2 horses rescued from B.C. mountain placed in 'forever' homes

EDMONTON - Two horses rescued from the side of a mountain in December are now in permanent homes, the B.C. SPCA has confirmed.
Belle and Sundance were discovered starving and frostbitten in deep snow on the side of Mount Renshaw near McBride, B.C.
After learning about the abandoned animals, nearby residents organized a rescue effort.
It took a week of digging, and during that time, about two dozen volunteers cared for the three-year-old bay mare and the eight-year-old light-skinned gelding, bringing them feed and blankets for warmth.
On Dec. 23, they walked the starving, frostbitten animals about 30 kilometres to safety in -25 C weather.
The horses were taken to a foster ranch. The SPCA decided to not return the horses to Frank Mackay, their Edmonton owner, and also recommended charges be laid against him.
Shawn Eccles, chief animal protection officer, said they are still waiting to hear if the Crown will accept charges.
The horses have now been permanently placed on farms in Prince George and Kamloops, he said.
"We had loads of phone calls from all over, nationally and internationally," he said. "What we tried to do was place them in the area where they (were rescued from) in consideration of the individuals who helped get them out."
The SPCA also didn't want to transport the horses too far, as they're still recovering from long-term effects of the trauma.
The horses did not go to any of the volunteers who rescued them.
The SPCA kept them on a Prince George foster farm until they gained weight and their hair began growing back properly.
The organization also wanted to make sure it wouldn't stick the adopted family with veterinary bills, considering it's costly to take care of horses, Eccles said.
The SPCA screened potential owners and ensured that they were financially able to care for the horses.
"At the end of the day, we don't just send them off to their first home. We have to check out the farm, check out the location, find out whether they're financially stable enough to take care of these animals."
Mackay has said he was delivering supplies to hikers on Mount Renshaw in September when he became separated from the animals.
He said he found them on his third attempt, but couldn't get them out of the snow.
Driving home from his rescue attempt, Mackay says he was involved in an accident, rolling his truck and trailer, causing some injuries.
He said he couldn't help in the rescue due to his injuries.