Money for animals not managers

To the editor:
Re: "CUPE calls for SPCA cash boycott," Dec. 7

We support the B.C. SPCA's efforts to improve their ability to provide quality care, services and programs for animals in this province; however, we have serious concerns regarding the actions and decisions made by the board of directors of the B.C. SPCA. We fear their decisions may result in the extinction of the SPCA in some of our communities.

The society's 2001 financial report revealed a deficit of $2,648,870. With this knowledge, the board of directors still chose to move forward with plans to restructure. Today, the B.C. SPCA operates approximately the same number of shelters in the province as it did in 2001 but their administrative and provincial staff has tripled.

The deficit has now ballooned to $4,512,922 and acting CEO Craig Daniell has admitted the board of directors has approved a further deficit of about $3 million for 2003. At this rate, the deficit could be in excess of $10 million by next year.

The B.C. SPCA's Compensation and Performance Management Report reveals that 17 of the B.C. SPCA's top executives and senior management personnel were paid from $66,3000 to $153,985 annually. This amounts to $1,127,100 to $2,617,745 per year. We feel the growing increase in administrative salaries has contributed greatly to the B.C. SCPA's financial woes.

In response to the deficit, the B.C. SPCA recently announced the layoffs of 28 staff in branches throughout the province, and five from the provincial office. Acting CEO Craig Daniell and spokesperson Lorie Chortyk state the deficit is the result of expenses incurred for "sheltering, veterinary care, rehabilitation, spay/neuter services and cruelty investigations."

The society is also telling the public that "the growth in our front-line service costs has increased much more rapidly than our growth in income and this level of spending is unsustainable."

What they do not say in their Nov. 5 press release is that $843,4000 of their expenditures in 2002 was directly related to severance and re-organization costs, and that costs associated with re-structuring and reorganizing the society had a "significant effect" on their operational results in both 2001 and 2002.

If the B.C. SPCA is going to layoff staff, we strongly suggest they start by making cuts to the bloated administration.

Is it any wonder that donations have declines?

Communities rely on their local SPCA to provide care for hundreds of homeless, abandoned and abused animals in this province each year. It's one of the primary reasons people donate to the SPCA. What the B.C. SPCA doesn't need is so many highly paid administrators.

Cheryl Rogers
B.C. Animal Welfare Coalition