R v Ryder, 1997 OJ No 6361

Ryder was convicted under Criminal Code s.446(1)(c) for being the owner of domestic animals and failing to provide them with suitable and adequate care.

Ryder owned 14 horses, 3 were found dead and the rest were in varying degrees of starvation with visible bones on their bodies. They were also covered in worms and had ungroomed coats. The horses were kept in stalls with no bedding, the bottom of the stalls were covered in feces and urine.

Ryder claimed the horses had a virus that prevented them from eating and that he could not afford to care for them. Judge rejects these arguments as the horses began eating in great quantity one day after being taken into care, their health improving.

Judge states that “non-affordability does not afford anybody a defense to willfully neglecting to provide suitable and adequate care” to their animals. Judge says that not being able to afford professional help is not an excuse for neglecting to ask for it, and if one can not care for their animals they are under an obligation to give them up.