SPCA making changes designed to solve problem

Paula M. Khan
Times Colonist
Wednesday, August 27, 2003

Coun. Denise Savoie, writing on behalf of Victoria city council, depicts the SPCA as irresponsible and uncaring both of its human neighbours and the dogs in its care. ("City has obligation to cap noise levels," Aug. 15).

At no point does Savoie acknowledge the many recent efforts of the Victoria branch to improve the environment and lives of the dogs in its care, like the recruitment of foster and sleepover homes. Many volunteers spend hours filling toys with treats to ease the boredom and loneliness that can lead to excessive barking and whining. Many fellow citizens willingly give of their time to walk the dogs and toss a ball in the outdoor exercise area.

Savoie demands immediate operational changes on the part of the SPCA to reduce noise violations and what she alleges is the ongoing distress of the dogs in its care.

Somehow this sounds like a thinly disguised call for a return to the old SPCA policy of euthanizing dogs simply for barking and allowing only a very limited time for adoption before "disposing" of so-called surplus animals. We all know that dead dogs don't bark.

Let's hope Victoria city council and the complaining neighbours and businesses who are eager to silence the dogs are not successful in pushing the SPCA back into those bad old days.

It's time for those of us who care about the community's lost, strayed and abandoned animals to speak up. Let's find out about up-to-date soundproofing techniques and help fund the upgrades and give the SPCA time to fully implement the many positive changes it has made over the past year or so.

Paula M. Khan,

Victoria.

Comment: Congratulations everyone who ever contacted any media and told them the truth about the SPCA. We're getting to the goal of stripping away all the false facade of the BC SPCA so that eventually it will be backed to the wall and its only way out will be honesty. It still will not admit that its policy of unlimited intake requires it to "dispose of" many thousands of animals a year. If only it would choose honesty willingly instead of making us all fight this way.