Dear Mary:

My name is Lana Simon and I live in North Vancouver. Between 1994 and 1998 I was a volunteer with Judy Stone's group, Animal Advocates Society. I did mostly cat rescue for the group but I also love dogs.

One winter (I believe it was 1996), Judy and I were trying to locate a lost dog and a sighting of the dog was reported in Burnaby. Judy and I rushed over to the address but couldn't find the dog. We searched the neighbourhood in the snow, house by house, and that's when we discovered "Judith", tied with a heavy chain to her doghouse.

"Judith's" story is on the main home page of Animal Advocates' web site and I can verify that the dog was living in miserable conditions. I was there and saw the dog with my own eyes. In fact, there was a second dog, tied by a rope, living under the back porch in squalid conditions too.

The owners turned both dogs over to Judy saying they planned to have Judith destroyed soon anyway because she couldn't really walk anymore and the second dog wasn't a good watchdog. When we questioned the people who phoned us about the sighting of the lost dog, they told us that they and many of the neighbours had phoned the SPCA to complain about the treatment of the two dogs but nothing was ever done. I will swear to this in Court, if necessary.

I have known Judy Stone for about 10 years now and I have never known her to tell a lie. Just thought you might be interested to know I can confirm the information about Judith on the Animal Advocates web site.

I understand that Lorie Chortyk of the BC SPCA has indicated to you that much of what is on the Animal Advocates web site is completely inaccurate and malicious. I would like to suggest that you ask Ms. Chortyk what information she is specifically referring to, because her comments appear completely inappropriate.

(Mrs.) Lana Simon