The operators of Universal Ostrich Farm in southeastern British Columbia have declined an offer from Dr. Mehmet Oz, a U.S. health official and former television personality, to relocate their flock of ostriches to his ranch in Florida.
Dr. Oz, who is the administrator for the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, offered to take all 380 ostriches off the farm’s hands after a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak last year led to a cull ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
However, Katie Pasitney, whose parents own the farm, stated they are not interested in moving their flock, despite being grateful for Dr. Oz’s support.
"We’re not looking at transporting our ostriches anywhere," Pasitney said. "But I think what this shows is growing support across states."
Pasitney also credited New York billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis with connecting her with both Dr. Oz and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has also intervened on behalf of the ostriches.
"He’s well-connected and he’s very passionate about this cause," Pasitney said of Catsimatidis.
Last week, Secretary Kennedy wrote a public letter to CFIA president Paul MacKinnon, arguing that sparing the birds would be beneficial due to their potential value in studying immune responses to avian flu.
In response, CFIA stated on Monday that humane depopulation of the flock would proceed as planned but did not provide specific dates or details due to privacy protections for producers.
Catsimatidis issued a press release Tuesday calling on MacKinnon to stop the planned cull and urging an independent review involving FDA veterinary scientists before any action is taken against the birds.
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