A Houston-area mother and daughter were sentenced Thursday after they pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges related to the seizure of nearly 100 animals from their property slightly more than a year ago.
Mother Karin Adams was sentenced to 15 days in jail and two years' probation and daughter Catherine Adams was sentenced six-months conditional house arrest and three years' probation.
Both were also issued a 20-year- ban from owning animals and each must pay $5,456 in restitution to the BC SPCA to offset care costs for the animals.
On Aug. 28, 2014, BC SPCA constables seized 53 animals, including 18 horses, 18 large- and small-breed dogs, 15 birds and two cats from their property near the community 300 kilometres west of Prince George.
One hundred and four fish kept in filthy conditions were also removed in the seizure.
BC SPCA chief prevention and enforcement officer Marcie Moriarty said the horses were kept in deplorable conditions, with overcrowding, inadequate and unsanitary shelter and little or no access to food or water.
"Many were underweight and several had overgrown hooves and suspected parasites," said Moriarty.
Two of the horses were so malnourished that they had been eating a large section of wood from the back wall of a shed in an attempt to survive, she noted.
The dogs, which included a number of German shepherds, poodle crosses, two Chinese crested dogs, a Newfoundland-cross, a pit bull, a Maltese cross and a bloodhound cross, were also being kept in unsanitary conditions and had dental issues and medical concerns, ranging from lacerations to extreme matting. Many of the dogs also appeared to be poorly socialized and fearful.
Moriarty noted that the 15 birds - cockatiels, love birds, quail, budgies and a conure - were also badly neglected and housed inappropriately.
The BC SPCA provided shelter, medical care and rehabilitation for the seized animals and they have since been adopted into new homes.
