NEAR ARMSTRONG – An Armstrong area man facing charges after sixteen of his horses were seized by the SPCA is speaking out accusing the organization of going too far.
“My intent was never ever to abuse these animals and I think the whole process that they’ve implemented against me is uncalled for,” says Gary Roberts.
“There should have been more consultation and we could have got along and implemented whatever they had.”
Read More: Seized horses lead to animal cruelty charges for Armstrong man
Roberts is charged with causing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal, failing to provide necessaries for an animal and uttering threats.
The SPCA says three of the horses they seized in December have since died. But Roberts says he hasn’t abused any animals and he plans to plead not guilty to the charges, claiming their vet used too much dewormer on the dead horses.
“I’m not responsible because they would have been alive today if they had been here because I knew how to worm them.”
Roberts also contends icy conditions were creating challenges when the horses were seized.
The SPCA says the ice storm alone wouldn’t have been responsible for the condition of the horses.
“Unfortunately, this type of weight loss and the other conditions we observed in these horses were not something that happened overnight nor within a week or two,” says Marcie Moriarty, the chief prevention and enforcement officer for the B.C. SPCA.
She also rejected the idea the SPCA was responsible for the three horses dying.
“I’d actually say to be honest that we probably consulted too much. He was given a number of months to address the concerns and unfortunately he failed to do so,” says Moriarty.
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