Neighbours left frustrated after years of cows roaming free in N.B. area
After dealing with roaming cows for the past several years, Gerald Aldward’s New Brunswick yard was quiet on Thursday afternoon.
“One night I got up here and there was somewhere around 25-30 laying on my lawn,” he said. “I think that day it took me half a day to clean the manure off of the yard.”
He’s also not the only one who’s had to deal with the unwanted visitors due to downed fences on a nearby farm.
“This whole settlement, everybody’s had damage, thousands of dollars worth of damage to their property and I think the only thing now is these cattle have got to go because they’re not going to stay,” said Aldward. “They’ve been out so long that cattle once they’re out, they’re hard to keep in and if there’s no fences, they’re really hard to keep in.”
They’re also more than just a nuisance to nearby land owners. One neighbour told CTV News off camera they’ve actually been chased by one cow while walking their dog. Other safety concerns have been brought forward as well.
“When the school bus goes out every morning and we’ve got him waiting and tooting his horn for cows to get off the road or if someone drives through here at night with these black cattle, they’re not going to see them if they’re on the road until they hit them,” said Aldward. “Most of the people are seniors, they’re not able to chase cattle and really shouldn’t have to chase cattle.”
Tony Porter, chief animal protection officer with the New Brunswick SPCA, says calls regarding agricultural animals have been on the rise.
In 2022 they made up five per cent of the SPCA’s total calls and last year 10 per cent of their total calls were about livestock.
“Of those, last year, we had 77 calls involving livestock at large. Now in a case like that there’s no legislation governing the enforcement of livestock at large,” said Porter.
He says while aware of complaints in the area, he can’t speak to this specific case, noting the SPCA follows the code of practices that’s given out by the National Farm Animal Care Council of Canada.
“It gives recommendations, best practices and requirements,” he said. “Under the code of practice for the code of beef cattle in this country, there’s nothing in the legislation that covers them having to be fenced in by wiring or whatever. There is for horses, but that’s one of the very few that there are.”
Porter says animals at large aren’t necessarily a legal animal abuse situation, but it is a safety issue for the animal.
“When we do get calls like that, we attend those locations where the animals are running large, no matter where it may be from here to all corners of the province,” he said. “When we attend those locations we also look at the conditions of those animals on the farms, on the property and we look for everything from food, shelter, water, care. It gives us to opportunity to go and see if there are any other issues that are animal protection.”
In a statement to CTV News, the minister responsible for Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries said the department has advised the farmer about fencing strategies.
“In the fall of 2023, departmental staff visited the farmer and advised them on best practices to fix any fencing issues,” the statement reads. “Earlier this month, provincial veterinarians, along with the NBSPCA, revisited the farm to evaluate the animals and situation. We also reminded the farmer of fencing strategies.
“If the issue cannot be resolved adequately to the satisfaction of neighbours, there is the option for neighbours to resolve farm-related nuisance disputes through the Agricultural Operation Practices Act.”
The neighbours said they’ve reached out to the RCMP, SPCA and local politicians, and don’t feel enough, if anything, has been done.
“We’re just getting completely fed up. No one wants to seem to do anything,” said Aldward. “I’d far sooner get along with my neighbour than fight with my neighbour. I actually had beef cattle myself years ago and I enjoy animals, I just don’t like to see animals being used this way and not being controlled either.”
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Is it cold, flu or norovirus? Symptoms explained
The highly contagious norovirus is spreading across Canada, with some symptoms overlapping with other viruses. CTVNews.ca spoke with a health expert to find out how you can tell you have norovirus, the most common form of stomach flu, and what to do if you have it.
Freeland leaves capital gains tax change out of coming budget implementation bill, here's why
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Anger can harm your blood vessel function, study shows
Stress and anger can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, studies have shown. New research points to just how the mechanism may work.
Ontario's police watchdog continues probe of high-speed pursuit involving fatal crash
The investigation continues into a collision that killed two grandparents and their infant grandchild during a high-speed police chase on the wrong way of Highway 401 east of Toronto.
Ontario woman surprised after 20-year-old fines suddenly tank credit score
An Ontario woman says that she was shocked when fines from 20 years ago suddenly tanked her credit score last week, but the situation may not be as unusual as it seems, according to at least one debt expert.
Search continues for 'armed man' in Dartmouth, N.S.
Police say they continue to search for an armed man who allegedly threatened people in Dartmouth, N.S.
Swarm of bees delays Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles game in Arizona. An 'MVP' beekeeper came to the rescue
Major League Baseball fans had an unexpected buzz on Tuesday after a swarm of bees delayed the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game for around two hours.
Newfoundland fisherman says police broke his leg during protest that delayed budget
Richard Martin is spending this year's fishing season on land after he says a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer broke his left leg in three places during a protest last month that shut down the provincial legislature.
It's opening day for the $34B Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion
Wednesday marks the official start date of the long-awaited $34-billion Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project.