Pioneers Day parade at the Annual McBride Adventure Weekend.

 

Belle,  a 3 year old mare, and Sundance, a 14 year old gelding had been abandoned in the  Renshaw area by their owner Frank McKay of Edmonton.  Spotted by snowmobilers,  the near starving Belle and Sundance would become the  subject of a herculean effort by  local area residents who  braved subzero temperatures  to  hand dig a trench to walk the two horses to safety.

 

Local residents, snowmobilers and volunteers spent more than a week digging a trench by hand in order to be able to lead them out. In the meantime they began a feeding program to try and get them into shape to enable them to walk a further 25 kilometres down a packed trail after the initial rescue.

 

In December 2009 Mackay pled guilty to causing or permitting an animal to be or continue to be in distress under the Prevention of cruelty to Animals Act. On a joint submission, he received a $1,000 fine, a $150 victim fine surcharge, has to pay restitution to the B.C. SPCA in the amount of $5,910.16, received a prohibition against possessing any animals for two years (in B.C. only)  a probation order for the period of 12 months, and a counselling term because of his behaviour.

 

The Village of McBride later received the Kevin Anderson Award of Heroism from the British Columbia SPCA at its annual awards evening.

 

Both horses, Belle & Sundance are now in new homes in BC and are recovering well.  

Belle is now doing well enough to have her first public appearance. She is to be Star of the Show and Birgit Stutz,  one of the people who worked so hard to rescue Belle,  will ride her to lead the  parade to beheld in McBride on Saturday June 19 2010. 

 

Belle will follow proudly behind RCMP and the Elks & Royal Purple at the head of the parade which will go down main street on Saturday at 10:00am. Following on behind Belle will be a myriad of floats, vintage vehicles and the other horses of the Valley. 

 

After the parade Belle will spend some time in the Village so there will be an opportunity for all to see her and get a photo.