HANDLE WITH CARE

Inspector clarifies policy on therapy for companion animals

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency clarifies itself on farm animals and chemotherapy,

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a public statement following inquiries into the administering of chemotherapy to companion animals, sparked by Esther the Wonder Pig’s earlier cancer diagnosis.

“The CFIA would not prevent chemotherapy to be administered to any farm animals, including pigs and chickens,” the statement says. “A licensed veterinarian can use human and veterinary drugs on animals as they see fit.”

The statement indirectly refers to concerns raised by Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter, who own the Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary in Milton, after their famous pig Esther was diagnosed with breast cancer and their chicken Anne was diagnosed with leukemia.

When Jenkins and Walter inquired about getting Anne treated through chemotherapy, they were initially told that this was not possible, as she was classified as a food animal by the CFIA, Jenkins said. The Milton farm sanctuary is home to nearly 70 companion animals, none of which will ever be food, he added.

So, when he and Walter discovered chemotherapy may be a route Esther required as well, Jenkins said he knew they would be facing the same roadblock.

“We’ve been told if she requires chemotherapy, which would be the next step if the cancer spread at all, she isn’t allowed to receive it because of CFIA (Canadian Food Inspec- tion Agency) regulations,” Jenkins said.

On Sept. 10, the pair instead received positive news from the oncology team at the Ontario Veterinary College: following a successful surgery on Aug. 28, Esther is now cancer free.

Jenkins said he was also able to get Anne chemotherapy, by attaining a legal waiver from Health Canada, but adds that her treatment process, combined with the statement released by the CFIA, sheds light on the inconsistencies when it comes to treating companion animals — an issue he hopes to be able to work with the CFIA to rectify.

“We want to keep the pressure on and keep lines of communication open,” Jenkins said. “I would love to work with them on this. We know something is happening, but they are not communicating with us.”

DEREK WALTER After Esther the Wonder Pig was diagnosed with cancer, her owners Derek Walter and Steve Jenkins were concerned she might not qualify for chemotherapy, being an animal the CFIA might consider “food.” The food inspection agency clarified its position in a statement this week.