A Thunder Bay-area resident's appeal to have his two horses returned after they were seized by Animal Welfare Services (AWS) has been unsuccessful. The horses were deemed to be in distress due to poor body condition and lack of adequate food and water. The owner contested AWS' actions, but the Animal Care Review Board ruled in favor of the agency, citing insufficient evidence that he could provide proper care.
A rural resident in the Thunder Bay area who had his two horses seized by the provincial Animal Welfare Services (AWS) agency has lost his appeal to have them returned. The horses, a mare and a stallion, were determined to be in distress by a veterinarian due to their poor body condition and lack of access to food and clean water. In August and September 2024, following a public complaint, an AWS inspector attempted twice to visit the property to check on the horses but was denied access.
After obtaining a search warrant, the inspector found several concerning issues. According to the Animal Care Review Board, the inspector observed the mare and stallion in a severely emaciated state, with their spines, ribs, and hip bones clearly visible. She also testified that she was unable to locate any clean drinking water on the property, only a trough containing thick, green liquid. There was only one round bale of hay available for the horses. The property was also littered with various objects, including hazardous materials such as barbed wire, metal scraps, broken-down vehicles, and other sharp objects, posing a risk of injury to the horses. The inspector issued orders requiring the owner to have both horses examined by a veterinarian, provide them with a veterinarian-recommended feeding plan, and ensure they had access to adequate water, a salt block, enclosed areas to minimize injury risks, grooming to remove burrs, and shelter during inclement weather. About a week later, AWS returned to the property with a veterinarian to assess compliance with the orders. They found that the necessary steps to improve the horses' condition had not been taken. The veterinarian assessed both animals' body conditions as low (1-2 out of 9), stating that it was clear the basic requirements for food and water were not being met. The horses' extremely thin body condition indicated that the lack of food and water had been a long-term issue unlikely to change. Following the seizure of the horses by AWS and their transfer to a boarding facility, they received veterinary care. Over the following weeks, they were observed to be eating well and their body conditions steadily improved. However, the owner disagreed with AWS' actions, believing they had overstepped their authority. In his appeal to the Animal Care Review Board, heard in December, he maintained that the horses were not in distress and that he could care for them himself without veterinary support. He also insisted he had provided adequate food and water, although this was contradicted by the evidence presented at the hearing. The adjudicator ruled that the appeal was unsuccessful, stating that the appellant had not proven, on a balance of probabilities, that he could provide the necessary care and conditions to prevent the horses from being distressed if returned to his property. The adjudicator also ordered the owner to pay the government nearly $1,600 to cover the boarding and veterinary costs incurred. The tribunal's decision, released on February 5th, does not specify the current location of the horses
Animal Welfare Horse Seizure Thunder Bay Ontario Animal Neglect Animal Care Review Board
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