Three horses are dead and another 16 have been seized by the Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after alleged mistreatment on a farm in northwestern Alberta.
The animals were seized from a farm near Carrot Creek, east of Edson, on Tuesday.
The Alberta SPCA was responding to a public complaint when it ordered the farm be searched under the Animal Protection Act.
"You look at these animals and it doesn't take a lot to feed them," said Stuart Dodds, of the Alberta SPCA. "You know it doesn't take a lot to just provide round bales of feed for these horses...so it's just the continued lack of care."
The surviving horses are being cared for at Rescue 100 Horses Foundation, a ranch in Sherwood Park that helps rehabilitate abandoned or neglected horses.
Susan Fyfe, owner of Rescue 100, admits high hay prices have resulted in a challenging year for ranchers.
"Yes it is expensive, but unfortunately when we own animals we take that on," said Fyfe. "So it's a matter of people learning the responsibility. It's not just having a pet in the backyard and when the grass is gone, it's too bad."
The suspect, Patricia Moore, is familiar to S.P.C.A. officials. They say she's been charged under the Animal Protection Act after dozens of dogs, rabbits and some pigs and horses were seized from her farm in December.
Fyfe is looking for people interested in having a horse placed with them if they can properly care for the animal.
More information can be found by logging onto www.rescue100.com
