UW Animal Rights Society protesting against Eby Farmstead over quality of animal care

Students from the University of Waterloo Animal Rights Society and residents are gathering in Waterloo Park at Eby Farmstead this afternoon to protest the current living conditions of the animals cared for at the facility.

According to the group, they are concerned that the animals' needs aren't being met due to the minimal supervision of the animals at Eby Farmstead, making the animals vulnerable to harassment and being fed improperly. 

Now with the instalment on the ION train, students say that there are also increased concerns about the affects of noise and light pollution on the animals.

“The goal of this demonstration is to engage the public on how harmful the Farmstead is to the animals' wellbeing.” says organizer Sophia Kudriavtsev, “While we believe in the importance of learning about and interacting with animals, we must also ensure that the animals' wellbeing is made a top priority.” 

The society says that they hope to raise awareness about the problems with Farmstead and are trying to gather public support for its closure.

This is the second of three demonstrations organized with the goal to shut down Eby Farmstead and send the animals to sanctuaries. 

“As the heart of the Waterloo community, we want Waterloo Park to reflect citizens' interests and values.” says Stefaine DeSousa, President of the UW Animal Rights Society.

“We are asking the City to replace the farm with an educational community space the demonstrates compassion for all life.”

The protest starts today at 3:30 p.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m.

More information on the event can be found through the society's Facebook page.