Interesting that BC SPCA CEO Craig Daniell thought Kelly Bunting's comparison of the Vancouver Aquarium fundraiser to fundraising for a puppy mill too extreme. It just so happens that the BC SPCA is guilty of sharing mutual fundraising events -on more than one occasion - with retail outlets that sell puppy mill puppies too.

In the summer of 2002, Vernon SPCA held a fundraiser in front of a local pet shop notorious for selling puppies from local puppy mills.

See: http://www.animaladvocates.com/cgi-bin/newsroom.pl/noframes/read/841

In the same summer Vernon SPCA invited that same pet shop, as well as two local breeders and exhibitors of exotic animals, to its "Petarama" annual fundraising event.

See: http://www.animaladvocates.com/cgi-bin/newsroom.pl/noframes/read/1574

This summer, Vernon SPCA's "Walkathon" was sponsered by another pet shop that sells puppy mill puppies.

The SPCA shamelessly profited from holding hands with those who perpetuate and profit from animal abuse and exploitation. This type of activity is reprehensible and unprincipled, yet the SPCA remains determined to sully its image and betray animals in order to accrue funds.

Fundraising is unarguably a necessity for the BC SPCA, but until it stops slumming with those who exploit and abuse animals in its unethical and perverse efforts to raise money, there are many who will withhold donations.

It is not difficult at all, in this day and age, to find fundraising sponsors and venues who do not exploit animals or perpetuate animal cruelty. There is no excuse for the BC SPCA's behaviour here.

Jennifer Dickson
Okanagan Animal Welfare Foundation