Although there hasn't necessarily been a marked increase in incidents of livestock running at large in Red Deer County, peace officers are reminding owners of the importance of ensuring animals are kept where they should be.
“We know it happens and it is kind of frustrating when it is fences that are not maintained,” said Brad Olsen, a community peace officer with the county's enforcement department. “And quite often we will see calves get through the fences.
“When we are on patrol and we come across stray livestock we will go right to the farm and let them know. We also have a system where we can look up the landowner and then call them. Usually we get a quick response.”
In one recent incident, four horses got loose from a property west of Red Deer and were dangerously close to the busy Highway 11 when then were finally collared.
“Stuff like that can be very dangerous,” he said.
Livestock running at large is covered by the Stray Animals Act of Alberta, with enforcement of the act done by brand inspectors, the RCMP and municipal peace officers.
As well as calls from passing motorists, Red Deer county peace officers have also been receiving calls from landowners who have found stray livestock such as horses, cows, buffalo, sheep and goats on their property.
“Usually, the calls are received because the landowner does not know whose livestock they are and don't know what to do about it,” the county's enforcement department said in a recent release.
“When stray livestock is trespassing on land, the owner or occupier of the land may capture them or authorize someone else to do so and confine them in an appropriate place for an inspector to identify them.
“If livestock is captured, there is a requirement for a statement to be provided to an inspector within 48 hours, including the circumstances of the capture and expenses incurred in connection with the capture.”
A notice of livestock impoundment may be issued by a brand inspector, RCMP or peace officer.
“At that point, the inspector will attempt to identify the owner or last person in possession of the livestock and notify one or both of them of the impoundment,” officials said.
“By notice in writing, the inspector will advise the owner of the livestock that, unless the expenses referred to above are paid to the inspector within 14 days from the notice delivery, the livestock will be sold at public auction.”
The inspector may authorize the sale of the livestock at public auction if he or she is unable to determine who owns the animal in question.
“When the livestock is sold at public auction, the proceeds may be used to pay the expenses of selling the livestock, the expenses in capturing and confining the livestock, the expense of transporting and attempting to determine the owner, or the expense of maintaining the livestock, in that order.
“If damages from the livestock are claimed, the provincial treasurer may pay the costs to the extent that money is available in the balance to a person claiming damage to real or personal property caused by the livestock. The amount claimed must be reasonable in the opinion of the inspector or will be determined by an assessor.”
Anyone finding livestock running at large in the county is first asked to contact the brand inspectors at 1-403-309-4716. In urgent circumstances, county enforcement can be contacted at 1-403-343-6301 or RCMP.
"We know it happens and it is kind of frustrating when it is fences that are not maintained."Brad Olsencommunity peace officer
