of water – which attracts migratory birds, and to a high concentration of commercial poultry farms and backyard flocks in the same region.

Veterinarian and bioethicist Caroline Kilsdonk says that ACIA does not call for slaughter on a whim , but as a preventative measure against the spread of the avian flu virus, which poses risks to animals and humans.

She explains that if a certain number of euthanasias are performed, a significant number of other deaths can be avoided.

The veterinarian and bioethicist notes a similarity between the two cases, those of ostriches and peacocks: These are animals that live much longer than the average poultry. [...] This [means] that the people who work with them can get to know them and become attached to them.

So, it's certain that the slaughter orders, in this context, are more difficult to live with , she concludes.

Charlotte Groulx

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2208379/grippe-aviaire-summerland-paon-abattage