From Maple Ridge SPCA volunteer and SPCA Pet Squad member Brigitta MacMillan: In the attached the SPCA's own figures make liars of them:
4 of 1,850 dogs had to be put down for lack of space in the past two years. (From Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows News, Jan 30/02.)
56 dogs were put down for lack of space in the last couple of years. (Maple Ridge SPCA web site).
10 dogs a year due to lack of space 5 years ago . (Newspaper quote of SPCA Maple Ridge Manager Rick Favelle)
48 dogs a year euthanized 5 years (Maple Ridge web site stats.)
1 cat was put down for lack of space in 2000. (Newspaper quote of SPCA Maple Ridge Manager Rick Favelle)
106 cats were put down for lack of space in 2000. (Maple Ridge SPCA web site).
Re: The Sun, BC SPCA to cut shelter destructions, will euthanize only for health reasons - March 6 2002
The SPCA admits to destroying 18,000 animals yearly across all 32 branches. The article reports that in the Lower Mainland 173 animals were destroyed for lack of space in 2000. But in Maple Ridge alone, 162 cats and dogs were destroyed for lack of space in 2000 and this shelter has an exemplary Pet Squad saving most of the cats since late 1999.
Brigitta MacMillan,
Maple Ridge