Thank you Rick Sargent for advocating for a humane solution to the problem of stressed out barking dogs at the Victoria SPCA facility.

No more Alcatrazes for animals. No more dogs going mad, spinning and barking in their cells, no more cats hiding in stainless steel boxes, not eating or drinking or moving. Finally, a facility that could really be called a shelter? I really really hope so.

I am by no means implying that I think bigger and better "shelters" are the solution to pet overpopulation and abandonment. Aggressive spay/neuter and limiting surrender are a bigger part of the solution. But in the meantime, no animal deserves to be warehoused in grim, prison-like conditions. And no SPCA should be setting such a poor example of animal care.

So thank you Rick Sargent, for leading the way by example on this one. Thank you for being HONEST in your description of SPCA "Alcatrazes". And thank you for spending your own resources on more humane treatment of the animals in your Society's care.

Jennifer Dickson
Okanagan Animal Welfare Foundation
Vernon BC