THUNDER BAY — An area resident whose two horses were seized by the Provincial Animal Welfare Services agency (PAWS) now faces charges.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Solicitor General said a man from Neebing is charged with three offences under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act.
The charges have not been tested in court.
The case dates back to last fall when PAWS initiated an investigation into the condition of a mare and a stallion following a complaint from a member of the public.
A veterinarian determined the animals were in distress due to their poor body conditions and lack of available food and potable water.
After PAWS transferred the horses to a boarding facility their health improved under the guidance of a vet.
The owner appealed their seizure but an adjudicator with the Animal Care Review Board said he had failed to prove "on a balance of probabilities that he could provide the care and conditions required to ensure the horses would not be in distress if returned to the property."
The charges to be considered in Provincial Offences Act court include:
- permit an animal to be in distress
- fail to provide standards of care (six counts)
- fail to comply with an order by a PAWS inspector
The accused, Rudolf Steinberg, is scheduled to appear in court in July.
His horses have been forfeited to the Crown, and have been transported to an undisclosed location in southern Ontario.
Members of the public may report a situation where an animal is believed to be in distress, being abused, or being neglected by phoning the Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre at 1-833-9-ANIMAL to provide a full address and as many details about the case as possible.
