Image Credit: B.C. SPCA
July 25, 2019 - 3:13 PM
NORTH OKANAGAN - The B.C. SPCA has spent over $70,000 in caring for the horses seized from Carla Christman's Irish Creek Road property in March and is now appealing to the public for donations.
According to a B.C. SPCA media release, veterinary and boarding costs for the 42 horses have exceeded $70,000 and the horses have required treatment for serious dental and hoof problems along with malnutrition.
While the media release doesn't specify where the horses came from, the B.C. SPCA confirmed with iNFOnews.ca that the horses had come from the Christman property.
"There have also been nine foals born from mares who were pregnant at the time of the seizure and we are doing pregnancy testing on five more this week, so there may be additional horses who require ongoing care," BC SPCA chief prevention and enforcement officer Marcie Moriarty said in the release.
The Irish Creek Road property, March 15 2019.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Adam Proskiw
Christman and her daughter Chelsea Beluse-Christman were charged with causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal, failing to provide the necessaries for an animal, as well as other charges following the March 25 raid on the Irish Creek Property.
Christman appealed to the B.C. Farm Industry Review Board arguing the animals should never have been seized from her property but lost after a two-day tribunal May 29.
Christman was back again in court June 7 arguing the B.C. SPCA costs for boarding her seized horses were too high and requested the animals be returned to her property or put in cheaper boarding. The judge dismissed Christman's request to have the horses returned, but did grant an injunction putting a hold on the B.C. SPCA from adopting the horses out.
The SPCA says the horses are now legally in their care and they would "like to ensure their treatment is completed as soon as possible so that we can find them all loving homes."
The Farm Industry Review Board May 29 decision stated Christman was liable for over $64,000 in related costs.
The SPCA did not pursue Christman in 2009 when costs ran to over $158,000 after they seized 28 horses, 36 dogs, four cats and a pig from her property.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2019