The BC SPCA seems to have a new enemy: its own Strategic Plan.
The BC SPCA's five year Strategic Plan, written under the title "New Eyes, New Directions, A Strategic Plan for the BC SPCA 2002-2006" is not yet fully implemented, but is already being identified by the Society as a huge draw on funds.
From the BC SPCA's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the Year Ended December 31, 2002:
"The cost increases...can be directly attributed to implementation of the Strategic Plan that emphasized:
1. more stringent spay and neuter policies combined with a philosophy that stressed reduced euthanasia and increased support for adoption;
2. more assertive investigation presence;
3. more aggressive promotion of animal welfare and advocacy..."
Keeping track of just how much change the BC SPCA made in this New Direction is difficult, as every branch still seems to have its own policy, and we know that for instance, while some branches do pre adoption spay and neuter, many others still do not.
A big change for the Society came with the creation of the position of General Manager of Cruelty Investigations, and we know that Craig Daniell, who was hired to fill this position, wasted no time in seizing hundreds of animals across the province.
But spaying and neutering costs a lot of money. Cruelty seizures cost a lot of money. I would have thought that the BC SPCA would have known this, and would have been prepared for this, but judging from the 2002 Annual Report, it was not.
So now it appears that the Strategic Plan will be put on hold.
From the Report: "Proposed increases in the area of cruelty investigations, advocacy, and humane education have been postponed."
And with regards to the increase in veterinary costs that came with implementing the Strategic Plan: "The new spay and neuter directives are the principle factors behind this increase."
And: "The moratorium on euthanasia policy means that animals that previousy had relatively shorter stays in the shelters can remain for extended periods during which time they require treatment."
Speaking as a grassroots animal welfare organization myself, who has put close to ten financially draining years into true animal welfare work, the vast majority of it coming out of my own pocket, all I can say is "Quit whining SPCA. Did you really believe that doing true animal welfare work would make you as much money as pet disposal does?" Well it doesn't.
But with a little thought, restructuring, and priority shifting, the BC SPCA could do honest advocay and animal welfare and not go under financially. If the BC SPCA can divest itself of animal disposal and the staff and prison like facilities that go with it and concentrate only on cruelty seizures, advocacy, and humane education, then it will be doing an honest job, and good and true humane work WILL garner donations.
No, it cannot happen overnight, but "postponing" the animal welfare part of the Strategic Plan won't make it happen any faster.
I believe the BC SPCA has tried to do too much too fast.
The poorly thought out and impossible to implement "moratorium" on euthanasia, which resulted in the development of the much criticized and highly controversial Companion Animal Management Program and its assessment testing, the seizure of hundreds and hundreds of animals that the Society was not equipped to care for...all have resulted in the Society falling deeper and deeper into a hole of its own creation. If it carries on in this manner, the ship will go down, and that would not be a good thing for the animals in this province.
No, it's high time the BC SPCA gets honest, drops the baggage of animal disposal, and starts devoting every resource to animal welfare. If it can do that, the donations will follow.
Jennifer Dickson
Vernon BC