Belinda Lyall says unfounded complaints prompted BC SPCA investigators to visit her Salmon Arm horse rescue.

On Thursday morning, April 13, several BC SPCA vehicles arrived at the 20th Avenue SE property where Lyall runs BC Horse Angels, a not-for-profit organization with a mandate to save horses from slaughter and/or neglect.

Lyall said the SPCA investigators arrived at the property with a warrant to check out a report of animals in distress.

B次元官网网址淭his started last week; the BC SPCA showed up, they put a notice on the gate, said there were horses in distress,B次元官网网址� said Lyall. B次元官网网址淚 asked why and they said someone had phoned in and said the horses were all emaciated.

B次元官网网址淚 said, well letB次元官网网址檚 go look at them, thereB次元官网网址檚 no emaciated horses here. And he said he didnB次元官网网址檛 have time and then he said he didnB次元官网网址檛 know enough about horses so he didnB次元官网网址檛 come in and they left. So I called them and said this is obviously a malicious complaint, thereB次元官网网址檚 no emaciated horses. And they said well, we have to do our jobB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址�

BC SPCA senior protection officer Eileen Drever confirmed a concern had been received from a member of the public.

B次元官网网址淲e attended and were told to come back with a warrant. And weB次元官网网址檙e back there today,B次元官网网址� said Drever, who was unable to go into specifics as the investigation was still in progress.

B次元官网网址淲hat normally happens is if we receive a concern, we attend and if there is a concern about the condition of the animals, we will give the owner or caregiver an opportunity to rectify a problem,B次元官网网址� said Drever. B次元官网网址淲e were not given that last week and we were told to come back with a warrant. So today weB次元官网网址檙e examining, I would imagine, all the horses, and then if there are any issues, then we would normally issue a notice to rectify the problem and then we give people some time to do this.B次元官网网址�

Lyall explained her frustration with the BC SPCAB次元官网网址檚 visit stemmed from ongoing harassment by individuals who do not support BC Horse AngelsB次元官网网址� mandate.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been harassed repeatedly over the years with this stuff, fake complaints, on and on and on,B次元官网网址� said Lyall. B次元官网网址淭hese people are even writing my donors, like Jann Arden, who donates, and the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition. TheyB次元官网网址檙e sending encrypted emails that canB次元官网网址檛 be traced, and theyB次元官网网址檙e claiming that horses are dropping dead here and theyB次元官网网址檙e claiming that if theyB次元官网网址檙e giving me money, theyB次元官网网址檙e just funding dead horses.B次元官网网址�

Lyall said her harassers claimed several horses in her care died last year. In December 2022, Lyall publicly explained how three horses had died due to a shipment of toxic hay.

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Read more: Hay shortage takes its toll on Shuswap animal rescues

B次元官网网址淚n 20 years of saving hundreds and hundreds of horses, IB次元官网网址檝e lost a grand total of four horses,B次元官网网址� said Lyall.

As of April 13, there were 57 horses in LyallB次元官网网址檚 care.

Angela Den Otter resides in a house next to the fields where Lyall keeps her rescued horses. Den Otter said she told the police and the SPCA that if Lyall doesnB次元官网网址檛 take good care of her horses, nobody does.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 very dedicated,B次元官网网址� said Den Otter. B次元官网网址淭he one horse that looks a little bit skinny is actually 38, which is unheard of for a horse. And she makes it a warm mash and brings it over from her house every day to feed it to them. She takes very good care of the horses.

B次元官网网址淚 think there are some very disturbed people out there that just like to cause trouble for people. Somebody reported something, If you look at the horses, theyB次元官网网址檙e possibly on the side of plump rather than emaciated.B次元官网网址�

Amid the investigation, Lyall said she attempted to make sure the horses had enough water and was told by BC SPCA investigators that she was obstructing the investigation and theyB次元官网网址檇 be calling the RCMP. Soon after, two RCMP cruisers arrived, and two officers spoke with Lyall.

Frustrated by the experience, Lyall maintained the horses in her care are far from distressed.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e all saved from slaughter, most of them came in horrific conditionB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� said Lyall. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e all in great health, theyB次元官网网址檙e happy and you wonB次元官网网址檛 find happier horses anywhere.B次元官网网址�

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