South Delta Leader July 16, 2004

East Ladner horseman John van Dongen claims the recent pair of animal cruelty charges laid against him by the B.C. SPCA are politically motivated and have no legitimate bearing.
Van Dongen, who shares the same name as his nephew, B.C.'s minister of agriculture, said the charges stem from the confiscation of three horses from his barn along Hwy. 10 near the Hwy. 99 overpass.
He alleges the animals were in acceptable condition when they were removed in December of 2003, and should not have been taken away.
Two of the horses were returned shortly afterwards following a veterinary inspection, while the third one, a foal was in the SPCA's care for several months until it was brought back to the farm.
Van Dongen said the animals are all still on his property and in good health.
Upon their return, van Dongen was given a vet and boarding bill for $2,000 for the first two horses, and another charge of $14,000 for the foal.
Van Dongen said he paid the initial $2,000 bill and refuses to pay the remaining $14,000 charge.
Now he is planning to launch legal action against the SPCA to recover the $2,000 he has already paid
Van Dongen was unable to make an appearance in Surrey Provincial Court last Thursday to answer the charges. A date has yet to be set for the case.
If found guilty van Dongen could face a maximum penalty of six months in jail, a $2,000 fine, and a prohibition of owning animals.
-Philip Raphael
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