B.C. homes found for Alberta horses abandoned in snow (CAN)

Cross-posted from The Province
An EDMONTON JOURNAL Story

Two horses were trapped in a valley of snow more than two metres deep near McBride, B.C. last December. They have been adopted out to permanent homes. Photograph by Handout, Canwest News Service.

EDMONTON — Permanent homes have been found for two Alberta horses rescued from the side of a B.C. mountain in December, says the British Columbia SPCA.

Belle, a three-year-old mare, and Sundance, a 14-year-old gelding, are still being cared for in foster homes until they can be transported to their new homes, Shawn Eccles, chief animal protection officer, said Friday.

Snowmobilers found the horses starving and stranded in two metres of snow in the Renshaw Mountains near McBride, B.C., about 500 kilometres west of Edmonton, in mid-December.

The horses had been abandoned in September by an Edmonton man. Volunteers organized a rescue effort and spent a week digging a one-kilometre trench in freezing temperatures so the horses could be walked out down a 28-kilometre logging road.

Belle suffered rain scald and frostbite, while Sundance lost most of his tail to lice and suffered a hoof injury. Both horses have put on weight and Belle’s coat is starting to grow back in, said Eccles.

The horses’ Edmonton owner, Frank Mackay, had requested the horses be returned to him, but after reviewing his submission, it was decided that was not in the best interest of the animals, Eccles said.

B.C. SPCA officials have recommended charges be laid against MacKay, and are still waiting to hear if the Crown will accept charges.

Mackay could not be reached for comment. TheProvince.com >>