Armstrong woman pleads guilty after three horses in distress euthanized

A horse owner from Armstrong pleaded guilty to causing animals to be in distress earlier this month and received a 15-year ban on owning animals.

Sandra Nickolls was sentenced to a year of probation, 40 hours of community service along with the ban on owing animals after entering her guilty plea at the Vernon courthouse, Nov. 12, according to a press release from the BC SPCA. Three horses in her care were put down as a result of her neglect.

The BC SPCA received a report about an injured horse on a property near Armstrong in April 2024. When an animal protection officer went out to investigate they found three horses in concerning condition. 

The injured horse turned out to be in critical distress. 

All three horses had overgrown hooves which caused mobility issues. Their shared shelter had piles of built up feces that were so high they had to climb over them to enter and exit the shelter. 

The drinking water for the horses was unsanitary and they were eating hay from the ground that was covered in feces. 

The horse in critical distress was 26 years old, underweight and had a severe leg injury that hadn’t been treated. Her leg was swollen because of a bleeding protrusion and she had sores on her hindquarters. 

A veterinarian evaluated the horse and decided the most humane thing would be to euthanize the horse on the spot. 

The other horses were in bad shape so they were seized and brought to a foster farm. There was hope that they might recover, but despite the foster’s best efforts both horses had to be put down. 

The BC SPCA said it does not euthanize healthy animals and it rehomes animals if there is a chance for recovery. 

Nickolls is not allowed to have custody of, own, or live with any animals, except for one spayed or neutered cat for the next fifteen years. She has to let the BC SPCA inspect her home to make sure she is complying with the court’s terms.