NEWS Princeton given another shot at energy contest Page A4
SPORTS
COMMUNITY How to stop bullying in your community Page A13 - 15
Curling ladies go retro for bonspiel Page A9 $1.10 Includes TAX
SPOTLIGHT The Similkameen
Volume 63 Issue 9
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Proudly serving the community since 1948 • www.similkameenspotlight.com
Michaela Garstin/Spotlight
Princeton Secondary School teachers join educators throughout B.C. Feb. 27 as they protest the government’s decision to legislate an end to their ongoing job action and impose a contract on them. Story on Page 3.
Abused horses fighting for life Michaela Garstin editor@similkameenspotlight.com
Another malnourished horse has been rescued from the same owner in Princeton Peaches’ daughter Cricket is the latest horse to be rescued from an owner in Princeton. She is the fifth starving horse to be saved this month from a man who wasn’t feeding them nearly enough. Peaches - the most malnourished horse - won’t be up for adoption for about eight months, said Joey Tompkins, president of BC Interior Horse Rescue Society. The other three horses will be ready to go
in about four months. “I was scared they were pregnant, but they weren’t. That would have been really bad for their bodies,” Tompkins said. The first four horses were brought in severely underweight on Feb. 15, and were the most neglected the organization has ever seen. Cricket was rescued around a week later. Peaches weighs only 500 pounds - less than half of what she should. The other horses are in similar condition. They are slowly gaining weight, and Tompkins hopes to completely rehabilitate them so they can go to new homes. Babe, Jesse and Peaches like to be around people, but Torrie is more reserved, she said. “She has a lot of mistrust of people. A
Weather Watch Wednesday
High 2/Low--5
Thursday
High 4/Low -5
Friday
High 3/Low -7
Saturday
High 4/Low-1
Sunday
High 6/Low -1
Princeton
lot of that is because she wants to protect herself.” The four horses were severely malnourished when they arrived at the rescue organization. Owners don’t have to physically hurt their horses to abuse them - neglect is abuse too, Tompkins said. Peaches’ body weight was rated 2/10 when the horses were surrendered to the rescue organization. A proper body weight is 5 or 6/10. It will be a slow process to get Torrie to warm up to people, but Tompkins is hopeful. “Today I fed her supplements, and she came up and walked with me. That’s a huge improvement compared to seven days ago.” Horses aren’t fed for financial reasons,
because of a divorce, lack of knowledge or because owners don’t care, Tompkins said. Horses can remember abuse for a long time, especially if something triggers a memory, she said. “People don’t give them the credit they deserve. They’re very smart.” BC Interior Horse Rescue is at full capacity. The maximum number of horses the organization would like to have is 15, but they will be at that number this weekend when two more horses are dropped off. Each horse is matched to a suitable home based on their personalities and how they’ve been trained. Donations to the BC Interior Horse Rescue Society can be made by credit card or PayPal on the organization’s website.
2,000 Appliances Available Right Here! Why Make the Drive? •Fridges & Freezers • Home Electronics • Washers & Dryers • Dishwashers •Barbecues • Lawn Mowers • Treadmills • Vacuums • TVs • Stereos & More “When it’s on sale at Sears, it’s on sale at Princeton Sears”
207 Bridge Street, Princeton BC • 250-295-6933 Locally Owned and operated by Murray White & Cathy Facey
We are your Hometown Sears. If we don’t have it in-store, we’ll get it for you, and deliver it to your door.
Princeton