When Brian Nelson was the Director of Field Operations (pound business boss) for the Vancouver SPCA, he publicly admitted at a North Vancouver District council meeting in April 2000, that he had "killed 50,000 animals in his career". Nelson was the epitome of how the Vancouver Regional branch of the BC SPCA operated in those days, as a bottom-line pound contracting and animal disposal business. And prior to his job of boss of the Vancouver SPCA's dog control business, Nelson owned and operated Mainland Animal Control out of Langley where he performed this same job for Langley, Chilliwack, Anmore and Port Moody.

Many years and countless numbers of complaints from the public, SPCA volunteers, and even some SPCA staff members, brought no changes with how the SPCA operated. Although founded as a grass roots non-profit animal welfare organization more than 100 years ago, the BCSPCA had turned into a bottom-line focused animal disposal business. The education and welfare work took a back seat for at least 50 of those years, and the BC SPCA with the help of staff like Brian Nelson, earned itself a reputation as enemy to the animal rescue world. Other rescue groups found themselves actually rescuing animals FROM the SPCA. The situation for animals in BC could not have been much worse.

It was not until Animal Advocates exposed all of this that things finally started to change at the BC SPCA (although it still has a long way to go). And despite the fact that Brian Nelson left the SPCA several years ago, he too has been undeniably affected by the ongoing efforts of Animal Advocates. The face of animal welfare in BC has been altered forever, and the public will never again allow the horrific practices of the past to re-emerge, whether it be under the auspices of the BC SPCA, Brian Nelson or anyone else who endeavours to make money off the backs of helpless animals.

The Abbotsford News article is proof of that. In it, Brian Nelson is portrayed as a soft hearted hero with respect to Rocky the injured dog. In my opinion, someone who admits they have killed more than 50,000 animals during their disposal career, can't ever be what this article portrays. But the fact is, now that Brian Nelson is Shelter Manager for Abbotsford, and he has once again started Mainland Animal Control, he will never be allowed to operate the way he is used to. His staff will not allow it, the public will not allow it, and Animal Advocates will not allow it. So despite the fact this news article seems far from legitimate, it does prove that everyone must be on their best behaviour from now on, and put the animals first for a change, or their careers will be very short-lived.