An Abbotsford farmer whose property was the scene of a large protest in April 2019 testified Tuesday (June 28) that the incident was difficult for him and his family.
Calvin Binnendyk, who owns and operates Excelsior Hog Farm on Harris Road with his two brothers, said the incident 香蕉视频直播渨as hard to deal with.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淛ust the whole morale of it 香蕉视频直播� putting us in the media, saying pretty much (that) we香蕉视频直播檙e criminals, and we香蕉视频直播檙e just the victims really,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播淚 had quite a few sleepless nights, and it was rough on my family, especially my wife, even though she doesn香蕉视频直播檛 even work in the barn. She took it really hard, and she still has a hard time sleeping to this day.香蕉视频直播�
Binnendyk took the stand on the second day of the trial for Roy Sasano, Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer. The trio face a total of 14 charges of break-and-enter and mischief at the hog farm on Feb. 9/10, March 5 and April 28, 2019.
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Binnendyk told the court that the family found hidden cameras in three areas of the farm on March 2019. They took them down and reviewed the footage, which showed the animals and the daily activities on the farm.
Binnendyk said he and his son were at work on the farm on April 28, 2019, when he got a call from his wife, saying there were protesters on the property.
His brothers and dad, who started the farm 45 years ago, were also alerted and were on scene.
Binnendyk said they saw a 香蕉视频直播渂unch of people piling into the barn.香蕉视频直播� He said they were wearing 香蕉视频直播渨hite suits,香蕉视频直播� which have previously been described as coveralls.
He said the family told the protesters that they were trespassing and to get off the property. Instead, they ran into the breeding barn.
香蕉视频直播淭hey set up camp there and pretty much stayed all day,香蕉视频直播� Binnendyk said.
He said the activists 香蕉视频直播� mostly from the organization Meat the Victims 香蕉视频直播� stayed until after the media tour they had requested was finished.
Binnendyk said, under cross exam by Sasano香蕉视频直播檚 lawyer, Joe Kallorian, that the farm manages 13,000 to 15,000 pigs.
Kallorian asked whether Excelsior has a program in place for herd management health and whether they are familiar with the laws 香蕉视频直播� such as in the Criminal Code and in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 香蕉视频直播� pertaining to animal treatment.
Binnendyk said they follow CQA (Canadian Quality Assurance) policy in terms of how they move and feed the animals and treat them when they香蕉视频直播檙e sick, but he didn香蕉视频直播檛 know the specifics of the laws.
香蕉视频直播淚 know you香蕉视频直播檙e not allowed to abuse animals,香蕉视频直播� he said.
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Kallorian asked Binnendyk about whether farm workers had ever kicked the animals.
香蕉视频直播淲e will guide them with our feet, but we don香蕉视频直播檛 kick them 香蕉视频直播� We don香蕉视频直播檛 kick pigs,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Kallorian also questioned whether the farm practises 香蕉视频直播渓ow-stress pig-handling methods.香蕉视频直播� Binnendyk said they are gentle with the animals, and know to 香蕉视频直播渂e calm and move them in smaller groups.香蕉视频直播�
Kallorian stated that if the workers aren香蕉视频直播檛 familiar with the laws, how can they be sure they are following them?
香蕉视频直播淎s a farmer, I do like to work every day. I was born and raised on the farm. I just know what I know,香蕉视频直播� Binnendyk said.
The SPCA investigated the farm after the protest and opted not to recommend charges.
The cross exam was slated to continued Wednesday (after press deadline). The trial is scheduled to run until July 21 at B.C. Supreme Court in Abbotsford.
vhopes@abbynews.com
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