Horse owner guilty of cruelty to animals

A Minden Hills woman has been found guilty of animal cruelty after animal control officers found four horses confined without food, water or hay.

Investigators from the Ontario SPCA found the animals March 2 after receiving a report about horses in trouble. They found them in a small, fenced area, and noted that the hip bones of one of the horses were protruding from under a blanket.

A veterinary examination found that all four horses were in poor condition, with one described as “emaciated.” They had lice, untreated wounds and poor hoof care, according to a release from the OSPCA.

They were taken from the property and treated before three were placed in homes with proper care. A fourth, and a goal born after the horses were seized, will soon be available for adoption.

Shauna Hie was convicted Jan. 4 of permitting distress to an animal in Ontario Court of Justice in Lindsay. She was sentenced to 10-year prohibition on owing or caring for any equine animals and was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to the Ontario SPCA.

“With resources available to help people who are unable to care for their pets, there really is no excuse when it comes to neglecting to care for your animals,” stated Alison Green, senior inspector, Ontario SPCA, in a press release. “There will be consequences under the law if you fail to provide appropriate care for your animals or if you fail to take steps to alleviate an animal’s suffering.”

To report animal cruelty, call the OSPCA’s provincewide hotline at 310-SPCA or 1-888-668-7722, ext. 327. Reports can also be made via email at cruelty@ospca.on.ca, or at local OSPCA or Humane Society branches.