We wish we could find something in this story to praise, but after talking to Mr Kelley, we again have serious concerns about the SPCA's use of its police powers.

Mr Kelley pleaded guilty because he couldn't afford the cost of defending himself. What Mr Kelley told us is only too familiar.

The SPCA came on a report that there were some neglected animals on the property. The SPCA Special Constable was Kent Kokoska. Kokoska told Scott Kelley to get the donkeys' hooves trimmed. Kelley told Kokoska that the 15 year old miniature horse had been born with coffin-bone syndrome and they were planning to put it down soon. He told Kokoska that the horse belonged to his wife, Barb, who was not going to be back for a week.

Kelley hired a farrier who was busy trimming donkeys' feet when Kokoska came back with a warrant, the RCMP, a horse trailer and the SPCA's vet, Dr Teresa Jacobson, before Barb Kelley had returned. One donkey still had one hoof to be trimmed and another donkey was waiting to be done when Kokoska ordered the farrier to stop. If Kokoska had arrived a half hour later, there would have been no animals that Kokoska could seize. He also ordered the immediate killing of the miniature horse. Kelley told AAS that he heard Dr Jacobson commenting that the bedding and shelter were nice and clean. Kelley believes that the donkey who still had one hoof to be trimmed and the donkey whose hooves were still to be trimmed were seized by Kokoska to justify the expenses of the trailer and the vet.

Another complaint that Kelley made is also too familiar. Kelley read in the papers that he had been charged two weeks before he received his summons.

The question Kelley asked us, that we insist will be answered one day is, "The SPCA put my donkeys, with apparently so overgrown hooves that the animals had to be seized, and jolted them over 130 km of rough road. Who's cruel?

If the SPCA finds any errors in this account we welcome it to inform us.