Employee fined for dragging nanny goat

Monday, April 25, 2011

by PAT CURRIE

Manhandling a sick nanny goat has cost a New Liskeard resident a fine of $500 plus a $110 victim surcharge after he was convicted March 31 by Justice of the Peace Sharon Roberson in Ontario Court of Justice in Haileybury.

After an investigation by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources’ (MNR) Agriculture Investigations Unit, David M. Snider pleaded guilty in the to one count of dragging a sick animal (nanny goat) in direct contact with the ground, contrary to section 16(b) of Ontario Regulation 729 of the Livestock Community Sales Act (LCSA).

"The act is quite prescriptive regarding treatment of animals," said Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) spokesperson Susan Murray.

She said the act specifically targets dragging a sick animal "in direct contact with the ground . . . by the head, horns, neck, feet or tail."

The court found that, on August 16, 2010, 970062 Ontario Limited (Temiskaming Livestock Exchange 1992) held a community sale on its premises. A veterinarian appointed by OMAFRA determined that a nanny goat was too sick to be sold. The owner of the goat did not wish to provide treatment for it, so it was decided that it would be euthanized.

Snider, a company employee, was instructed to take the goat to another area of the property, dragged the sick animal by a forelimb over a paved walkway.

The veterinarian intervened and assisted in moving the goat in a humane manner. The goat was humanely euthanized following this incident.

Murray said the charge is rare, usually laid in only five instances a year.

On March 31, Temiskaming Livestock Exchange also pleaded guilty in the same court to an unrelated charge of engaging in the business of operating community sales without a licence, contrary to section 3 of the Livestock Community Sales Act.

The charge related to a June 12 2010 sale and the company was fined $500 plus a $110 victim fine surcharge. BF