Latest news with #KatiePasitney
CTV News
21 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
‘Do the right thing': Ostrich farm facing cull order urges CFIA to allow birds to be tested
Katie Pasitney is shown in this photo on her family's ostrich farm in Edgewood, B.C. The fight to stop hundreds of ostriches on a B.C. farm from being culled after an avian flu outbreak earlier this year could end up in court again. The family that owns Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood said they will appeal a judge's earlier decision that sided with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. 'We are moving forward with an expedited case management conference and seeking that emergency stay order once again,' said Katie Pasitney, daughter of the farm owners. She said supporters from across the country continue to show up at the farm, concerned for the fate of close to 400 ostriches. 'We have people just watching the highways to give notice if they see a long caravan of RCMP and people coming,' she explained. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency did not make anyone available to speak to CTV News Tuesday, but said in a statement last week that is continues to plan for the 'human depopulation' of the birds after 69 of them died of avian flu. But the farm said they haven't had a sick bird in more than 145 days and are calling on the CFIA to allow for independent testing. 'We've been living shock and trauma for five months, just asking (the CFIA) to do the right thing, which is test. Test the animals,' said Pastiney. The inspection agency has fined the farm $20,000 after it said the farm 'failed to undertake appropriate biosecurity risk mitigation measures' and didn't report the initial cases of illness. It's something the farm denies. 'We absolutely reported it,' said Pastiney. 'We called our vet. We did our due diligence,' she said. The CFIA also said, 'Allowing a domestic poultry flock known to be exposed to HPAI to remain alive means a potential source of the virus persists. It increases the risk of reassortment or mutation of the virus, particularly with birds raised in open pasture where there is ongoing exposure to wildlife.' 'We do not pose a health risk. We know it,' said Pastiney. She also refuted CFIA claims that the farm did not provide evidence of scientific research and said the information was providing in meetings. The devastating toll of avian flu has seen more than 8.7 million birds culled in B.C. Universal Ostrich is fighting to stop their birds from being added to that count.
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Globe and Mail
B.C. ostrich farm operators say birds pose no threat, call for independent testing
The operators of a British Columbia ostrich flock that's facing a cull order after an avian flu outbreak are calling for independent testing of the birds to prevent their 'unnecessary destruction.' Katie Pasitney, whose mother co-owns Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., issued a statement on Monday, saying the nearly 400 ostriches are healthy and have shown no signs of illness for more than four months. The statement says the flock poses no threat and should be tested for ongoing avian flu infections, saying the ostriches have acquired herd immunity to the virus and are a valuable scientific resource. Canada wants to kill 400 ostriches. Sadly, it's the right thing to do The statement is in response to a lengthy update from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Friday that said it had fined the farm $20,000 for failing to co-operate with anti-avian flu measures. The agency said says it issued two violation notices to the farm for failing to report illnesses and deaths among the flock last year, and failing to follow quarantine orders. It says the type of avian flu infection at the premise is a mutation not seen elsewhere in Canada and includes a genotype that has been associated with a human infection in a poultry worker in Ohio. The CFIA statement represents a rebuff for proposals of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who wrote to the CFIA's president last week and called for the birds to be saved for joint research.
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
B.C. ostrich farm calls for independent testing to prevent ‘unnecessary destruction'
A sign calling for the protection of ostriches at the Universal Ostrich Farms is displayed at the farm in Edgewood, B.C., on Saturday, May 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens The operators of a British Columbia ostrich flock that's facing a cull order after an avian flu outbreak are calling for independent testing of the birds to prevent their 'unnecessary destruction.' Katie Pasitney, whose parents own Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., issued a statement on Monday, saying the nearly 400 ostriches are healthy and have shown no signs of illness for more than four months. The statement says the flock poses no threat and should be tested for ongoing avian flu infections, saying the ostriches have acquired herd immunity to the virus and are a valuable scientific resource. The statement is in response to a lengthy update from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Friday that said it had fined the farm $20,000 for failing to co-operate with anti-avian flu measures. The agency said says it issued two violation notices to the farm for failing to report illnesses and deaths among the flock last year, and failing to follow quarantine orders. It says the type of avian flu infection at the premise is a mutation not seen elsewhere in Canada and includes a genotype that has been associated with a human infection in a poultry worker in Ohio. The CFIA statement represents a rebuff for proposals of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who wrote to the CFIA's president last week and called for the birds to be saved for joint research. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025.
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. ostrich farm facing cull ponders moving birds to U.S. as 'last resort'
The family that operates the B.C. ostrich farm facing a federal cull says it may look into the process of moving the birds to the United States as a 'last resort.' Katie Pasitney, whose parents own Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood says the family is also urging the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to consider the proposals by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to save the ostriches for research rather than culling them. Pasitney, who was speaking in a video on Facebook Live, says her family is aware that U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz has offered to relocate the birds to Florida. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. She says the family is open to starting the process of testing the birds to see if relocation is possible 'as a last resort.' The CFIA website says exporting livestock animals requires certification from the agency 'to ensure that only healthy animals and animal products and byproducts meeting the import health requirements of an importing country are exported from Canada.' The ostrich farm suffered an avian flu outbreak earlier, and the CFIA said in its statement Friday that culling the surviving animals is necessary because the mutation of the virus seen at the farm is one not seen elsewhere in Canada.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Family that operates B.C. ostrich farm pushes back against CFIA claims
Supporters of Universal Ostrich Farms stand near ostriches at the farm's property in Edgewood, B.C., on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Hundreds of supporters flocked to the farm over the Victoria Day long weekend to protest the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's order to cull 400 ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens The family that operates an ostrich farm in British Columbia's interior is pushing back on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which is poised to cull around 400 birds at the farm due to avian flu. Katie Pasitney, whose parents own Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C., said during Facebook Live stream event Saturday night that the ordered cull is based on misinformation. The agency said on Friday the avian flu infection present at the farm is a mutation not seen anywhere else in Canada. Pasitney said during the livestream the CFIA is exaggerating the human health risks, noting it is not based in sound science. She also said that contrary to what the agency claims, there has not been widespread testing at the farm. While the CFIA has fined the farm $20,000, Pasitney said more information will be coming on Monday about what is happening at the farm and what has been shared with the federal agency. This report by David Boles, The Canadian Press, was first published June 1, 2025.
