It's been a long sleepless weekend for owners at an Edgewood farm who are now facing officials behind a cull order of the nearly 400 ostriches.
There was speculation all weekend that Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) would arrive and kill the birds following an avian influenza outbreak from December 2024.
Universal Ostrich Farm has been fighting the cull since, and the birds are proving resilience and appearing to be healthy for more than 250 days.
RCMP and CFIA officials are now at the farm Monday, Sept. 22.
Farm spokesperson Katie Pasitney says they have been given three search warrants, which their lawyer is examining. The lawyer is also still trying to get another emergency stay order on the cull.
"We can't let these animals fall," said a tearful Pasitney, whose mom Karen Espersen and business partner Dave Bilinski own the farm.
"We are fighting for them."
Pasitney has been calling for help but continues to stand firm that there be no violence.
"You have the right to protect your animals, especially with no testing," she said.
The farm is receiving worldwide attention as it fights for the animals.
American billionaire John Catsimatidis has become an outspoken advocate for the ostriches, enlisting the help of RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz. He says it is "unnecessary and unjust government outreach."
There are also reports that a U.S. commentator Chris Sanders is offering a couple of his ranches and would like to help move the birds.
Black Press Media has reached out to CFIA, with no response as of yet.
