How can Stephanie Redlick AKA Stephanie Alessia still have access to horses after

16 were seized,

animal-welfare charges were laid,

permanent custody of the animals was lost,

and more than $116,000 is owed to the Ontario government for their care?

The answer isn’t comfortable, but it’s important.

The short version is this: Ontario’s animal-welfare system is reactive, fragmented, and full of gaps that allow repeat harm unless courts step in decisively.

Let’s break it down — and then talk about what can still happen when the Animal Welfare Services’ charges she’s facing go before a judge.

16 horses were seized by Animal Welfare Services in February 2025 after Stephanie Redlick failed to comply with orders under the PAWS Act.

When animals are seized by Ontario Animal Welfare Services, the law is focused on immediate distress, not future prevention.

A seizure:

– Removes animals that are currently suffering

– Transfers custody of those specific animals

– Allows the Province to recover costs for care

What it does NOT do automatically is ban someone from ever owning animals again.

We know, we know – that seems criminal – doesn’t it?

Unless a court explicitly orders a prohibition, the law treats any future animal as a “new situation.”

That’s how someone can be deemed unfit to regain seized horses — yet still legally obtain others.

 Yes — she is still legally allowed to have horses. For now.

Nothing in the FIRST part of the decisions by Animal Welfare Services that Redlick owes over $1116,000 for the care of the horses seized by AWS in March 2025 bans Stephanie Redlick from owning, handling, or acquiring horses in Ontario. AT LEAST NOT YET.

Why?

Because these first  proceedings were only about the money — the cost of caring for the 16 horses after they were seized.

It was not a prohibition hearing.

It was not a trial to determine if she was guilty of abuse.

That will come later.

And it had nothing to do with future ownership restrictions.

So despite:

-16 horses seized

– horses forfeited to the Crown

– over $116,000 in public costs confirmed

– ongoing animal-welfare charges

She can still legally possess horses today.

That is a gaping hole in Ontario’s animal-protection framework.

At present, Stephanie Redlick has two horses in her possession. And the cheque for the barn rental where they currently are – bounced – no surprise – right?

Which means:

– she needs somewhere to keep them

– she needs someone willing to board them

– and she has every incentive to move them quietly, quickly, and without scrutiny

If history is any guide, she will be looking for:

– a field

– a “temporary” arrangement

– a sympathetic or uninformed barn owner

– a private individual outside the horse world

And she will not lead with the full story.

Ontario currently allows someone to:

– have animals seized for neglect

– rack up six-figure care costs

– lose animals by forfeiture

– and immediately go out and get more animals

All before:

– animal neglect/abuse charges are resolved

– guilt is proven

– sentencing occurs

That is backwards.

There must be a mechanism allowing Animal Welfare Services to:

– prohibit ownership

– prohibit custody

– prohibit handling or care

– on an interim basis

…where there is a demonstrated pattern of neglect, non-compliance, or risk — separate before being found guilty.

Public safety allows this in other contexts.

Animal safety should too.

If you are approached to board one to two or more  horses — especially under:

– vague circumstances

– short timelines

– sob stories

– without a contract, vet references, barn references, ID, deposit and first month

– “temporary” arrangements

Stop. Ask questions. Verify.

Because once horses are on your property, you may be the one left feeding them, caring for them, or dealing with the fallout – and the fallout can include being held responsible for any neglect.

This is not hypothetical.

This has already happened — repeatedly.

Separate and apart from animal-welfare matters:

Stephanie Redlick is back in criminal court on theft and fraud charges

CRIMINAL CHARGES LAID: May, 27, 2025

CTV NEWS REPORTS: [Stephanie Redlick] accused of fraud totalling more than $26,000, theft over $5,000, making forged documents, as well as false pretences with intent to defraud using cattle worth more than $5,000.

Provincial police said a fraud investigation began earlier this year after receiving a complaint about “transportation and financial irregularities of livestock being transported from a farm in Tay Township and sold at a Cookstown stockyard sale in September of 2024.”

In June, South Georgian Bay Ontario Provincial Police revealed a warrant for the arrest of Redlick was issued. Redlick, who lives in North York, was arrested by Toronto police. Investigators revealed she was known to police.

(Barrie) (Midland)

Next court appearance:

Case number: 3811998258230046000

THURSDAY, January 29, 2026

——————————————————

Stephanie Redlick is set to appear again on a whole new set of theft and fraud criminal charges…

Different files.

Yet again – theft and fraud charges

Same pattern.

DEC. 9, 2025: CTV NEWS reports:  Stephanie Redlick, 29, of Bradford has been charged by South Simcoe police with uttering a forged document, fraud over $5,000, and being in possession of the proceeds of crime and forgery.

According to court documents obtained by CTV News, Redlick is accused of passing off an altered cheque to defraud a livestock auction house in Cookstown out of more than $15,000 in March.

Provincial police confirmed a warrant was issued for Redlick’s arrest and she was picked up by police in Toronto. Investigators confirmed Redlick is known to police.

(Bradford)

Next court appearance:

Case number: 3811998258130159400

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Until Ontario closes this loophole:

– animals remain at risk
–  the public keeps paying
– and people like Redlick keep cycling through the system

Seizure without prohibition is a half-measure.

And half-measures still leave animals exposed.

This is why vigilance matters.

This is why people need to share information about known abusers to protect their family and friends.

And this is why “just two horses” is never just two horses.

Every year thousands of horses are routinely slaughtered in Canada, for human consumption, but you can help us ban horse slaughter in Canada and beyond.

Some of the meat is consumed in Canada, and much of it is shipped to the European Union, and other markets, including Japan.

This barbaric practice is currently not legal in the United States, so horses from the United States are shipped to Canada, and to Mexico, to be slaughtered.

In addition Canada allows for the transportation of live horses to Japan to be slaughtered for human consumption, and unfortunately the transportation of horses destined for slaughter within Canada, and by air to Japan for slaughter, is far from humane.

LEARN MORE HERE <==

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