by Monisha Martins, Black Press
A Maple Ridge woman who left three horses to starve on a Mission farm has been banned from owning animals forever.
Elissa Anne Uberall received the ban and a $2,600 fine earlier this month in Abbotsford provincial court after a judge found her guilty on one count of causing an animal to continue to be in distress.
The horses were seized from the Cameron Avenue property by the Maple Ridge branch of the SPCA in May 2009 after a complaint about their condition from a concerned citizen.
“They were emaciated simply due to the fact that they were provided with inadequate care and nutrition. They were being starved to death,” said Marcie Moriarty, B.C. SPCA’s general manager for cruelty investigations.
The horses spent two months in the care of the SPCA and were adopted out once healthy.
Uberall failed to appear in court on Dec. 2 and a warrant has been issued for her arrest.
She still faces another animal cruelty charge as well as criminal charges of uttering threats and assault causing bodily harm for allegedly lashing out at SPCA officers when they returned to conduct a follow-up visit in September 2009.
During that visit, SPCA officers found a dog who was so sick he had to be carried off the property on a stretcher.
The dog was eventually euthanized.
“She clearly demonstrated by her actions that she has no business owning animals and the court has recognized that,” said Moriarty.
Uberall has a year to pay the $,2600 fine and can request a review of the lifetime ban on owning animals after three years.
