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Horse charity HAPPA takes website offline

A Newfoundland charity that was the subject of a CBC Investigates report on Tuesday has taken its website offline.

Action comes day after CBC report on oversight and accountability issues

HAPPA's Hopeall horse sanctuary has not operated in about 18 months. (CBC)

A Newfoundland charity that was the subject of a CBC Investigates report on Tuesday has taken its website offline.

As of Wednesday morning, visitors to Horse and Pony Protection Association (HAPPA) site were greeted with a message that said “Forbidden … You don't have permission to access / on this server.”

A day earlier, CBC Investigates reported that the website was promoting a horse sanctuary that was shuttered 18 months ago.
Dennis Bishop is president of the the Horse and Pony Protection Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. (CBC)

The website was also soliciting and accepting donations.

“Our organization is a registered charitable organization which operates the Hopeall sanctuary,” the website’s main page said on Tuesday, before it was taken down.

“Our budget is lean and all funds raised through donations go directly to providing care for our horses and ponies.”

In an interview last week, HAPPA president Dennis Bishop told CBC Investigates that the group is now handling animal welfare cases in the field. 

But former board members are raising questions about spending and accountability at the charity.