Vancouver Sun, March 2, 1999
Nicholas Read,
SPCA tries to shut down cat-rescuer Madalyn Gilmore:

"The SPCA’s relationship with other animal organizations has not always been an easy one. SPCA involvement is essential to getting progressive legislation enacted, but because the SPCA has always been so reluctant to speak out on any issue, that involvement has rarely been forthcoming. Thus its vociferous support for spay/neuter campaigns is a welcome surprise.

"Nevertheless, the unease remains. Late last month, a Langley inspector turned up unexpectedly at the Aldergrove home of Madalynn Gilmore to warn her against taking in strays. Gilmore has been rescuing cats and other animals for 20 years, putting everything she has into finding them good homes. It doesn’t matter how sick the animal is when it arrives, Gilmore takes responsibility for the vet bills, as well as the injections and the spaying or neutering. A single cat can cost her hundreds of dollars to care for.

"Yet here was the SPCA telling her that after 20 years, it wasn’t legal for her to pick up strays and "sell" them anymore. Animals are considered property under Canadian law. Therefore only the SPCA and municipal pounds have the authority to pick up strays and release them to new owners.

"Granted, but Gilmore always notifies the SPCA of every stray she collects. Also, only five per cent of stray cats picked up by the SPCA are returned to owners. Strays left on the street are strays left to die.

"Brian Nelson, SPCA director of field operations, says the inspector was only doing his job, and had no intention of harassing Gilmore.

"Perhaps, but Lisa Borsato, a woman who had brought in a cat for Gilmore to look after, told me: "He made it seem like she was a criminal."

"Whatever the truth, it’s not an image the SPCA can afford to have – that of the uncaring, rule-bound bully. Not if it is going to win the trust it wants.

"It has gone some distance to ward shedding the image recently, but incidents like this don’t help.

"If spay/neuter legislation is going to work, it must not allow the SPCA to trouble people helping to solve the problem. Not when there are still so many more people making it worse."
Nick Read, Vancouver Sun.