With Saskatchewan SPCA investigators finding several deceased horses on a property just south of Scott, charges are pending against the owners of the horses.
The horses were first reported on in the Jan. 30 issue of the Regional Optimist. They appeared malnourished and were seen digging through snow in an effort to find something to eat, with no sign of hay bales anywhere in sight. At the time, the SPCA confirmed there was an ongoing investigation and that they were working with the owners to alleviate the situation for the horses.
The RCMP also confirmed they were involved in the investigation but, because the investigation was ongoing, they were also unable to make any further comment at that time.
Sgt. Rusk followed up Feb. 11, by email, saying, "We are continuing our investigation into causing unnecessary suffering to animals/injuring or endangering other animals under Section 445 of the Criminal Code of Canada. We are working in conjunction with the SPCA and experts in the field of veterinary medicine in this investigation."
In a telephone interview, Feb. 18, Kaley Pugh, of the SPCA, said she attended the property herself Feb. 14 and seized four horses. She described the horses as being "in distress" and said they "needed to be removed to ensure they received proper care." Those four horses are with a volunteer caretaker.
Pugh, who has recently taken over this file in the SPCA office, did not know exactly how many deceased horses had been found on the property by the prior investigator or the RCMP, but she did confirm there were several. The deceased horses are prompting the laying of charges.
Despite the seizure of four horses and the deaths of others, the owners continue to have a number of horses in their care.
Pugh said the SPCA will continue to monitor the situation and she hopes to return soon to follow up on Friday's visit. She indicated someone from the SPCA will be visiting as often as possible to make sure progress continues to be made in terms of the care the horses receive. She did, however, also point out the SPCA is short staffed and visits cannot be made weekly.
Hay is now being regularly fed to the horses remaining in the pasture near Scott. The number of horses visible at the corrals where hay is fed, Feb. 18, was significantly less than the number observed Feb. 8.
