Target: Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canada
Goal: Launch a transparent federal investigation and pursue appropriate charges and sanctions after hundreds of ostriches were shot at night in view of their flock, in apparent violation of humane-handling standards.
Hundreds of ostriches were pursued in darkness, floodlights flashed, and birds were shot multiple times as others looked on. Veterinary voices have purportedly called this method an “inhumane exercise” that inflicted needless pain and panic. Witness accounts further claim hundreds of rounds were fired to kill the fast-running birds, compounding the suffering. These details suggest a culling method that contradicts the spirit of humane depopulation and euthanasia guidance and may breach Canadian animal-welfare obligations.
The nighttime shootings occurred within sight of surviving flock members, magnifying distress. Critics contend this approach flouts the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) own humane-handling expectations and clashes with international guidance that stresses minimizing fear, pain, and prolonged suffering. Commentators further argue that Canada’s policy posture appears inconsistent, citing claims that quarantine-based strategies can in some scenarios reduce reliance on mass killing, while noting that any depopulation must still meet stringent humane standards. These concerns point to potential policy and enforcement gaps that demand urgent scrutiny.
Canada’s animal-health actions must protect public safety without normalizing cruelty. A swift, public investigation can clarify who authorized the operation, what protocols governed it, and whether alternative, less cruel options were considered. If laws or permit terms were breached, appropriate criminal or administrative sanctions should follow, alongside mandatory retraining, clear prohibitions on high-distress methods, independent oversight, and public reporting. We therefore urge the Minister to direct a full, transparent probe, pursue accountability where warranted, and codify safeguards that prevent future brutality from ocurring.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister MacDonald,
We respectfully urge your office to direct a transparent federal investigation into reports that hundreds of ostriches were shot at night under floodlights, in view of conspecifics, with hundreds of rounds fired to complete the cull. These accounts, including veterinary condemnation that the method was “inhumane,” suggest potential departures from humane handling and depopulation expectations and raise the specter of avoidable fear, pain, and prolonged suffering. If confirmed, such practices would undermine public trust in Canada’s animal-health response.
We ask that you ensure an independent review of authorizations, protocols, and execution, including whether less distressing alternatives were assessed and why they were rejected. Should investigators find that statutes, regulations, permits, or CFIA policies were violated, we urge appropriate criminal or administrative action, restitution where applicable, and mandated remedial training. We also ask for strengthened national guardrails—explicit prohibitions on high-distress techniques, real-time oversight, third-party auditing, and public after-action reporting—so emergency responses never descend into cruelty.
Canadians expect disease control that protects public health without sacrificing humane standards. Please act to secure accountability where warranted and to implement durable reforms that prevent similar harms. Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Benson Kua
