The investigation into the photo of a cow left out in this weekend's blizzard is now in the hands of police, according to Torbay Mayor Craig Scott.
The image of the cow huddled close to the side of a house during Saturday's snow storm has generated outrage and concern online, and led to several calls Saturday evening to the Town of Torbay from people asking them to do something.
"A picture is worth a thousand words, and I guess in this case it was worth a thousand posts on Facebook," Scott told CBC Radio's St. John's Morning Show.
"It kind of took off and took on a life of its own."
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has been asked to investigate after complaints that a cow was left outside in Torbay during Saturday's blizzard. (CBC)
Scott said even though the town doesn't have authority when it comes to enforcement of the Animal Health and Protection Act – especially for cases involving livestock – town enforcement officers did visit the home in question to check things out later Saturday evening.
"They kept going back over the course of the night," he said. "They went two, three four times and didn't see any animals outside."
RNC asked to investigate
The town contacted the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and the province's veterinarian association.
"They have the authority to enforce this act, which the town right now, we don't," he said.
Craig Scott is the mayor of the Town of Torbay. (Facebook photo)
Scott said he believes this particular property, which has been a farm with livestock for many years, has been the focus of a couple of animal abuse complaints before, but he's not aware of any official action taken against the resident.
He said the Town of Torbay doesn't have the right to accuse the owner of the cow of abuse or neglect, and can only pass the information on to the police.
"People are emailing me telling me, 'Why doesn't the town just go and take this person's animals?' Well, we don't have the authority to do that so we have to move the investigation on to the people who do have that authority," he said.
