Re: Chilliwack a main dumping ground for unwanted animals.
First and foremost I would like to address the statement that "Chilliwack taxpayers are on the hook for the disposal costs once last year's puppy becomes too much of a bother." Since a large portion of people who can no longer keep their pets in the Chilliwack area surrender them to the SPCA, I fail to see how this costs the taxpayers anything.
The Chilliwack SPCA receives no funding from the City of Chilliwack so I would be interested in hearing more about how tax dollars are spent on this issue Ms. Bessler refers to as "animal disposal." It is the SPCA and our donors who pay to have the unwanted animals we receive vaccinated, spayed/neutered, assessed for temperament, microchiped, fed and cared for until a new home can be found.
Ms. Bessler suggests that the SPCA should advocate for regulations to the breeding industry. In the past the BCSPCA has applied to the provincial government to have changes made to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act. Included in these changes was a very comprehensive section that was referred to as the Lemon Law, which suggested improved language, regulations and enforcement powers were needed to deal with unscrupulous breeders. Unfortunately the government decided not to proceed with the legislation.
The City of Chilliwack, not the BCSPCA has the authority to consider and issue kennel licenses to local breeders. Revenue Canada deals with tax collection. Have animal advocates brought their concerns forward to these groups? The BCSPCA will investigate any concerns regarding specific breeders/puppy mills that are compromising animal welfare but has no authority in relation to issuing licences or tax collection.
As someone who has worked in a shelter for many years I would have to disagree with Ms.Bessler's conclusion that dog breeders are to blame for the animals surrendered to local shelters, and would welcome statistical proof to back up her claims. Many of the animals we receive are from unwanted litters that are a result of people not spaying and neutering their pets. Other common reasons people surrender their pets are moving, allergies, divorce and behaviour problems. Furthermore, the number of cats coming into our shelters far exceeds the number of dogs.
Last year alone the BCSPCA adopted 30,413 animals, which should indicate people are adopting pets from sources other than dog breeders. If what Ms. Bessler claims was true, the shelters would be full of purebred animals and small breed dogs.
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Anyone who visits an SPCA shelter regularly or is interested in adopting a purebred or small mix breed dog from us will tell you they rarely see these types of dogs in our care.
I hope that someday Animal Advocates will consider working with the BCSPCA and take a more proactive role in improving animal welfare in the province as opposed to the prevalent levying of criticism and blame they have become well known for. I truly believe if we can get past our differences and work together the animals would benefit significantly, which is the ultimate goal.
By Joanne Halligan
BCSPCA Branch Manager
Chilliwack/Abbotsford