Pig seized from petting zoo had contagious infection

A pig at a Revelstoke petting zoo tested positive for a bacterial infection that can be transferred to humans, after the SPCA seized several animals from the roadside attraction.

Between June and September, the SPCA received 13 animal cruelty complaints about the Revelstoke Petting Zoo, prompting officers to visit the property in early August, according to a recent decision by the Farm Industry Review Board, an independent tribunal that issues rulings when someone appeals an SPCA seizure.

Eight animals were seized, including a pig, a lamb and several horses. A dead weaner piglet was taken to the Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford for testing. The results showed the animal had streptococcus suis, a bacterial infection that is not uncommon among pigs and can spread to people.

The infection is caused by strep bacteria, explained Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer for the B.C. SPCA. With treatment, pigs usually recover and the infection doesn’t spread to humans — “still, you probably wouldn’t want your child touching a pig that had this.”

The SPCA tried to notify owner James Richard Bruvall about the test results, but officers were unable to reach him. They revisited his property on Sept. 12 and found little had changed. They seized six more animals, including two pigs, a goat, a peacock, a miniature horse and an alpaca.

Bruvall, who was in jail at the time, appealed the second seizure to the Farm Industry Review Board.

At a hearing in November, an SPCA officer told the review board the animals had inadequate housing and limited access to good food and clean water.

The animals were examined by a vet and several were underweight or had other medical problems.