Several years after BC workers were filmed handling and transporting chickens in an abusive manner, two companies have respectively plead guilty to animal cruelty and fined a total of $300,000..They are also subject to three years of probation..The companies in question are Chilliwack-based Elite Farm Services Ltd. and Sofina Foods Inc. in Ontario, whose names became well known after a 2017 video surfaced of workers stuffing large quantities of chickens into small cages, packed with dead animals and waste..The footage — which also showed the birds being stomped on — was shot by a volunteer for the non-profit organization Mercy for Animals, who was hired as a chicken catcher by Elite Farm in 2017..Allegations of employees “bowling” with the chickens were also investigated..Mercy for Animals provided its evidence to the Canada Food Inspection Agency, which subsequently began its own investigation..The court’s decision found Sofina failed to ensure Elite Farms was meeting minimum standards to ensure chickens were not handled in a manner likely to cause injury or undue suffering..After the charges were initially filed, Elite Farms said the company “has worked hard to make sure we have a company culture that is based on respect for the animals under our stewardship,” adding that is is “educating” employees in respectful animal handling and transport practices..This is a first offence for Elite Farms, while Sofina has a track record of violations according to the court, therefore it was ruled Sofina must pay its fine within six months, while Elite Farms has 10 years..Elite Farms’ president, Dwayne Dueck has apologized for the companies lack of supervision when it comes to the handling of animals and both companies claim to have made significant changes..Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
