BURLINGTON — The Ontario SPCA is appealing for witnesses as it investigates how pigs were handled after a transport truck crashed near a local slaughterhouse leading to the death of 42 animals.
Initial reports suggested two veterinarians responded quickly after the truck carrying 180 pigs rolled at Appleby Line and Harvester Road just outside the Fearmans pork plant at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Deputy Chief Insp. Jennifer Bluhm said.
But the SPCA, which has fielded "numerous" calls of concern, is still probing the incident to decide whether charges are warranted.
"I would expect within the next few weeks we should have a better understanding of what caused this and how it was handled and whether or not there were things that should have been handled better or differently," Bluhm said.
The SPCA is asking witnesses to call 310-SPCA to provide contact information for followup.
Sofina Foods Inc., which owns Fearmans Pork Inc., said Thursday it continues to co-operate with all parties during the police investigation.
"Once they are available, we will review the findings of (Wednesday's) accident to determine next steps," spokesperson Daniele Dufour said.
Halton Regional Police hadn't yet said Thursday what caused the transport truck driver to lose control at the intersection of Appleby Line and Harvester Road.
Dozens of emergency responders — including Health Canada, Ministry of Transportation officials, firefighters and police — helped get the pigs "safely and humanely" off the truck, police said.
But an agency that specializes in animal law is calling for cruelty charges against the slaughterhouse.
Witnesses just outside the Appleby Line plant were disgusted to see injured pigs suffering for hours in the sun without medical attention, said Anna Pippus, a lawyer with Animal Justice.
"They were disturbed by the response of emergency personnel."
Animal Justice has pointed to video footage showing pigs being hit with paddles to force them out of the truck.
Injured pigs were stunned with a captive bolt pistol before being taken into the slaughterhouse. The bolts penetrate animals' skulls and brains, Pippus noted.
It wasn't clear how many of the 42 pigs died as a result of the crash or were put down because of their injuries, police said.
Dufour said the injured pigs were too badly hurt.
"Except for the hogs that died in the accident, the other hogs were seriously compromised and could not be saved. In all cases, all proper and regulatory procedures were followed in collaboration with the authorities."
Animal rights advocates, however, don't buy that, and are outraged the slaughterhouse didn't allow them to take injured pigs to be rehabilitated in their care.
"I did not understand for the life of me why an injured and otherwise useless, as far as they're concerned, animal couldn't be released to sanctuary," said Steve Jenkins, who owns a pig sanctuary in Campbellville.
The crash and ensuing chaos has drawn the attention of animal welfare organizations and high-profile advocates such as musician Moby.
PETA president Ingrid Newkirk says the agency has sent a letter to Burlington's director of transportation to approve erecting a 1.5-metre-tall "tombstone memorial" at the crash scene for the 42 pigs that died.
The city has received the request and would likely respond Friday, spokesperson Donna Kell said.