Western Isles Council has run up an estimated £9,000 bill in a controversial custody fight over a pony – about five times the value of the animal.
The local authority took exception to Stephanie Ann Noble having her adult Connemara pony living inside her house at Broadbay View, Back in Lewis for two years.
They took the animal, called Grey Lady Too, into care, claiming conditions in the front room of the ex-council house were too cramped.
But the council’s attempt to gain legal ownership was thrown out of court this week.
Now the local authority has confirmed that vet bills, stabling and fooder have cost £4,000 so far.
And it faces another estimated £5,000 after Sheriff David Hall ordered it to pay Ms Noble’s legal fees.
Selling the horse – which Ms Noble purchased for £1,900 – would only recoup a fifth of the massive bill, which continues to soar.
The legal case was thrown out on a technicality on Wednesday after it emerged that the council forgot to include Ms Noble’s name on important legal paperwork.
But the council adamantly refuses to return the pony.
If it appeals the court judgment there is a chance of not having to pay Ms Noble’s solicitors’ costs.
A spokesman said the council had not yet decided if it will appeal or simply restart the court process from scratch.
The council spokesman said: “Grey Lady Too was removed for welfare reasons and will remain in the care of the council.
“The council continues to act in the interests of the welfare of Grey Lady Too.”
Stephanie Noble purchased the animal in Ireland in 2011 but faced a raft of problems in securing grazings nearby.
The former riding school operator, originally from Londonderry, took the animal indoors that same year, claiming it had no winter shelter.
But the supposedly temporary arrangement continued for well over two years.
Stephanie Ann Noble stayed in a bedroom upstairs while the rest of her home the house is given over to the horse.
The 68-year-old converted her semi-detached home into stables. Furniture has been removed while wooden pallets form a stall in her front room which is strewn with bedding hay over heavy duty rubber mats across floor.