LANGLEY Canucks for a day PAGE 18
FRIDAY January 29, 2016 • www.langleytimes.com
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NEWS Casino a Win for Taxpayers
BUSINESS B.C. Economy Humming
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SPORTS Spartans No. 1
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Police identify murder victim Homicide investigators believe Kevin Brunelle was assaulted in the alley behind the hotel MONIQUE TA MMING A Time s Re po rte r
Hobby farmer and horse rescuer Teresa Townsley with her rescue horse Harry who came to her three years ago so malnourished he had lost his hair and only weighed 750 pounds. Townsley and the BC SPCA say the high cost of hay may lead to more cruelty complaints. Both are asking neighbours to help out neighbours in these difficult times. Townsley said it is much easier to feed a horse now than to rehab a malnourished one.
DA N FER G U S O N Lan g l ey Ti m e s
High hay prices cause worry MO N I Q U E TA M M I N G A Ti me s Re po r t e r
The BC SPCA and some Langley horse owners are sounding the alarm about difficult times in the equine community as a result of skyrocketing hay prices. Last summer’s drought has led to a shortage of available local hay, with farmers and livestock owners having to buy outsourced bales at nearly double the cost. “I’ve heard of some people selling their horses and others not feeding their animals as much this winter,” said
Langley hobby farmer and horse rescuer Teresa Townsley, owner of Festine Lente Farm. She is also a member of the Horse Council of B.C. Townsley said online forums have been lighting up with the concerns about feed costs. “The situation is really bad and going to get worse,” she said. “A bale of hay should cost about $8 to $10, but now is $18 to $24. It’s having a huge impact.” A thoroughbread horse can eat a bale a day, she said.
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Marcie Moriarty, BC SPCA manager of animal cruelty investigations, said the agency has never before had as many horses in its care. “The availability and pricing of hay has been on our minds a lot lately. We know there are more cruelty investigations when this occurs,” said Moriarty. She said there is already equine winter starvation syndrome to be concerned with. “With colder temperatures, it takes horses more energy to maintain their
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Homicide investigators have identified the man found dead in his hotel room as 36-yearold Kevin Brunelle. Brunelle worked as a cook at the Baselines Pub and lived upstairs in one of the rooms, said the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. Now police are seeking any information or witnesses to a possible assault on Brunelle that led up to his death. Langley RCMP were called to the hotel in the 20300 block of Fraser Highway, just after 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, when a man was found deceased in one of the rooms. Police determined the death was suspicious and as a result called in IHIT. The hotel rooms are above Baselines Pub. On the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 21, Brunelle was found in the alley behind the Langley hotel. He was suffering from KEVIN injuries which B R UNELLE he may have sustained during an assault. Brunelle was assisted back to his room, and was not checked on until the following afternoon when he was found deceased, said IHIT Sgt. Stephanie Ashton. Investigators are now looking for anyone who may have information about Mr. Brunelle’s actions leading up to the time he was found injured in the alley on Jan. 21. Anyone with information regarding this investigation can call the IHIT information line by calling 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email at ihittipline@rcmp-grc.gc.ca . If you wish to remain anonymous provide your anonymous tip information on the web at solvecrime.ca or by phone at 1-800-2228477.
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