CALGARY – RCMP have laid animal cruelty charges against a Drumheller man in connection to the discovery of hundreds of malnourished livestock last month.

On April 21st, a farm near Drumheller was raided following reports of hundreds of neglected cattle and horses. Police seized 140 horses and 200 cattle, many of which were malnourished, aggressive and seriously ill.

A dozen horse and cattle carcasses were also found on his ranch near East Coulee, and several more animals were euthanized.

At least six horses had to be abandoned by the Alberta SPCA as they were too feral to contain. The animals were initially taken to a care facility nearby.

54-year-old John Barry Graham is facing charges of causing damage or injury to animals, disobeying a court order and common nuisance as well as two charges under the Animal Protection Act.

Graham has a history of animal neglect; in 2002, he was fined $10,000 and prohibited from owning livestock after pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges.

Investigators say neighbours had nine times reported stray horses wandering the area around Graham’s farm, which led to further investigation by police.

He is scheduled to appear in court in mid-June.

Graham has expressed interest in reclaiming the 340 animals seized in the investigation, although the horses and cattle remain in the care of the SPCA.

Some of the animals seized have been moved to a rural location near Brooks, Alberta while others remain at a livestock handling facility in Brooks. All of the animals remain under veterinary care.

With files from the Calgary Herald