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 91裸聊视频渨as hard to deal with.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淛ust the whole morale of it 91裸聊视频� putting us in the media, saying pretty much (that) we91裸聊视频檙e criminals, and we91裸聊视频檙e just the victims really,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淚 had quite a few sleepless nights, and it was rough on my family, especially my wife, even though she doesn91裸聊视频檛 even work in the barn. She took it really hard, and she still has a hard time sleeping to this day.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频渂unch of people piling into the barn.91裸聊视频� He said they were wearing 91裸聊视频渨hite suits,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淭hey set up camp there and pretty much stayed all day,91裸聊视频� Binnendyk said.
He said the activists 91裸聊视频� mostly from the organization Meat the Victims 91裸聊视频� stayed until after the media tour they had requested was finished.
Binnendyk said, under cross exam by Sasano91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� such as in the Criminal Code and in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 91裸聊视频� 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 they91裸聊视频檙e sick, but he didn91裸聊视频檛 know the specifics of the laws.
91裸聊视频淚 know you91裸聊视频檙e not allowed to abuse animals,91裸聊视频� he said.
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Kallorian asked Binnendyk about whether farm workers had ever kicked the animals.
91裸聊视频淲e will guide them with our feet, but we don91裸聊视频檛 kick them 91裸聊视频� We don91裸聊视频檛 kick pigs,91裸聊视频� he said.
Kallorian also questioned whether the farm practises 91裸聊视频渓ow-stress pig-handling methods.91裸聊视频� Binnendyk said they are gentle with the animals, and know to 91裸聊视频渂e calm and move them in smaller groups.91裸聊视频�
Kallorian stated that if the workers aren91裸聊视频檛 familiar with the laws, how can they be sure they are following them?
91裸聊视频淎s a farmer, I do like to work every day. I was born and raised on the farm. I just know what I know,91裸聊视频� 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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