SPCA seizes emaciated horses from Armstrong farm, recommends charges | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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SPCA seizes emaciated horses from Armstrong farm, recommends charges

Sixteen horses were seized from a farm in Armstrong. They are now in the custody of the B.C. SPCA.
Image Credit: B.C. SPCA

ARMSTRONG - The B.C. SPCA has seized 16 horses from a farm in Armstrong and is now recommending animal cruelty charges against the owner.

Senior animal protection officer Kathy Woodward says the SPCA, along with the RCMP, executed a warrant at the farm Dec. 11 after receiving tips from the public. Of approximately 117 horses on the property, 16 emaciated mares and foals in the worst condition were seized. She says those animals ranked between 0.5 and 1.5 on the body condition score, which goes up to nine.

“We absolutely will be following up on the other animals,” Woodward says.

Charges against the owner will be recommended to Crown counsel under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The farm had already been under the SPCA’s watch for some time and the owner did not willingly surrender the horses.

“I believe this is another situation where at one time, there were the resources to care for this many animals, and again, it got out of hand,” Woodward says.

She says there was inadequate food, water and shelter being provided to the animals. The 16 seized horses are now in SPCA foster homes and being checked over by a veterinarian.

“They’ll require extensive and long-term care,” Woodward says.

Cash donations are appreciated and can be made online. Anyone able to contribute hay can contact Woodward at kwoodward@spca.bc.ca.

Image Credit: B.C. SPCA

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

—This story was edited at 4:45 p.m. Dec. 12 to add photos of the horses. 

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