South Okanagan horse owner pleads guilty to animal cruelty

A woman has pleaded guilty ot animal cruelty in South Okanagan after her horse had to be euthanized.

Charlotte Joan Patterson pleaded guilty to permitting an animal to be in distress at the Penticton Law Courts on Feb. 12.

BC SPCA protection officers were investigating a case in Cawston when they saw a 27-year-old bay horse in an open field in very poor condition, according to a press release from the BC SPCA.

It was lame and unable to move properly because of overgrown hooves.

Officers made contact with Patterson who cooperated and allowed them to assess her horse’s condition even saying she believed the horse should be euthanized.

The horse was underweight, never had proper dental care and there were concerns about hypothermia.

Animal protection officers told Patterson the horse was in critical distress and required veterinary treatment or euthanasia. The horse was put down on-site that day with Patterson’s permission.

After her guilty plea Patterson had to pay a $200 fine and is not allowed to have any animals or birds, except for her two cats, for the next five years.