BC SPCA rescues emaciated abandoned horses in Cedar

March 5, 2010. For immediate release.

The BC SPCA rescued seven abandoned horses and one donkey from a property in Cedar on March 2. 

The animals were emaciated and suffering from a wide range of medical problems, including parasites, oozing untreated wounds, dental issues, diarrhea and severe rain scald.  "The animal owner was not providing even minimal care for these poor animals, whom she left in terrible condition when she moved from the property," said Marcie Moriarty, general manager of cruelty investigations for the BC SPCA.  The animals removed from the property include a three-year-old paint stallion, two seven-month-old Shetland pony foals, a three-year-old Bay grade mare, a geriatric quarter horse mare, a two-year-old Shetland pony gelding, a 10-year-old Saddlebred gelding and a miniature donkey.

Moriarty says in addition to being sick and emaciated, the animals were kept in substandard conditions with no access to food, water or acceptable shelter.  "They were kept in a muddy area filled with feces, urine and large pools of foul, green water and there was flimsy fencing in a paddock that was next to a very busy road."

The horses and donkey are currently in SPCA custody and are being cared for at a local boarding facility.

The BC SPCA is a not-for-profit reliant on support from the community to carry out its life-saving mission work. You can help the BC SPCA care for and protect more than 36,000 animals a year, fight cruelty and provide medical care to homeless and abused animals in need by visiting spca.bc.ca. Your gift is a second chance for the animals. 

For more information:

Leon Davis, manager, BC SPCA Nanaimo Branch, 250-758-0351;

Marcie Moriarty, general manager, cruelty investigations, BC SPCA, 604-647-1318;

Lorie Chortyk, general manager, community relations, BC SPCA, 604.647.1316, 604.830.7179.

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.