OCTOBER 2024 THE RIDER /21


Co-ordinated effort needed for our furry friends Things are far from purr-fect when it comes to animal control in the area.


By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady In Ontario, animal


welfare services falls under the Ministry of the Solicitor General, which is responsible for enforcing the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act. The chief animal welfare in- spector and provincial animal welfare inspectors, including inspectors with specialized expertise in livestock, zoos, aquariums, and equines, pro- vide enforcement across On- tario. They carry out inspections, respond to con- cerns, conduct investigations, as well as provide outreach and education on animal care best practices. However, the provincial government does not rescue cats and over the past few years, it’s been a struggle to keep up with the large number of abandoned cats being taken to shelter on a daily basis. In Norfolk, Purrfect


Companions on Brantford Road in Delhi, has been over- whelmed with cats with 243 currently at the shelter and another 328 spread across 62 foster homes. While I was at the shelter for a tour last week, Brenda Cameron,


founder/president/volunteer with the non-profit shelter, which operates largely with generous donations from the community,


told me she


might be interrupted a few times to speak with veterinar- ians as she had 18 cats receiv- ing some sort of care that morning. To give you an idea of


the struggle, Cameron said in the month of August, 93 cats arrived at the shelter but only 42 were adopted – cats are es- sentially coming in faster than they are going out. There are a few factors contributing to the mass numbers, which in- clude a lack of animal control in Norfolk County, increased veterinarian costs pet owners simply cannot afford. Over $200,000 leaves


Norfolk County each year for veterinarian services con- ducted by low-cost clinics like East Village Animal Hos- pital. Cameron said that a low-cost clinic would be wel- come news in the area, as well as animal control. In terms of Norfolk


County animal control, cur- rently Hillside Kennels Ani- mal Control of Innerkip handles many important func-


tions as listed on the Norfolk County website: “Pick up a dog or cat that has bitten or scratched a person. Hillside Kennels will pick up the ani- mal and notify and bill the Health Unit directly. Domes- tic animals will be picked up and quarantined for 10 days. Wildlife will be euthanized.” Hillside Kennels will


also pick up stray, abandoned, injured, sick, or aggressive dogs and they mention getting those left in a home due to the death of the owner. They will not pick up stray cats or wild animals found on private property. Haldimand County


contracts out to the Niagara SPCA and the Humane Soci- ety in Welland who provide county-wide animal control services.


I like how


Haldimand County’s website puts it: “Haldimand County Animal Control Services help to ensure that residents with and without pets may enjoy municipal amenities and a high standard of quality of life. The health and safety of all our animals contributes to the health, well-being and liveability of our County.” I love our furry friends


and have my own at home. But we should make sure we do our best to keep the num- ber of feral cats roaming our area as low as possible. Feral or free-ranging cats are great hunters and can negatively impact native wildlife includ- ing birds. They generally


don’t trust people and can be aggressive. I scanned across On-


tario and noticed that munici- palities of varying population sizes and geography have “in- house” animal control serv- ices. The services provided also vary but most provide


comprehensive services. Col- lectively we need to come up with a way to bring the solu- tions closer to home.


Bobbi Ann Brady is the MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk


OCHA News Continued from page 20


$250 Limit Rider Champion - CR Peppy R: Amanda Gore Reserve Champion - Love That Dog R: Themis Papa- zoglou 3rd Place - Dually Catatonic R: Sharon Wilfing


Making The Cut Champion - JM Colonel R: Miranda Kent Reserve Champion - RAR Smart Perfection R: Carolyn Taylor 3rd Place - BKJ Carlito R: Florence Trudeau


Miranda & Ryan Kent with JM Colonel


Ranch Cutting Class Champion - JM Colonel R: Ryan Kent Reserve Champion - Jacks Koko Monster R: Jen Kay 3rd Place - Instant Lace R: Jennifer Pierluissi


How Equine-Only Feed Producers Can Protect Your Horse


As Canada’s leader in equine nu- trition, Mad Barn thanks The Rider for featuring this story.


When it comes to feeding


your horse, providing them the wrong feed can have catastrophic consequences. One of the most dangerous threats commonly found in livestock feed is a class of


medications called


ionophores. Ionophores like mo- nensin are intended to promote growth and prevent diseases in cattle, poultry, and ruminants. However, these medications are highly toxic to horses. Ionophore contamination in horse feed can lead to severe outcomes, includ- ing heart failure, neurological damage, and, tragically, death. Ionophore toxicity in


horses is fast acting and often lethal. Symptoms can appear within hours of ingestion and may include lethargy, colic, inco- ordination, excessive sweating, diarrhea, and collapse. Despite prompt veterinary care, including removing the horse’s access to the contaminated feed and pro- viding them supportive treat- ment, most horses with ionophore poisoning do not sur- vive. Even those that manage to recover often suffer long-term heart damage and other health complications. In this context, ensuring your horse’s feed is safe from ionophores is not just im- portant — it’s vital.


