On November 5th, 2018 Perryvale area rancher Jim Onyschuk pleaded guilty in Athabasca Provincial Court to one count under the Animal Protection Act 2(1) of causing animals to be in distress. Onyschuk was charged after Alberta SPCA Peace Officers attended his farm in May of 2018. There, Officers discovered at least 50 dead cattle on the property. Approximately 40 other cattle were found alive and to be in good condition. A post mortem on one of the dead animals found it had died of severe malnutrition.
Mr. Onyschuk was handed a $2,000 fine by the court. He is also prohibited for life from owning more than 30 head of cattle. Mr. Onyschuk has until December 5th, 2018 to divest himself of the extra animals on his farm. As part of the sentence, the court has granted the Alberta SPCA the right to request an inspection of the cattle on Mr. Onyschuk’s possession for a period of one year.
A second charge under the Animal Protection Act of failing to provide adequate food and water for the cattle was withdrawn by the Crown.
For further information, please contact:
Dan Kobe
Communications Manager
Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
17904 – 118 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB T5S 2W3
Tel: 780-732-3742
Email: dkobe@albertaspca.org
