Horses found starving to death near Kamloops, B.C.

Four horse owners in the Kamloops area are under investigation, after the BCSPCA seized 11 horses, four of which were close to starving to death.

Senior animal protection officer KentKokoskasaidwhen officers discovered the fourhorses over the course of the past month, they were basically skin and bones.

"Of the emaciated horses in our care, we had one horse that we were unable to remove to veterinary care, so we had to euthanize it," said Kokoska. "Thatspeaks to the degree of suffering the animal was in."

Kokoskasaid the locations from which thehorses were seized arewithin a one- or two-hourdrive fromKamloops. He saidmembers of the public passing by would have been able to seethe emaciated horses which makes it disturbing no one called theSPCAsooner.

He saidthe horses clearly faced longstanding neglectthat wore them down to the point they could barely stand.

"Usually we start getting these calls inearlyspring, when animals or horses have had a tough winter," said Kokoska.

"Going into winter, this is reallyunacceptable...So we're just putting out the plea that this is not acceptable, it's not normal, people should be calling."

No charges have yet been laidbut animal cruelty investigators are gathering evidence.

If convicted of cruelty to animals, owners could facefines of up to $75,000, up to twoyears in jail, or both.