Seized horses finding new homes, charges recommended against owners

KAMLOOPS — Nearly 40 horses were cared for by local SPCA investigators since October, and many of them have already found new homes.

More than a dozen horses were seized by local SPCA cruelty investigators while the remaining horses all came from Okanagan seizures over the winter.

“They have been through rehabilitation,” cruelty investigator Kent Kokoska says. “Most have found homes.”

Several local investigations at the end of October led to the seizure of more than a dozen horses needing critical care. Many were starving, either from lack of food or because the need for dental work was severe. Several more horses never made it to care and had to be euthanized because their health was so degraded. A couple months later two more horses, and 16 dogs, were seized from a Clearwater property.

Even more horses found their way into local care after provincial investigations led to the the seizure of another 25-30 horses, many from the Salmon Arm area.

As the horses continue to find new homes (there's about 20 still available on the SPCA adoption site) special constables have begun to submit charges against the former owners.

“…We have several submitted to crown council and still two more to be submitted,” Kokoska says, noting it could be anywhere from two months to a year before the crown decides whether to follow through on charges.

To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca or call 250-819-3723.