Dr. Oz's plan to save 400 ostriches rejected by farm owners' daughter
Dr. Mehmet Oz' offer to provide sanctuary to 400 ostriches facing death in Canada due to bird flu has been rejected.
Katie Pasitney, whose parents own Universal Ostrich Farm, said they are not interested in moving the flock, although she said her family is grateful for the support. "We want to keep this in Canada," she told CBC News.
Why It Matters
In January, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ordered the birds be killed after 69 of the same flock at Universal Ostrich Farm in the West Kootenays died from the highly infectious virus. The farm has been fighting the order in court. A judge dismissed a challenge this month that sought to stop the order.
The U.S. is currently dealing with one of the largest outbreaks of avian flu in decades which sent egg prices soaring. The CFIA has said it believes some 14 million domestic birds in Canada have been hit by the disease.
What To Know
Pasitney confirmed she spoke with Oz on Monday, echoing a New York Post report quoting him as saying he offered to relocate the nearly 400 ostriches to his ranch. "It's not like we're looking at transporting our ostriches anywhere, but I think what the message is (about) the growing support across the States," she said. "Even people like Dr. Oz want to be involved and (want to) see these animals live — even offering his 900-acre ranch in Florida."
Pasitney added that New York billionaire businessman and radio host John Catsimatidis connected her with both Oz and Kennedy. "He's well connected and he's very passionate about this cause," she said.
Kennedy wrote a public letter to CFIA president Paul MacKinnon last week, arguing that the birds should be spared, as there was "significant value" in studying their immune response to avian flu.
However, on Monday, the agency stated in response to a question about Kennedy's letter that the "humane depopulation" of the flock would proceed. It added that dates and plans would not be shared publicly due to privacy protections for producers.
Catsimatidis issued his own press release on Tuesday, calling on MacKinnon to stop the planned cull. "We're calling for a temporary halt and an independent review. Let the U.S. FDA and veterinary scientists evaluate these birds — don't destroy them before humane alternatives are considered," he said. "Dr. Oz is standing by to assist. We're not asking for miracles, just common sense and compassion."
Protesters have also gathered at the farm to try to prevent the cull, while Universal Ostrich Farm filed an appeal on Monday in Vancouver, seeking a "stay of the execution and enforcement" of the culling order.
The appeal argues that the Federal Court "made multiple reversible errors" when it upheld the agency's decision to cull the ostrich herd earlier this month. It claims the court "took an unduly narrow" view of the agency's mandate under the Health of Animals Act, wrongly concluded that expert reports were unnecessary, failed to fully consider the consequences of the cull decision, and did not properly determine if the agency's denial of further testing of the animals was reasonable.
The appeal also alleges that the farm's lawyers in the Federal Court judicial review proceedings provided "ineffective assistance" that "amounted to incompetence, and resulted in a miscarriage of justice." It states that "prior counsel had a financial stake in the destruction of the appellant's ostriches, resulting in a blatant conflict of interest."
Lee Turner, one of the farm's former lawyers, denied these allegations on Monday, stating he "certainly did not" have a conflict of interest and that his co-counsel, Michael Carter, did a "remarkable job with the short window of time that he had."
What People Are Saying
Dr. Oz, speaking to The Post, said: "It's not just about ostriches," Oz said. "It's about all the birds. I'd rather the scientists make the determination—not bureaucrats. We found out what happened during the COVID pandemic, when the bureaucrats made all the decisions."
Catsimatidis told The Post on Monday: "I'm thrilled. Bring the ostriches to Dr. Oz in Florida where they will be safe. I agree with RFK and Dr. Oz that the ostriches aren't sick."
Upholding the cull, Canadian Federal Court Justice Russel Zinn said, according to a May 13 CBC report: "Personal losses must be weighed against the broader public interest in protecting public health and maintaining trade stability. Avian influenza is a virus capable of causing serious harm to both animals and humans, with significant implications for Canada's poultry businesses and international trade status. To combat threats like this virus, Parliament has authorized the CFIA to act decisively, making swift decisions with far-reaching consequences, often under conditions of scientific uncertainty."
What Happens Next
The fate of the ostriches hangs in the balance.