Animal abuse has landed a Fort McMurray resident in hot water. Criminal charges have been filed against 65 year old Gary Herbert Sparshu of Fort McMurray after officials found more than 80 horses and donkeys who were alleged to have been found in distressed condition. When the Alberta SPCA went with the RCMP on February 3, 2016 to perform a property inspection in the Wandering River region they found dozens of animals who had been neglected. The inspection was based on a court order that was issued because of 3 dead horses being found. According to the mounties there were 3 horse carcasses on the property, plus 52 more horses which were all in poor or neglected condition. The mounties also found 2 donkeys and 2 horses who were penned up on corrals and who did not have adequate food or water.

The Fort McMurray animal abuse case does not stop at this point either. When the RCMP and Alberta SPCA inspected a second property associated with the first property they found an additional 20 horses which were all also in distressed condition. A few days after the horses were found a vet confirmed that the animals were in poor shape. The total number of animals seized during the property inspections was 84, with the Alberta SPCA reporting that 82 horses were seized and so were 2 donkeys. Sparshu has been charged with causing injury to animals as well as breach of a court order. Hopefully any sentence will include a prohibition on owning any animals in the future.