Stolen cattle neglected, dozens found dead Melancthon, ON (CA) Date: Nov 2005 Disposition: Alleged Abuser names unreleased

Case ID: 5991 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment, Theft Animal: cow View more cases in ON (CA) « Back to Search Results Login to Watch this Case

An anonymous tip led law enforcement officials to a Melancthon farm in early November where half a dozen stolen cattle were found near starving and dozens more dead.

"The cattle were in total distress. There was no food, no water and no dry bedding. They were walking around in about three feet of manure," said Wendy Walker of the Orangeville branch of the Ontario SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Friday, describing the state of the animals.

"They were in really poor body condition. They were very, very thin."

On Nov 4, the surviving cattle were rounded up by the SPCA and taken to an undisclosed location, Walker said.

SPCA representatives were joined by Dufferin OPP officers who escorted officials onto the property.

At the Melancthon farm, numerous carcasses in various stages of decomposition could be seen on the barn floor.

And although the SPCA do not know how long the animals were left to starve, cattle seen completely stripped to the bone suggests that the length of time was substantial.

The carcasses were slated to be removed from the farm sometime this week.

Also on Friday, Walker said the SPCA and police investigators were in the process of examining the tags found on the animals, in a bid to determine where they originated from.

As of Nov 7 the owner of the Melancthon property had not been located.

The cattle are now thought to have been stolen from a farm in Bruce County.

Owen Sound OPP have issued a warrant for the person they believe responsible for the theft.

References

The Banner - Nov 8, 2005

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