United States-30 Cattle found dead on farm.

UNITED STATES-30 DEAD CATTLE FOUND ON FARM.

Charges are pending against a Tottenham-area farmer after provincial police and OSPCA officials found almost 30 dead cattle at his farm, along with two dozen others, some of which were in "pretty poor condition."

Kristin Williams, with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ head office in Newmarket, said the charges will be the first in the province laid under the recently strengthened Ontario SPCA Act.

Nottawasaga OPP Sgt. Dave Patterson said officers and OSPCA officials responded Tuesday afternoon to a farm in New Tecumseth, about 40 kilometres southwest of Barrie, following up on a tip that came in to police.

Officers determined the property owner, a 50-year-old man, was suffering from a medical condition, Patterson said. The man was taken to hospital for assessment, although the nature of his illness was not released.

Twenty-eight dead animals were found at the scene.

"This is a suspected case of neglect in which we (also) identified animals in immediate distress and sought to alleviate suffering and preserve life," Williams said.

The OSPCA removed 24 beef cattle and took them to another farm to receive care.