The B.C. SPCA has launched an investigation into a horse that had to be euthanized by RCMP officials in Keremeos on Tuesday.
“On June 6 our constables were alerted to allegations that the horse may have been beaten,” said Marcie Moriarty, general manager of cruelty investigations for the B.C. SPCA.
Witnesses have been interviewed and Moriarty said the body of the horse will be exhumed to determine the nature of any injuries sustained prior to the onsite euthanasia. She said the SPCA is confident it will uncover the facts in the case, but cautions the public about jumping to conclusions until the investigation is complete.
“This case has understandably raised a lot of public concern and anger, but it is important that people wait for the truth to be uncovered rather than reacting to the many rumours that are circulating. We want to assure people that we are investigating thoroughly, and if an offence has occurred we will definitely take appropriate action,” said Moriarty.
Tim Robertson was one of the witnesses who came upon the horse that he said was brutally beaten and left to die for three-and-a-half hours in a nearby field by a horse trainer. He snapped photos of the horse before RCMP arrived that he claims show the horse suffered severe trauma in the back of the head between the ears, and was in shock.
“These are absolutely helpless animals. We have them in our domestic care, that is like a child to me. You don’t mess with that, you give it everything you can,” said Robertson.
