Mom, daughter charged after more than 38 animals found in distress
Maria Rantanen, QMI Agency
First posted: Thursday, February 26, 2015 10:01 PM EST
VANCOUVER - A mother and daughter have been charged with animal cruelty in northern B.C. after 18 horses, 18 dogs, two cats and other small animals were allegedly found in distress.
The animals were found last August, and charges were laid this week against Karin and Catherine Adams under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Criminal Code of Canada after the B.C. SPCA investigated the situation.
Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer with the B.C. SPCA, said that while the number of animals found was large, unfortunately it's not the only case like this the SPCA comes across.
Since they were found, the majority of animals have been cared for and found new homes.
"All the animals that could be rehabilitated have been adopted," she said.
Rehabilitating the horses was "extremely costly and complicated," requiring months of care, Moriarty added, and complicating matters further, these animals were far from any shelter.
The horses were found in unsanitary conditions without adequate food, water or shelter, the SPCA alleges, and they were also underweight, their hoofs were in poor shape and they were thought to have high parasite loads.
It’s alleged the living conditions of the other animals were also substandard and unsafe, and many of the animals had medical and dental issues, according to Debbie Goodine, B.C. SPCA senior animal protection officer for the region.
If convicted, the women face up to five years in jail, a maximum fine of $75,000 and a lifetime ban on owning animals. They are scheduled to appear at the Houston, B.C. courthouse on March 16.
The B.C. SPCA says caring for horses that have been seized is more complicated than other animals. (QMI Agency file photo)
Mom, daughter charged after more than 38 animals found in distress | Canada | Ne
Maria Rantanen, QMI Agency
First posted: Thursday, February 26, 2015 10:01 PM EST
VANCOUVER - A mother and daughter have been charged with animal cruelty in northern B.C. after 18 horses, 18 dogs, two cats and other small animals were allegedly found in distress.
The animals were found last August, and charges were laid this week against Karin and Catherine Adams under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Criminal Code of Canada after the B.C. SPCA investigated the situation.
Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer with the B.C. SPCA, said that while the number of animals found was large, unfortunately it's not the only case like this the SPCA comes across.
Since they were found, the majority of animals have been cared for and found new homes.
"All the animals that could be rehabilitated have been adopted," she said.
Rehabilitating the horses was "extremely costly and complicated," requiring months of care, Moriarty added, and complicating matters further, these animals were far from any shelter.
The horses were found in unsanitary conditions without adequate food, water or shelter, the SPCA alleges, and they were also underweight, their hoofs were in poor shape and they were thought to have high parasite loads.
It’s alleged the living conditions of the other animals were also substandard and unsafe, and many of the animals had medical and dental issues, according to Debbie Goodine, B.C. SPCA senior animal protection officer for the region.
If convicted, the women face up to five years in jail, a maximum fine of $75,000 and a lifetime ban on owning animals. They are scheduled to appear at the Houston, B.C. courthouse on March 16.
The B.C. SPCA says caring for horses that have been seized is more complicated than other animals. (QMI Agency file photo)
Mom, daughter charged after more than 38 animals found in distress | Canada | Ne