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 害羞草研究所渨as hard to deal with.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淛ust the whole morale of it 害羞草研究所� putting us in the media, saying pretty much (that) we害羞草研究所檙e criminals, and we害羞草研究所檙e just the victims really,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淚 had quite a few sleepless nights, and it was rough on my family, especially my wife, even though she doesn害羞草研究所檛 even work in the barn. She took it really hard, and she still has a hard time sleeping to this day.害羞草研究所�
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.
RELATED:
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 害羞草研究所渂unch of people piling into the barn.害羞草研究所� He said they were wearing 害羞草研究所渨hite suits,害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淭hey set up camp there and pretty much stayed all day,害羞草研究所� Binnendyk said.
He said the activists 害羞草研究所� mostly from the organization Meat the Victims 害羞草研究所� stayed until after the media tour they had requested was finished.
Binnendyk said, under cross exam by Sasano害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所� such as in the Criminal Code and in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檙e sick, but he didn害羞草研究所檛 know the specifics of the laws.
害羞草研究所淚 know you害羞草研究所檙e not allowed to abuse animals,害羞草研究所� he said.
RELATED:
Kallorian asked Binnendyk about whether farm workers had ever kicked the animals.
害羞草研究所淲e will guide them with our feet, but we don害羞草研究所檛 kick them 害羞草研究所� We don害羞草研究所檛 kick pigs,害羞草研究所� he said.
Kallorian also questioned whether the farm practises 害羞草研究所渓ow-stress pig-handling methods.害羞草研究所� Binnendyk said they are gentle with the animals, and know to 害羞草研究所渂e calm and move them in smaller groups.害羞草研究所�
Kallorian stated that if the workers aren害羞草研究所檛 familiar with the laws, how can they be sure they are following them?
害羞草研究所淎s a farmer, I do like to work every day. I was born and raised on the farm. I just know what I know,害羞草研究所� 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
Like us on and follow us on
