Six individuals were charged for activities related to the demonstration
By Jackie Clark
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Protesters from an animal rights organization called Meat the Victims were arrested outside of a turkey farm on the morning of Oct. 3.
Waterloo Region Police Service’s Public Safety team attended the demonstration to ensure public safety, according to an Oct. 4 report from the police force.
The demonstration took place at Alps Road and Northumberland Street in Ayr. Hybrid Turkeys’ Mapleglen Pedigree Complex is located on Alps road.
“Several individuals were arrested in connection to the planned protest. The arrests were not in relation to the activities at the demonstration location, and the crowd was observed to be peaceful,” said the release from Waterloo Police.
“Six individuals have been charged with Break, Enter a Place - with Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence. Three individuals were held for bail hearings. Three individuals were released on Undertakings, and are scheduled to appear in court on November 17, 2021,” the release explained.
CTV Kitchener reported that Meat the Victims targeted Mapleglen Farm because the facility was previously fined $5,600 in 2015 for one count of animal cruelty.
“Animal welfare is the responsibility of all employees, contract farm owners, contract farm employees and all other contract-type workers. Supervisors will be held directly accountable, not only for the humane treatment of our birds, but also for the actions of the workers under their direct supervision,” says the Hendrix Genetics animal welfare policy, updated in 2020. Hybrid Turkeys is a part of Hendrix Genetics.
An internal “See something, Say something” program is also in place at Hybrid Turkeys facilities “to encourage employees to speak up, in a confidential way, if they think there may be an animal welfare concern,” according to their website.
Farms.com reached out to Hybrid Turkeys and Meat the Victims for comment.
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