Horse neglect - Rosseau, ON

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2002

A 42-year-old Gravenhurst man, Royce Arnold Schell, plead guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to animals and failing to provide suitable care to animals, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada, after charges were laid by the Ontario SPCA following an investigation in August of 2002.

Acting on a complaint, investigators from the Ontario SPCA attended a Rosseau-area property on August 13, 2002, where they discovered two horses with halters deeply imbedded into their faces and a third horse with bleeding growths on her muzzle. Schell was ordered to have the horses examined by a veterinarian.

Upon removing the halters from the horses, the veterinarian discovered putrid-smelling, infected wounds where the halters had become imbedded into the animals' flesh. Under the advice of the veterinarian, the horses were removed from the property and transported to a foster farm for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

On July 15, 2003, in the Ontario Court of Justice in Parry Sound, Schell was sentenced to 24 months probation, is prohibited from owning or having the custody or control of an animal for two years, and was ordered to pay restitution to the Parry Sound branch of the Ontario SPCA in the amount of $725.80.

Media inquiries contact:  Inspector Lorraine Hook at 705-645-4559

References

• OSPCA

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