Animal advocates concerned over conditions at Manitoba Ferret breeding mill

CityNews has learned the province is investigating a ferret breeding mill in western Manitoba, following the release of hidden camera footage showing as many as 500 animals living in conditions that have animal advocates concerned for their well-being.

“No one is overseeing these facilities, and they are operating completely in the dark,” said Kaitlyn Mitchell, director of legal advocacy with Animal Justice, the organization that provided the video.

“Do you need a licence in Canada?” asks a voice off camera in the recording. “I don’t have anything,” another responds.

An activist with the group recorded video of a breeding facility in Melita, Man. three hours west of Winnipeg, after gaining access by claiming they were an investor. In the video, the owner of the farm walks into a room with cages, and feces piled on the ground. 

“And you can see why one person, it doesn’t take long, and the sh*t is piling up, and it’s out of control” the voice on the video says. Near the end of the tour, the activist is shown a wooden box allegedly used to kill ferrets.

“I’ll show you my gas chamber, so this is what I kill them with, That’s carbon monoxide in there,” the voice can be heard saying. 

The worrying conditions according to animal rights advocates is on the province for not licensing or supervising these types of animal breeding programs. 

“This is an example of the province failing animals,” said Mitchell of the conditions and lack of oversight. 

“By turning their back on breeders, this province is also turning its back on animals. Whether that is dogs, ferrets, rabbits, there are breeders operating across the province and no one is looking out for the animals.”

CityNews has not been able to independently verify the legitimacy of the video but upon reaching out to the facility’s owner, they told us in an email they did not wish to comment other than to say: “I am dealing with this through the provincial animal welfare officer who will be advising me of what steps to take.”

 Veterinarian Jonas Watson told CityNews the video is troubling for a number of reasons, but especially when it comes to the risk of disease.

”If any ferret enthusiast, who really treats their ferrets like part of the family, had a sense that their pet came from a facility like this, I think they’d be mortified, and appalled.”