Alert line offers "proactive approach to animal care"

The Alberta Farm Animal Care Alert line logged over 500 calls in 2013, serving mainly to educate the public about the livestock industry throughout the province.

The line, established in 1995, acts as an education point for the public who can confidentially call in any time they feel an animal might be in distress. Last year, 88 calls were investigated by volunteers that staff the organization throughout the province.

"AFAC was started years ago mostly to be a help to the producers and to make available a confidential 24/7 line that people could call in with any welfare concerns. It was, in a way, so that we could as a livestock industry be proactive, instead of reactive to all the negative press that we got,î said Pam Miller, coordinator of the line.

When a call comes in, AFAC representatives contact the appropriate livestock association, which has representatives that sit on the AFAC board. A volunteer is then sent to investigate the specific complaint to see if further action is required.

"In very many cases, it's an unfounded situation,î Miller said, noting that many calls come from members of the public mistaking animals not having feed or water as cases of neglect.

"If people don't see immediate feed or water in a pasture, the automatic assumption is that they're not being fed or they don't have water, when in a majority of cases (the animals) can go up into a corral where there's water and feed.î

Miller said in unfounded cases, Alert line representative will educate the caller about the specific care practices of that species. If the complaint is legitimate, the SPCA or RCMP, the two agencies that can investigate cases of animal abuse, will be contacted.

"It's our opportunity to explain to the public what it is that they're seeing and (explain) the practices of the industry,î she said.

Miller said the ideal situation is that AFAC intervenes when it is less serious and can work with a producer to get more feed or have them managing less animals, rather than having to call in the authorities. Often, Miller said, livestock neglect is simply a result of a producer becoming stressed with too much work.

The line was initially set up by producers to help them educate the public about specific livestock practices.

Lack of shelter is the main reason for calls being logged.

AFAC is heavily involved in researching the livestock industry, educating transporters about various aspects of hauling different species and other aspects of the livestock industry.

AFAC was started as a way for the livestock industry to be more responsive to livestock protection concerns that might be raised by the public. It's supported by all livestock organizations throughout the province.

AFAC receives some funding from the provincial government through the Livestock Welfare Training and Extension grant, while also receiving funding from agriculture colleges, commodity groups, project grant funding and agricultural societies.

"We offer a proactive approach to animal care,î Miller said.