A high-profile trial of two women accused of a number of offenses related to the care of animals began last week in a Hanna Court House.
Mother and daughter Karin and Catherine Adams are accused of failure to comply with conditions of probation, wilfully causes or, being the owner, wilfully permits to be caused unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or a bird, being the owner or the person having the custody or control of a domestic animal or a bird or an animal or a bird wild by nature that is in captivity, abandons it in distress or wilfully neglects or fails to provide suitable and adequate food, water, shelter and care for it, and possession of property obtained by crime.
On December 5, the crown began presenting its case. The Adams are representing themselves. Alberta Sheriffs increased security at the court house for the trial.
The charges are related to the discovery of animals on a property south of Cereal in the summer and fall of 2015. The pair were in breach of conditions they were bound by related to offenses in BC. They were under a 20-year ban not to own animals.
When Oyen RCMP and Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals peace officers investigated, they discovered horses, dogs and birds in poor health and living in unsanitary conditions. Birds were reported to be discovered with little to no feathers, dogs in medical distress with no access to food and water and horses that scored as low as 2/9 on a Body Condition Score.
“Most horses are very patient,” investigating officer Jeff Clark noted when attempting to provide some of the horses with water.
“They were so thirsty they were literally fighting over water coming out of the hose... They were literally taking the hose into their mouth.”
The crown also called witness Abigale Gosselin who has turned three dogs over to the pair, on a trial basis. When she attempted to retrieve her dogs, she was met with refusal. One of her dogs was returned after animals were seized by authorities.
The trial is to continue on February 15 in Hanna.
Patrick Kolafa,
with files courtesy
Jackie Gold-Irwin,
The Hanna Herald
