We have no respect for anyone in the pet shuffling industry, especially those who make money while killing pets. It's interesting that these two, a pound contractor and an SPCA, are squabbling. Could it be that they are both in slightly different lines of business - they both dispose of unwanted dogs - and it's all about the bottom line?

Dan Hughes' business of contracted dog control and disposal is fairly straightforward - although disguised the way it is by using the name Animal Shelter, it can confuse the average dog lover who has no idea that disposing of pets is a big business.

The Nanaimo SPCA has no contacts to dispose of dogs as do many other SPCAs in BC, but every SPCA runs a pet shuffling business, (and the BC SPCA is now marketing its product - discarded dogs - using big business ad campaigns). The SPCA's product is either sold or killed, just like at pounds. We don't suggest that the SPCA should start giving away animals free, but we do insist that any animal agency that disposes of its unsellable product by killing it is running a business, not doing animal welfare.

We understand that the Nanaimo SPCA runs a much more humane pet shuffling business than most other SPCAs, but as long as it can't refuse to take every betrayed animal dragged through its doors, it will have to keep killing for space, something the SPCA has said it no longer does. That is how an unlimited surrender policy works - it is the only way it works. And that is BC SPCA policy.