The former owner of a now-closed hatchery in santa cruz county has settled a civil suit filed by an animal rights group. Attorneys for the group “compassion for killing” turned to civil court after the santa cruz county district attorney decided not to pursue criminal charges. brian Collins, who owned cal-cruz hatcheries until abuse allegations surfaced in 2009, denied any wrongdoing under the settlement, but he will be banned for 5-years from being legally responsible for caring for animals in a commercial setting. volunteers with compassion for killing had used a hidden camera to record employees of the live oak hatchery abusing ducklings and chicks.
