3 minors charged in sheep attacks

Three minors have been charged in an animal cruelty case in southern Albertaafter attacks on grazing sheep so severe thatone ewe with a broken leg had to be put down.

About 300 sheepare being used to manage the grass as an environmentally friendlyalternative to lawnmowers at the Strathmore Rodeo Grounds, about 50 kilometres east of Calgary.

The RCMP began investigating after a complaint on June 22 of trespassers harassing the flock on loan from local farmers for the green project, police said Monday.

Police said they found some sheep had been beaten with a blunt object. Several animals were injured. The ewe had to be euthanized after it suffered a broken leg.

People who live near the rodeo grounds reported seeing teenagers chasing the sheep with hockey sticks.

On Saturday, police charged one minor with injuring cattle and trespassing. Two other youths have also been charged with trespassing.

"I don't believe there is much of a motive here besides youth being involved in what probably started out as being a harmless prank in their minds, and escalating tothe point that they did things that they didn't think of the consequences of their actions before it happened," said RCMP Staff Sgt. Larry Marzinzick on Monday.

Police said they have identified other suspects and further charges may be possible.

In April, the House of Commons passed the first significant changes to Canada's animal cruelty laws in more than a century, raising the maximum penalty from six months imprisonment and/or a $2,000 fine to five years and/or a $10,000 fine.