The authorities are determined to cull the lives of several hundred ostriches at Universal Farms located in Edgewood, B.C.

The 'Stamping-out policy' is at the heart of why farm animals with viruses such as H5N1, swine flu, and others are automatically eradicated.

For the ostriches living at the Universal Farms property there have been some surprising supporters stepping up to help the birds and none of them have been the BC Agricultural Minister, the BC SPCA or the Provincial goverment leader, Premier Eby.

John Catsimatidis is a New York businessman, billionaire, radio host, and a Trump confidant.

“All I’m asking is for the Supreme Court of Canada to [come to] the common sense solution: allow the Food and Drug Administration to test the animals. If Canada doesn’t want the animals, allow Dr. Oz to take them to the United States. What is wrong with that?”
- John Catsimatidis

Mr. wrote Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney a letter to consider his proposal and told the US President Trump about the proposal. In addition, the New York businessman has been helping pay Universal Ostrich Farm's legal bills amounting to almost CDN $50,000 already.

Alongside U.S. billionaire John Catsimatidis, TV personality and U.S. federal health official Dr Mehmet Oz is advocating to stop the cull, arguing the approximately 400 surviving ostriches could hold valuable scientific information about immunity to the virus. He has offered to have the birds relocated to his Florida ranch for research purposes.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., questions whether the Canadian government is overreaching with the cull order. Kennedy Jr. spoke to Jay Bhattacharya, the head of the U.S. National Institute of Health, and they were willing to research the animals to see if they have antibodies that could help them tolerate the virus.

The CFIA have refused requests to test the ostriches although three Independents, members of the legislature, and Dallas Brodie and Tara Armstrong supported the ostriches during a news conference with reporters.

Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy said the provincial government can help secure a stay of execution by lobbying for an exemption from the culling rules. People with pets in our province expressed dismay that the Premier is "turning a blind eye" to the crisis facing the ostriches lives.

A spokesperson for the BC SPGA said that, "It's typical that British Columbia's elected officials have not supported the ostriches lives. It is shocking that the BC SPCA who say they are "speaking for animals" have been silent on the fate of the almost 400 ostriches at the Universal Ostrich Farm.

The BC SPGA maintains that there has to be a shift in how virus infected farm animals are treated: The animals must be tested and treated if they exhibit symptoms. Healthy animals must be isolated from sick animals and continue to live.

A spokesperson for the BC SPGA said that, "We know for a fact that culling the animals have had no effect whatsoever on the viruses who are more effective now than ever. We also know for a fact that historically epidemics have been brought under control by science and medicine."