The SPCA's Marcie Moriarty said Thursday Forgotten Felines may be well-intentioned, but it had too many animals.
This question is not going to go unasked: What has the SPCA done when it had too many animals?
"It's admirable to take in sick animals, but rescuing cats implies treating them," said Moriarty, general-manager in charge of cruelty investigations.
This double standard is not going to go unchallenged. The SPCA has referred in press statement to some of its seizures animals as 'rescues' and then, instead of treating them, killed them, for conditions as simple as colds, coughs, mange, and ear infections.
Moriarty said the goal is not to shut down Forgotten Felines; charges are unlikely to be laid. The goal is to save the cats.
'The goal is to save the cats'? That's a noble goal. Question: How many cats (and other animals) has the SPCA seized and killed since it began making seizures in December 2002?
'Charges are unlikely to be laid'? Unlike almost all SPCA targets, Penny March has a lawyer, a lawyer who defeated the SPCA's seizure of John van Dongen's horses. ( http://www.animaladvocates.com/seizures/john-vandongen ). That lawyer obtained the return of van Dongen's horses and a judgment that called the SPCA's seizure 'illegal' and 'unlawful'.
Unlike most SPCA targets, Penny March has a very large group of vocal supporters, women and men who are used to speaking to the media, questioning, and organizing demonstrations.
In August, Crown stayed charges against Tamara Baker of Langley, whose animals were seized in July 2006, after more than two years and twenty-five court appearances and demands from Tamara's lawyer for unproduced documents. Unlike almost all SPCA targets, Tamara had the money to pay a lawyer, and to keep paying the lawyer, for as long as it took. (See proceedings of some other SPCA seizures at http://www.animaladvocates.com/seizures/
Question: When is the media going to finally see another side to the SPCA's seizures?