Summerland animal sanctuary hit with avian flu subject of threats, false petitions

An animal sanctuary in Summerland, recently hit with avian influenza, is facing threats and is the subject of online petitions it has nothing to do with.

Critteraid provides a home for a variety of rescue animals including house pets, and barnyard animals including ducks and chickens.

The team has been navigating its most challenging time in its history since their rooster was infected with avian flu just over two weeks ago.

On Oct. 25, the rooster got sick and died, and while arrangements were being made to send the bird to a lab in the Lower Mainland for testing, more chickens died and two very sick ones were euthanized, according to the Critteraid website.

On Oct. 29, lab tests confirmed the chickens had died of avian flu.

The sanctuary was closed down for all but essential personnel while staff at Critteraid worked with the Interior Health Authority to ensure any humans potentially exposed to the virus were tested and to follow CFIA protocols for containment and lockdown of areas of the property.

On Nov. 8, the team euthanized five ducks that were several years old.

“We took the heartbreaking option to compassionately euthanize our 5 ducks ourselves and not have the disposal team conduct it so we could ensure it was done our way with love and dignity,” the website reads. “We loved them dearly.”

On Nov. 9, a petition surfaced on two media sites. One posted on Change.org is entitled Stop The Forced Cull of Critteraid Animals, while the same copy was posted on Care2 Petitions under the title Stop the CFIA Slaughter at Critteraid Sanctuary!

The petition claims the facility “fell victim to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s stringent regulations following a confirmed cates of H5N1 avian influenza, leading to the culling of their beloved chickens, ducks, and peacocks.”

The petition states the decision to cull the animals was not made by Critteraid but imposed by the CFIA and that Critteraid is committed to opposing the culling of animals in any form. It goes on to point out the need for the public to push for alternative measures to protect both public health and the animals involved. The first petition has garnered two signatures while the latter has 1000.

Critteraid made it clear on their website they have nothing to do with the petitions or any statements made in those petitions.

The facility has also been fielding questions from the public that include: “Is the CFIA bringing dead, massacred, beheaded ostriches to the farm?” and “Have we received ostriches from a farm in Enderby?”

Critteraid answered ‘no’ to both questions.

According to the most recent online updates, Critteraid has been receiving threats online, but it isn’t clear what the threats are and who is making them.

Avian flu is a highly contagious viral disease that affects mostly birds but can affect animals and humans. It is commonly spread by migrating birds through direct contact, droppings, feathers and contaminated surfaces, and is currently spreading to farms in British Columbia.

The Critteraid sanctuary sits under a migratory bird path and wild birds regularly land on the property. It remains closed while essential personnel are working with an epidemiologist to ensure all other farm animals are protected.

No humans have tested positive or had symptoms of sickness.

Critteraid president Lori Stewart did not return an iNFOnews.ca request for comment before publication.