B.C. ostrich farm declines help from Dr. Oz to save birds from planned cull

Oz is the administrator for the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is the second health official in the Trump administration to try to prevent the cull.

The operators of an ostrich farm in southeastern British Columbia say United States health official and former television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz has offered to save the birds from an impending cull by relocating them to his ranch in Florida.

But Katie Pasitney, whose parents own the farm, said they aren’t interested in moving the flock, although they’re grateful for the support.

Oz is the administrator for the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is the second health official in the administration of President Donald Trump to try to prevent the cull, after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr intervened last week.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency ordered the cull last year after an avian flu outbreak at the farm, and a judge tossed out a challenge this month that sought to stop the order.

Pasitney said she spoke with Oz on Monday, confirming a report in the New York Post quoting him as saying he offered to relocate the nearly 400 ostriches to his ranch.

“It’s not like we’re looking at transporting our ostriches anywhere, but I think what the message is (about) the growing support across the States,” she said.

“Even people like Dr. Oz want to be involved and (want to) see these animals live — even offering his 900 acre ranch in Florida.”

She said New York billionaire businessman and radio host John Catsimatidis had connected her with both Oz and Kennedy.