From: Lesa Ibarra
To: spca@spca.bc.ca
Cc: cnaherniak@spca.bc.ca ; kmunro@spca.bc.ca ; lchortyk@spca.bc.ca ; roxiegirl@shaw.ca ; mltroman@ntouchcorp.com ; phavilik@wink.com ; cnaherniaka@spca.bc.ca ; Animal Advocates Society of B.C.
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 7:49 PM
Subject: shooting of deaf great dane

Mr Daniell,
I would like to know if what you are saying in your response is... that IF this deaf Great Dane had been surrendered to the Prince George SPCA the shelter would NOT have euthanized it, even though placing a deaf dog with vision problems would have been extremely difficult? I know that at the Surrey SPCA dogs have been killed for having a cold. (Read this story at http://www.animaladvocates.com/cgi-bin/admin.pl/read/5051)

Dealing with a deaf dog is not all that difficult, I have one myself. You just use a different method for training and getting their attention.

I still don't agree that the owner and shooter are not held accountable for their actions. The public should not be allowed to "SHOOT" their dog or any companion animal just because they do not want it anymore. At the very least if necessary to euthanize your animal it should be LAW that it is done by a certified vet. These people should still be charged. The only reason any money has changed hands now is because they got caught. It is disgraceful that they have not been. I thought that was the SPCAs jurisdiction, not the RCMP. The SPCA is the one that makes the decisions on what is cruel or not don't they?? Shooting a dog in the head a few times, not making sure it was dead! and leaving it to suffer. That IS cruelty. You can makes all the excuses in the world, I for one will NOT believe that you, the SPCA, should not have charged these people that would not even pay the small amount of $ it takes to have their pet euthanized safely.

Lesa Ibarra
Surrey B.C.

"Until we extend the circle of our compassion to all living things, we will not, ourselves, find peace...Dr. Albert Schweitzer

"Until there are none, rescue one."