At the Penticton Law Courts on February 12, Charlotte Joan Patterson pled guilty to one count of causing or permitting an animal to be in distress contrary to section 24(1) Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act.
On December 16, 2022, BC SPCA animal protection officers were attending an unrelated investigation in Cawston, B.C. when they observed a bay horse standing in an open field. The 27-year-old horse appeared to be in very poor condition, severely lame and unable to move properly due to dramatically overgrown hooves. Immediate contact was made with Patterson, who was cooperative in allowing the officers to assess the horse’s condition more closely while she stated she believed the horse should be euthanized. He was under weight, had never had proper dental care, and there were concerns of hypothermia.
Following their assessment, animal protection officers advised Patterson that the horse met the definition of being in critical distress and required immediate veterinary treatment or humane euthanasia. With Patterson’s permission, the horse was euthanized on-site that day.
Following her guilty plea, Patterson has been ordered to pay a $200 fine and is prohibited from owning or having custody of an animal or bird, except for her two existing cats, for a period of five years.
