This weekend’s sale of dozens of Armstrong area horses is getting a lot of attention after concerns were raised that some of the animals could be sold for meat, something the auction house involved says will not happen.
The horses are set to go up for auction this weekend after their owner was charged with two animal cruelty offences.
Read More: Seized horses lead to animal cruelty charges for Armstrong man
Gary Roberts is facing charges after 16 other horses were seized by the SPCA in December. Roberts is under a bail condition that stipulates he can’t have custody or control of any domestic animal after February 17.
Read More: Armstrong horse owner facing charges speaking out against SPCA
“I’m hoping that lots and lots of people with the help of publicity will be coming and buying up horses and giving them good homes, but there is always the risk of kill buyers picking up horses at auctions such as this. I know that particular auction has had a lot of horses go through there that have gone for meat,” says Sinikka Crosland, executive director of The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition.
Some concerned about horse slaughter feel the publicity in this case will mean the horses will find new homes.
“The public knows about this sale and lots of good-hearted and compassionate people seem to be coming forward to buy these horses,” says Jacquie Sharpe.
The auction house involved is confident all the horses for sale Saturday will go to homes rather than being sold to so-called kill buyers.
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“That is not going to happen,” says Don Raffan, auctioneer at Valley Auction. “I count on the horse community to ante up and buy these horses and re-home them and I have every bit of confidence that is where they are going to go. They are going to go right back out to a nice home and be cared for.”
Raffan doesn’t deny some horses that have gone through the auction in the past have been sold for meat.
“Unfortunately that is the case. That does happen but cows go to slaughterhouses and chickens and pigs, and it is a fact of life.”
The horse sale is set for Saturday at Valley Auction.
Roberts claimed he wasn’t given any other option for dispersing his herd other than an auction. Crown counsel says Roberts is not under a court order to sell his animals and how he chooses to comply with the condition that he not have custody or control of domestic animals is up to him.
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