Manitoba - Thousands neglected hogs, many dead, found by RCMP

[Pathfinder]

Thousands of hogs, many dead, found by RCMP

By: Staff
21/06/2010 5:33 PM

Approximately 2,000 hogs, many of them deceased and decomposing, were found by the RCMP Manitou Detachment early morning last Friday. At 9:15 a.m. the RCMP received a call from a local area Colony that said they were denied access to the hogs they owned and boarded at a local farm in the RM of Lorne. Under the Animal Care Act, the RCMP and the complainant entered the barn and found the neglected animals, many of them dead. Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives were also contacted and attended to the scene. The investigation will now be handled by Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives and the Office of the Chief Veterinarian Officer. The RCMP will provide further help when necessary.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/br...nds-of-neglected-hogs-many-dead-96839434.html

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Manitoba - Thousands neglected hogs, many dead, found by RCMP

Still no answers in hog barn fire

Posted By Glen Hallick QMI Agency
Posted 1 day ago

The cause of a June 23 fire that destroyed a hog barn southwest of Notre Dame de Lourdes is "considered as suspicious" by the Office of the Fire Commissioner.

The spokesperson for the Fire Commissioner added damages from the fire are estimated to be $1.5 million.

Martin Grenier of Notre Dame has been identified by media as the owner of the hog barn.

Attempts by QMI Agency to contact Grenier were initially unanswered and then he declined comment.

Besides the fire investigation the barn located in the Rural Municipality of Lorne, is also being investigated by the Office of the Chief Veterinarian Officer regarding a complaint involving animal cruelty.

Manitou RCMP said they received a complaint that on June 18 members of a Hutterite colony who were boarding about 2,000 hogs in the barn and alleged they were denied access by the barn's owner.

The Hutterites asked the RCMP to investigate further and they found hundreds of dead and decomposing hogs with more in poor health. In turn the RCMP called in the Office of the Chief Veterinarian Officer.

Then during the early morning of June 23 the barn burned down. The Office of the Fire Commissioner is investigating the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile Dale Douma, lead investigator for the Office of the Chief Veterinarian Officer, said the fire shouldn't make their investigation more difficult.

Douma said there were 2,400 hogs in the barn, with several hundred already dead. The remaining hogs were moved to an undisclosed location before the fire and will remain there until ownership has been determined.

Officials with the RCMP and the Chief Veterinarian are not releasing the name of the Hutterite Colony that boarded the hogs in the Notre Dame de Lourdes-area barn.

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