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c economist sun7stoufivihe tribune thursday aug 51999 3 community york regton does not have a uniform bylaw enforcing humane treatment of market animals cruelty or commerce people speak out in protection of live animals up for sale at farmers markets by joan ransberry staff writer the treatment of animals at the stouffville country market has caught the attention of the provincial and municipal authori ties and prompted a call for a humane care bylaw in the past two weeks the ontario society for the prevention of cruelty to animals has received five complaints linked to the well being of the live animals for sale at the stouffville country market complaints include a duck with a miss ing beak a rabbit with an eye injury ani mals being slaughtered on the premises lack of shade and no water for some ani mals birds jammed into cages birds being hung up in the air by one wing live ani mals being stuffed in bags and then shoved into the trunk of a car and a dog so thin it could barely walk warnings have been issued to vendors and the latest complaints are being investi gated said ospca inspector mike draper i have removed a number of animals from stouffyilles market ive received calls about puppies being sold and im investi gating an allegation that slaughtering is taking place right on the property draper said officials not aware of abuse however stouffville country market officials said they were not made aware of any problems with the animals business manager gary rouse told the economist sunstouffviue tribune we just didnt know rouse said i wasnt aware im not a farmer so i dont know whats ok and what isnt officials of the market have agreed to partner themselves with the ospca the towns animal control office and the ven dors to come up with a plan to set some rules linked to the selling of animals the meeting is planned for early fall were more than willing to resolve this rouse said were going to get something in writing to give to the vendors if they violate theyre going to be told they cant rent here most vendors are responsible and car ing towards the animals but not all draper said it is difficult to manage thissome ven dors are just in it for a quick buck bill fletcher a third generation farmer has been a vendor at the stouffville market for more than 30 years common sense and a humane approach to life guides fletcher i wasnt at the market last sunday it was too hot if its too hot for me its too hot for my chickens complaints include a duck with a missing beak a rabbit with an eye injury animals being slaughtered on the premises lack of shade and ho water for some animals birds jammed into cages birds being hung up in the air by one wing live animals being stuffed in bags and then shoved into the trunk of a car and a dog so thin it could barely walk staff rle ph0t0sj0erd witteveen a pair of live rabbits is stuffed in a bag at stouffville country market he arrives at the market at 430 am ill have 90 per cent of my selling done before 6aumhesaid while a meeting to set standards will include the ospca rouse stouffvilles ani mal control officials and stouffville councillor sue sherban stouffville resi dent gerri robertson is pushing for a municipal law designed to protect the ani mals after a recent visit to the hwy 47 market the systematicabuse neglect and cru elty to these unfortunate animals should not be fostered by the municipality of whitchurchstouffville it should not be allowed anywhere robertson stated in a letter to local council her concerns include no shade or water for ponies birds and rabbits crowded in cages under the glare of the sun and a struggling and screaming turkey being stuffed into a mesh bag i watched one vendor oversee a pur chaser lift a heavy goose by one wing i told the vendors they should not allow the birds to be treated in this way and of course they laughed at me robertson said none of the animals i saw had water she added the poor rabbits were also stuffed in cages with the sun beating down on them theres a right and a wrong way to do most things including handling animals fletcher pointed out rabbits are not to be picked up by the ears a rabbit should be lifted by the skin at the back of the neck sherban also inspected the market last weekend i observed whats going on my problem is i dont know the standards so i dont know if theyre being violated provincial laws sought the market industry needs to be regu lated provincewide draper said fletcher has no objection to the market being regulated as long as its based on common sense he said ospca inspectors visit the stouffville country market about twice a month were usually there for about a half hour on each visit draper said the ospca gives advice in the proper care of animals retiring ospca chief inspector terry looker explained- inspectors will also try to respond to complaints of deliberate cruelty he said ospca inspectors cannot perform the role of a formal monitoring authority and the society would prefer to see animal and poultry sales taking place in facilities which are property controlled and licensed for the saie of livestock looker said with no provincial laws in place for farmer markets many municipalities in ontario are opting for a humane bylaw to cover such problems as a lack of water a lack of proper shelter and sick animals this bylaw is becoming more com mon draper said the new city of toronto just passed it but in york region the only ones with it are vaughanand richmond hill id like to see it throughout york sherban is reviewing richmond hills bylaw i need to study it if this comes to councilit wont be until the fall voice bass guitar piano keyboard composition computers midi programs inc jtuoent recordings tofyf et3 cla free introductory lesson just call 4723168 wwwsoundstrokesconi sound strokes studios f m v the beach comes to main street markh aug 2 peppertree klassigs 60 womens fashions off regulut ticket prices all summer fashions excludes new fall arrivals lots of 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