Re: SPCA urges end to backbiting among animal activists (Jan. 22/04)

Mr. Daniell indicates that the SPCA is involved in wildlife rescue. Tell that to the woman who phoned Pacific Animal Foundation last June about a raccoon with a severed paw that was living in her complex. She had phoned the SPCA only to be told that they did not respond to wildlife rescue calls and their only suggestion for her was to call a private pest control contractor to have the animal captured, at her own expense. Our organization immediately volunteered to lend her a humane trap and gave her the number of Wildlife Rescue Association in Burnaby for help as well. It is interesting that, not only did the SPCA refuse to help her, they did not even give her the telephone number of the well-known, local wildlife refuge that does assist in cases like this.

Instead of writing self-congratulatory misleading letters which continue to alienate people familiar with the situation, Mr. Daniell should be doing more constructive tasks, like assuring that there is a training program in place so that SPCA staff are fully prepared to give helpful advice when the public calls with animal-related distress situations. If a small, volunteer organization can do it, there is no excuse for the SPCA to be unprepared for those types of calls.