Caring for rescued horses costs SPCA $350,000
The SPCA serving Erie County says caring for the horses taken from an Aurora farm is costing them more than $22,000 a month. The non-profit has spent $350,000 to care for the rescue horses, cats and dogs from Eden Farm. YNN’s Nicki Mayo reports the SPCA is calling on the courts to speed up the hearing process.
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TONAWANDA, N.Y. -- "It’s time for Ms. Hoskins to pay for the care of her animals," said SPCA Serving Erie County Executive Director Barbara Carr.
The SPCA is spending $22,000 a month to care for 33 of the 73 horses taken from Beth Hoskins’ Eden Farm in Aurora back in March. Hoskins was charged with more than 100 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
"Every day that goes by find the horses in our care in better shape. It also finds the SPCA with fewer funds to continue our operation," said Carr.
Carr said a hearing on the horses should have happened back in June.
The SPCA has spent $350,000 to care for the rescue horses, cats and dogs. They say if this court case lags on 12 more months, that price tag could jump to one-million dollars.
“Ms. Hoskins new attorney is already busy at work trying to convince the public that caring for a horse cost a mere $200 a month. All this buys is a stall," Carr said.
"I’m very surprised that anyone would say that there’s been no movement in the case," said Hoskins’ attorney Thomas Eoannou. "We’ve put it on the fast track. We haven’t asked for an adjournment. We haven’t delayed a single thing. We haven’t moved one court appearance and we’ve said let’s have the hearing."
He said he met with the SPCA’s attorney Friday. He said the cost of confiscating 73 horses wasn’t necessary.
"Why did you take all 73 horses? Assuming for argument sake that six of them needed some help. Take the six, not the 73. That’s what caused the costs," Eoannou added.
SPCA officials said many of the horses were underweight and covered in feces when they were taken into custody back March.
"She was a little bit shy at first at first and a little nervous about things. She’s settled down quite a bit with regular handling here," said SPCA Assistant Farm Manager Patricia Burg.
"They not only needed a whole lot of grooming. A whole lot of time just to get them cleaned up with nutrition and water," said Foster Barn Horse Care Manager Suzanne McAndrew.
SPCA workers will continue caring for the horses through the hearings.
Hearing dates for the case are set for November 29-30.