A teenager is facing charges of animal cruelty for reportedly running over multiple sleeping geese in three parking lots in Winnipeg, resulting in the death of most of them. The incidents occurred during a half-hour spree in south Winnipeg on a Saturday night.
One goose was left injured after being struck in a parking lot on Henlow Bay in the West Fort Garry Industrial Park, with two more geese killed in an adjacent lot shortly after. Additionally, two geese were killed when they were chased from their nest and run over in a strip mall parking lot near Ikea on Sterling Lyon Parkway in the Seasons of Tuxedo shopping district.
Security footage from a business at the strip mall captured the SUV running over the Canada geese, leading to the identification and subsequent arrest of the teenager at his residence on Monday. The teenager faces five charges related to the killing or injuring of animals and has been released with a court date while the investigation continues.
Canada geese are protected birds, and harming them without a federal permit is illegal. According to animal law specialist Victoria Shroff, these legal protections have been in place for over a century in Canada. Shroff emphasizes the importance of respecting all animals and the need for education on coexisting with wildlife, particularly among young individuals.
Shroff highlights the shift in perspectives toward animals not just as property but as sentient beings deserving of consideration. She stresses the significance of recognizing animals’ ability to feel pain and advocates for a mindset that promotes coexistence rather than viewing animals as inconveniences or hazards.