Second person charged after horses found dead, starving on Alberta acreage

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A second person is facing animal cruelty charges following an investigation of dead and starving horses on an acreage west of Edmonton.

Ross Andrew Atkinson, 50, is charged with three counts of permitting or causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to animals, RCMP said in a news release Monday.

Atkinson, a resident of Parkland County,was released from custody after a bail hearing, RCMP said.He is set to appear inEvansburgprovincial court on Jan.14.

Atkinson's charges are in relation to three horses found dead on the property, RCMP said.

RCMP began an investigation after receiving a complaint in early Decemberabout starving horses on a property near Entwistle.The Alberta SPCA is conducting a separate investigation.

• Alberta woman charged after horses found dead, starving on rural property

Patricia Lynn Moore, 48, was arrested on her propertyon Jan. 4. She is chargedwith three counts of permitting or causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to animals.

Moore, who has apreviousconvictionforcruelty to animals,was released on bail pending her next court appearance.

Policecould not confirm how many horses were at the acreage or whether they have been removed from the property.

Brenda Belanger works in the equine industry and said there are between 50 and70 horses on the property.

She said she saw two dead horses on Moore's property on Dec. 20and reported it to police. Since 2010, neighbours have raised concerns about the state of the horses on the property, Belanger said.

"Any type of animal neglect and abuse, it's not acceptable. It's appalling," she said.