The Rural Voice, 1992-04, Page 62GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
519-364-3050
' The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
ANIMALS RIGHTS HAVE EVOLVED
During the last 20 years a lot of different
groups have emerged with the claim that they
are the oncs that will look after the welfare of
all animals and their approach is the best.
The last count to my knowledge was 17 of
thcsc groups.
In some cases they even suggest that
animals have more rights than humans. Most
of these groups upon close scrutiny, 1
believe, are publicity-seeking organizations
playing on the feelings of people that are not
in the business of raising animals for food.
Their main function seems to be to raise
funds to support their own point of view on
how livestock should be raised and to satisfy
their own ego.
To bring the rights and welfare of
animals back into the real world, we should
recognize that this topic is nothing new but
has been in effect in Ontario for the past 119
years. The organization that was given the
lawful mandate by the Province of Ontario to
ensure that animals are treated and cared for
in a humane way is the Ontario Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(OSPCA), formerly called the Ontario
I lumane Society.
Die O11S was established in Ontario by
legislation from the Province of Ontario in
1873. One thing that was different at that
time was that their mandate included the care
and welfare of children along with animals.
In 1919 the act was amended and the
responsibility for the care of children was
given to what is now the Ontario Children's
Aid Society.
Since the inception of the OSPCA the act
governing the Society was amended several
times. The latest amendment was in 1970.
The police power the OSPCA has, was
reinforced by giving them the right to obtain
a search warrant if necessary to conduct an
investigation.
The funding of the society consists of a
provincial grant of $125,000 per year plus
private donations and legacies. The small
grant would indicate that fund raising is a
very important activity in order that an
effective investigation force can be
maintained.
The approach the OSPCA has adopted in
their investigations is to correct violations
and complaints regarding the care of animals
GCFA Directors' Meeting
Thursday, April 23, 1992
OMAF Boardroom, Markdale
8:00 p.m.
Members are welcome to attend
58 THE RURAL VOICE
in a reasonable manner rather than to use the
heavy handed approach, and only as the last
resort will they lay charges or seize livestock.
llowever, orders to comply to correct
situations that violate the right of animals are
used more often to get a bad situation under
control which violates the basic and simple
responsibility of any person that keeps an
animal. Under the law it is the responsibility
of any person keeping an animal to provide
them with the four basic needs, which are:
suitable food, water, shelter and reasonable
care.
These basic principles certainly are not
excessive or unreasonable. I think a little
love should also be thrown in as a bonus.
The farm community is held in high
esteem by the OSPCA because there are very
few cases where farmers neglect their
livestock knowingly. Co-operation between
farmers and the Society are amicable and if
problems arise they are almost always
resolved by reasoning rather than
confrontation.
Farmers have nothing to fear from the
OSPCA. It is not their policy to prevent the
farmer from keeping livestock or to hurt
them from making a good living. Only if
complaints are received will they investigate
and try to help. The only demand the
OSPCA makes on the farmer is that he
follows the principles of legal and good
husbandry by supplying the animals with
suitable feed, water, shelter and reasonable
care, which certainly is in the best interest of
everyone concerned and has been the practise
and the law for at least the past 119 years and
should continue in the future.°
submitted by Karl Chittka
GCFA executive director
BONSPIEL A WINNER FOR ALL
The Grey County Federation of Agriculture Annual 1992 Bonspiel was held at the
Markdale Curling Club, Saturday, February 15. Two draws were planned involving 64 men
from Markdale and the township of Grey.
Carman Hamill, of holland township and a long time member of the Federation of
Agriculture, with Wesley Sparling a member of Euphrasia Federation, organized the three -
game 'spiel.
The Co -Operators' trophy, awarded to the 9:00 a.m. draw teams, was won by Gary Johnson
of Derby. Curling with Gary were Mervin Johnson, Jim Van Veen, and Cam Millman.
The Markdale team of Barry Tolton, Brian Betts, Jim Johnston and Harry Carbert took
second prize. Paul Bye, Leonard Bye, Stan Beckett and Jack Porter took third prize. The other
fine skips in this draw were Bill Medley, Harold Scott, Jim Hamill, Harold Johnston, and Elmer
Mullin.
The U.C.O. trophy was awarded in the 11:00 a.m. draw. A Sullivan team of Bob Kreuger,
Stan Kaufman, Mike Foster and Geoff Kuhl captured this trophy. Wes Lawler with Dave
Ilarrison, Rick Friel, and Garry Rowe from Flesherton came second. The Euphrasia team of
Clarence Wiley, Wes Sparling, Dave Clark and Arnie Woodhouse were third place winners.
Other teams in this draw were entered by Paul Woebbeking, Brian Tulloch, March
Saunders, Ron Torry and Don Gildner. A hearty beef dinner and prizes for all team members
added to the enjoyment of the bonspiel. Sincere appreciation is expressed to all those
businesses who so generously donated the prizes when approached by the organizers Wes
Sparling and Carman Hamill. Included in the list of donors are hardwares, implement and car
dealers, building, vet., fuel and feed suppliers, insurance and banks, from Flesherton, Markdale,
Williamsford, Chatsworth, Meaford, Owen Sound and Tara. Their support is invaluable.
The Grey County Federation of Agriculture are justifiably proud of their long running
annual bonspiel and expresses thanks to donors and organizers. This year some of the new
Grey Federation of Agriculture caps were among the prizes.°
Ruth Hamill
R.R. 4, Chatsworth
Grey County Federation of Agriculture
ANNUAL MEET THE MEMBERS MEETING & TOMMY COOPER AWARD
Saturday, April 11, 1992
Euphrasia Community Centre, Rocklyn
Dinner 12:00 noon Tickets: $10.00 per person
Tickets available from GCFA Executive and Township Presidents, or call office in Hanover at 364-3050.
Everyone welcome. Please come and voice your concern to our elected Members of Parliament.
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