BC SPCA won't recommend cruelty charges for Abbotsford pig farm

The BC SPCA will not recommend pressing charges following the release of an undercover video that was shot at an Abbotsford pig farm.

In April, a video allegedly shot at Abbotsford’s Excelsior Hog Farm was released by PETA.

WARNING: This video contains footage which may be disturbing to some. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.

Among the footage are scenes of pigs crammed together in tight cages, young piglets struggling to survive, and others with large growths and infections. At one point, pigs can be seen around the decomposing corpse of another pig.

PETA asked the BC SPCA to investigate the farm for suspected violations of the province’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Today, the BC SPCA announced that it would not recommend charges because “the  individual(s) who was responsible for filming has not come forward to provide a statement to accompany the video.”

See also

• Arrest made after 200 people stage protest at Abbotsford pig farm
• BC SPCA to investigate 'horrific' footage shot at Abbotsford pig farm (VIDEO)
• Calgary woman sentenced after abandoning animals in storage container

This evidence is “essential to the case,” Marcie Moriarty BC SPCA’s Chief Prevention and Enforcement Officer, told Daily Hive via email.

“Without it, there is not sufficient legal evidence to support recommending any type of charge of distress.”

Moriarty said that before Crown Council would be able to consider a charge, they would have to “ensure the integrity of the video and key evidence as to when it was taken, duration, location, etc.”

“Simply having a video clip is not enough to build a case for recommendation of charges,” she said.

In April, about 200 animal rights activists protested at Excelsior Hog Farm. One person was arrested during the protest for break-and-enter, as well as mischief.

With files from Eric Zimmer.