On November 15, 2024 East Prince RCMP along with PEI Department of Agriculture Officials, including the Provincial Drover, attended a property in Sherbrooke and seized more than 80 goats and 2 sheep under the Stray Livestock Act. The owner was allowing the goats off the farm property into a neighbouring corn field. After several recent incidents, the goats and sheep were seized under the Stray Livestock Act after they were discovered loose once again.
The Provincial Stray Livestock Act States:
A peace officer who believes that livestock is at large in the province may capture the livestock or request a drover to capture and impound the livestock, if
(a) the owner is not known or cannot be found promptly;
(b) the owner is known but the owner does not promptly take control of the livestock; or
(c) the owner is known and the owner has permitted the livestock to be at large on three or more occasions within a 30-day period.
"Over the weekend necessary steps were taken under the Provincial Stray Livestock Act to seize dozens of animals that had been left to roam," said Corporal Gavin Moore, Media Relations Officer with the PEI RCMP. "This measure was taken to help protect our community and the animals," added Cpl Moore. He went on to add "PEI RCMP deal with loose livestock regularly. In most cases issues are resolved without incident but in rare cases like this one, police will obtain the expertise of the PEI Department of Agriculture to enforce seizures."
Roaming animals can be a dangerous hazard for both motorists and the animals themselves. They can be a pest to neighbours and damage other farmers' fields. The investigation into this incident continues.