Animals have rights, too

[Guest guest]

Three years??????????? Unreal! I am so sick of this "property" crap I could puke. What about life? In fact, that's the time he should do in prison. If any good comes from the carnage of dead horses on a northernAlberta ranch, it's that it sparks debate over animal rights versusthose of property owners. Twenty-seven horses died of starvation nearthe town of Andrew, another was euthanized and 100 more are under avet's care, expected to recover despite suffering varying degrees ofextreme neglect. Even though neighbours suspected such suffering wasoccurring, and the operation was on the radar of the SPCA for morethan three years over similar allegations, property and privacy rightstrumped the welfare of these neglected horses.The tragedy, reported this week, is compounded by the sad fact theowner was allegedly investigated in 2004 and convicted for not

feedinghis horses adequately, confirmed Morris Airey, SPCA director of animalprotection services. Airey wouldn't release the name, but neighboursand media reports say it's Axel Hinz-Schleuter, of Hinz-SchleuterArabians....That attitude must change. Judges should recognize when the situationis so severe and there's reasonable and probable grounds to believelivestock or pets are in distress that the suffering of animals shouldsupersede the sensitivities of owners. Without the proper tools, theSPCA is limited in its ability to fulfil its mandate -- to enforce theprovincial Animal Protection Act. It has unfairly taken the heat forfailing to act sooner.The system meant to protect animals failed miserably, leading to 28dead horses that could have been saved had the judge taken a tougherposition in 2005. The only way to prevent a similar tragedy fromoccurring again is by allowing animal protection officers the

right tofollow up with those who have proven -- even just once -- that theyhave troubles properly providing for animals in their care.-- full story:http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=c1d5058f-608d-4ea0-a7fb-8e354451b36f http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join