Armstrong Woman Forbidden From Owning Animals for 15 Years Following Cruelty conviction
Armstrong, BC – November 24, 2025 – an Armstrong woman has been prohibited from owning animals for 15 years after pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges in Vernon court on November 12. Sandra Nickolls received a 12-month probation period and 40 hours of community service alongside the ownership ban.
The conviction stems from an April 2024 BC SPCA investigation into a property near Armstrong, prompted by concerns for an injured horse.Upon arrival, an animal protection officer found three horses suffering from severe neglect.
According to the BC SPCA, all three horses had severely overgrown hooves, hindering their mobility. Their shelter was also found to be in a deplorable state, with accumulated feces obstructing access. The horses were forced to eat hay from the feces-covered ground and drink from unsanitary water sources.
A 26-year-old horse was found in critical condition, underweight and with a severe, untreated leg injury exhibiting a bleeding protrusion and sores. A veterinarian on-site recommended humane euthanasia to end the animal’s suffering.
The remaining two horses were seized and placed in foster care,but despite intensive efforts,their conditions did not improve. Both horses were subsequently euthanized on veterinary advice due to poor prognoses.
“The BC SPCA does not euthanize healthy animals.Many considerations help determine an animal’s care plan,including quality of life and treatability. All medically and behaviourally healthy animals are placed in the best-suited adoptive homes with caring guardians,” the BC SPCA stated.
Nickolls is permitted to keep one spayed or neutered cat, and her residence is subject to inspection by the BC SPCA to ensure compliance with the terms of the ban. She pleaded guilty to causing animals to be in distress, contrary to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act.
