Two men accused of allowing 28 horses to starve to death near Andrew, Alta., have pleaded guilty and have been banned from owning horses.
Axel Hinz-Schleuter and Dale Huber pleaded guilty Nov. 17 to allowing more than 100 horses to be in distress and failure to provide food and water for the animals.
The judge is expected to impose a fine for the two men Dec. 17 and immediately issued other orders.
Hinz-Schleuter is prohibited from owning horses for 50 years with eligibility for review in 10 years. Huber is prevented from owning horses for 10 years with a possibility of review in five years.
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The SPCA has also been granted inspection rights and can enter the farm between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to inspect animals.
On Feb. 23, Alberta SPCA officials seized horses, rabbits, chickens, sheep and goats from the northern Alberta farm.
Eleven other counts for causing other species of animals to be in distress were withdrawn by the crown.
Days before the seized horses were to be sold at auction, a group of horse lovers created Rescue 100 and the horses were taken to Keno Hills Stables in Ardrossan, Alta., for rehabilitation and later to look after their adoption.
Morris Airey, director of enforcement for Alberta SPCA, said the Rescue 100 group worked diligently in caring for the animals and arranging the horse adoptions.
“We are quite confident they went to good homes,” said Airey.
He is pleased with the outcome of the court case.
“The main thing we were interested in was the prohibition of owning horses in particular. There was some concession with the other animals, but as we have inspection rights, I think we’ll monitor it closely that the animals are being cared for adequately.”
The judge agreed to allow the pair to keep a maximum of 40 animals on the property, except horses, and up to 80 head of poultry.
