A Knutsford rancher still waiting to face animal cruelty charges in court will go before a judge later this month seeking changes to her bail so she can make a living again.
Carole Haughton was in B.C. Supreme Court Monday, fixing dates for a hearing to vary the terms of her bail. The current court order prohibits her from caring for animals or being on her ranch land beyond a small area around the house.
But Haughton told Justice Dev Dley none of the charges she faces involved livestock or domestic farm animals.
"My livelihood has been taken away," Haughton told the court. "I want to be able to go on my farm and have livestock."
The woman also told the judge she represent herself at the upcoming hearing because she has no means to pay a lawyer.
The hearing was scheduled for June 22. It's not known if the Crown will oppose her request.
Haughton's saga with the SPCA and the court system began in July 2009, when the agency investigated complaints about the state of her ranch and numerous dogs living there.
SPCA constables eventually seized numerous Great Danes and several cats from conditions they described as deplorable. Haughton was charged with Criminal Code charges of cruelty to animals.
In the months that followed, the Crown swore new charges on two different occasions alleging Haughton was violating the terms of her bail orders or again neglecting animals.
Haughton was found guilty of one of the breaches in March, but she will not be sentenced until two other trials conclude later this year.
She has claimed her court and SPCA animal-care costs have added up to more than $168,000, and she spent another $15,000 to make her home meet SPCA standards for her pets.
Haughton, 61, has been arrested three times in connection with her SPCA cases and spent 74 days in jail.