A recent incident in Okla-


homa serves as a stark reminder of this risk. At a single ranch, 70 horses tragically died after con- suming feed contaminated with monensin. The contamination occurred at the feed mill where the horse feed was produced. While monensin is safe for cattle and other livestock, due to inad- equate separation of production lines, the feed produced for horses at the same facility be- came tainted with this harmful substance. This tragic event highlights


a broader issue: the risks of cross-species feed production. Feed mills that manufacture products for multiple animal species run the risk of cross-con- taminating equine feed with harmful ingredients intended for other animals. Although there are FDA and CFIA guidelines in place to mitigate this risk, such as ensuring equipment is thor- oughly cleaned between produc- tion batches, the reality is that mistakes can happen. When cat- tle and poultry feeds are pro- duced in the same facility as equine feeds, even small errors can lead to disastrous outcomes. That’s why choosing


equine-only feed producers is one of the best ways to protect your horse. At Mad Barn, we are committed to producing feeds specifically for horses in a facil- ity that processes no other animal


feed. This exclusive focus on equine nutrition eliminates the risk of cross-contamination with dangerous


substances like


control processes further ensure the safety and purity of every batch of feed we produce. Mad Barn’s dedication to


ionophores. Our robust quality equine safety means horse own-


ers can have complete confidence in the products they use. By choosing brands that are equine- only, you’re taking an essential step to safeguard your horse’s


health, ensuring that what’s meant to fuel and nourish your equine companion doesn’t acci- dentally become a life-threaten- ing hazard.


2024 Ontario Trail Riders Association Board of Directors


President Sonja Wyss 705-434-7947 info@barefoot-saddlecanada.ca


Secretary/ Promotions/Advertisement Tina Kerst 416-907-6051 tiamiadart@gmail.coma


Cathy Togeretz, cathytogeretz@gmail.com Yvonne Taylor, yvonnet@live.ca Sandy Salazar


Area Representative/ Treasurer/Membership Elaine Wiesner 519-940-1710 elaine.a.wiesner@gmail.com


9045 20 Sideroad, Tosorontio, Lisle, ON L0M 1M0 • www.ontariotrailriders.ca Directors at Large


Directors at Large Lynn Robershaw Gord Wiesner Catherine Dziedziejko


The Ontario Trail Riders Association Inc, estab- lished in 1970, is an equestrian organization which promotes recreational trail riding and the creation, development, preservation and safe use of trails.OTRA and its members represent the equestrian trail user with Ontario Equestrian and Equestrian Canada. We welcome your membership to help support the voice of OTRA on your behalf. Visit our Facebook Page.


Submission for ‘The Rider’ – October 2024 Issue


IT IS NOT TOO LATE! The Ontario


Trail Rider Association still has a couple of rides in the works for 2024, and the beautiful weather this year has definitely helped mak- ing this a fabulous ride & camp season. The remaining rides will be on Sep-


tember 19-23 Relax’n Acres, Ganaraska and on October 4-6 Saugeen Bluff, Paisley (hosted by Chesley Saddle Club, with OTRA members welcome to attend!). Check our calendar on the OTRA website www.ontari- otrailriders.ca and join our facebook page


for updates of these events. Both of those rides require reservation to attend! You will also find the individual host contact and fur- ther details when you click on the calendar dates on the OTRA website. Our most recent OTRA hosted event


at the Dufferin County Forest Main Tract was, again, a great success. Lovely people, horses, and lots of sunshine! We also had our AGM on the Saturday of this weeklong event, with a couple of additions of volun- teers joining the Board of Directors. The 2024 Early Bird membership winner was drawn, and everyone enjoyed the dinner pre-


pared by the local Mulmur ‘Burger Bus’... with the Crispy Chicken Bun appearing to be the favorite! This past weekend ride, hosted by the Chesley Saddle Club, open to all OTRA members as well, was yet another fun event we had, thanks to all the participants, and our hosts Sharon and Brynne. We are looking forward to continuing to see every- one out on the trails as we are moving through our fall season, and (my favourite part!) – the beginning of the trees showing off their amazing colours. Happy trails,


Sonja Wyss (OTRA President)


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