Vaughn STV

EXCLUSIVE with @KatiePasitney of Universal Ostrich Farms A year ago today, 1000 gunshots rung out in night... "Today, We Remember. Tomorrow, We Continue the Fight. Today, we remember the night the gunshots rang out across our fields, silencing decades of life, love, and legacy. Beautiful, extraordinary souls were taken from this world in a way no animal should ever have to endure. Hundreds of ostriches were destroyed without a single surviving bird being tested for the virus before the killing. But what those gunshots could never silence was their spirit. We remember the beauty of our ostriches, their curiosity, their personalities, the thunder of their footsteps across the fields, and the incredible energy they brought into our lives. Their presence filled our farm with something that cannot be measured in dollars or replaced by government compensation. They were never just numbers. They were living beings. They were part of our family, our history, and a scientific legacy that held promise for generations yet to come. Today, we honour our ostriches as the heroes they have become. Their story has crossed borders, united strangers, awakened conversations, and created a ripple effect that continues to reach around the world. Their lives mattered. Their suffering mattered. And their legacy must matter. Canadians deserve better. Farmers deserve protection. Animals deserve compassion. And science deserves a meaningful place at the table before irreversible decisions destroy livelihoods, generational farms, research opportunities, and the promise of future food security. Our fight has never been about denying the importance of disease prevention. It is about demanding that disease prevention, scientific evidence, animal welfare, and fundamental fairness work together. As we move forward with our civil lawsuit, our documentary, and the Ostrich Legacy Project, we carry their legacy with us. Not out of hatred, but out of love. Not simply to revisit the past, but to help change the future. Because when we fail to question destruction, we risk allowing history to repeat itself. One year later, my mother and I are still standing. We stand for our ostriches. We stand for the farmers who fear they could be next. We stand for scientific discovery, accountability, compassion, and the generations who will inherit the decisions we make today. The gunshots may have silenced our fields, but they awakened voices around the world. And those voices will continue to rise. They took their lives. They did not take their legacy. With love, remembrance, and unwavering determination" Karen Espersen & Katie Pasitney Universal Ostrich Farms Justice for the Ostriches. Science Over Destruction. Their Legacy Lives On.