I would like to acknowledge the detailed, intelligent and insightful responses posted by Carol and Gail. It is so refreshing to read such well-written comments about the inhumane treatment of both animals and people. It gives this serious issue the voice it needs to be heard in a thought-provoking manner.

Yes, the news release from the SPCA does have correct information about the link between animal abuse and domestic violence.

However, I would like to remind readers of this message board that the SPCA isn't the first agency in our history to make this connection. In my opinion, it's not even news anymore. The SPCA news release is stating the obvious and for an agency that touts itself as crusaders for abused animals, I think it's a little behind the times.

The British SPCA has a long history of recognizing this connection. The RSPCA actually came into existence as the result of British child protection authorities that frequently saw abused animals in homes where children were also abused. Child protection investigations led to the creation of the RSPCA.

For many years now, the Human Society of the US (www.hsus2.org) has run a highly successful program called "First Strike" in liasion with local communities. HSUS developed the program framework and communities can tailor the modules to fit their specific needs. I happen to have the program materials at home and can tell you that the wording of the SPCA's "Violence Link Project" is very similar to the Human Society's materials. My question is: "Why does the SPCA have to give the impression that they invented the whole thing?" Why not give the Human Society credit, acknowledge the work done and now take the opportunity to build on it in our own communities? Isn't this what building capacity and working together as a community is all about?

When AAS made a presentation to the City of Vancouver in 2001 with respect to our "Humane Standards of Care" report, I did bring forward the issue of the connection between animal cruelty and domestic violence and mentioned the Humane Society's research. Dr. Fred Bass expressed interest in this angle and did ask a few questions.

If the SPCA and the Justice Institute work together to successfully generate an action plan that will stop animal abuse and domestic violence, that will be very good news indeed for our society so lacking in humane policies and direct action for all living creatures.

In my jaded opinion, it would have given the SPCA more credibility if the news release quoted local authorities-hospital staff, chief of police, representative of Ministry of Children and Families. Where are the local stats and some mention of goals, objectives, outputs and outcomes?

I have difficulty seeing the SPCA and the Vancouver Police working together to investigate, document and apprehend the abuser and find a safe haven for abused families and their pets. This type of intervention requires highly skilled professionals to work in a sensitive and potentially explosive situation. The SPCA can't even work in conjunction with the police to get them to stop telling new immigrants to get guard dogs instead of alarm systems to protect their property.

I really hope that "The Violence Link Project" isn't just another way to get donations coming in at a time when the SPCA is generating stories about financial crisis and threatening to close some of its shelters.

But this could just be me being very cynical about the SPCA. Unfortunately, it hasn't given me anything to be even half-heartedly optimisitic about with respect to the humane treatment of animals. Kind of makes you wonder if they really care about the humane treatment of people, doesn't it?