Ten farm chickens were recovered by Capital Regional District officers after their former owner dumped them in the French Beach and Muir Creek area last week.
According to a Sooke News Mirror reader, who wished to remain anonymous, around 30 chickens were left to their own devices, 20 of which are still unaccounted for.
This isn’t the first time this happened in this remote area, as well as many others. The CRD has recovered countless abandoned animals, from chickens, to geese, cats, dogs, even reptiles.
Don Brown, CRD chief bylaw officer said even though no one came to claim the remaining 10 chickens, luckily the landlord on which the CRD shelter is situated also has chickens, and will likely take them in.
Still, Brown pointed out that abandoning animals and birds, especially in such a wild and remote area, essentially sends them to a brutal death, as they have no way of surviving in the same neighbourhood as raccoons, bears, cougars and other predators.
There can be fines as well under the Cruelty of Animals Act if someone is caught.
“A person can be charged under the bylaw if they did it deliberately, and if they did it multiple times and didn’t learn from the tickets, we would potentially charge them under the offence act which can go up to $10,000,” Brown said, adding that on top of the charges that will also include fines for having animals at large.
After all, care for a single animal or bird in a shelter adds up. As such, the fines can multiply and grow as well. Currently, there is a $10 impoundment fee and a $5 maintenance and sustenance fee for each 24 hour period, per animal or bird.
If the animal remains in the shelter for more than four days without a claim, they become CRD property.