The Federal Court of Appeal has made a significant decision to grant a stay that puts a halt to the potential cull of nearly 400 ostriches at a farm in British Columbia. This move comes after the owners of Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood have been battling against an order from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to cull their flock following an avian flu outbreak last year.

According to court records, a motion to suspend plans for the cull while an appeal is pending was approved on Friday afternoon in Ottawa. This decision has brought a sense of relief to the owners of the farm, who have been fighting tirelessly to save their ostriches from being culled.

Katie Pasitney, who co-owns the farm with her mother, expressed her gratitude to the supporters of the farm in a social media post. She mentioned that the “next phase of the battle” will enable the farm to continue advocating for change and standing up for all farmers across Canada.

In a live video posted on Facebook on Friday, Pasitney stated, “It’s a good day for the ostriches and it’s a good day for all the farmers that we are fighting for across Canada.” The decision to grant a stay has uplifted the spirits of those who have been protesting on the farm to prevent the cull and activists who have been criticizing what they perceive as government overreach.

The attention surrounding the plight of the ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farm has not only resonated locally but has also garnered international interest. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has highlighted that the avian flu infection present at the farm is a unique mutation that has not been observed elsewhere in the country.