According to reports from the British equestrian magazine Horse and Hound, a horse dealer from North Wales is facing prosecution for failing to properly quarantine a horse that was recently imported to Great Britain from Ireland.
The accused, Peter Jones, could face fines of up to £5,000 (about $7,800 USD) and/or up to two years in prison.
"He is charged with allegedly failing to keep a horse imported from the Irish Republic in isolation to prevent possible infection with strangles," Horse and Hound states. It is not clear whether the horse in question had strangles (a highly contagious disease of horses worldwide caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi) at the time he was imported.
Jones is the first person in England to face such charges, according to Horse and Hound. No further details were available.
Disclaimer: Seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.