Yesterday morning AAS was phoned by a frantic five-year Delta SPCA volunteer who we will call B.B. She begged us to somehow stop the killing of an eight-month old pup named Cheech who was scheduled for destruction sometime that day. Here is what we were told by B.B.

Cheech is a Lab Rottweiler who had been chained from the age of eight weeks, probably at a grow-op, and who had been brought to the Delta SPCA sometime in March. His temperament was essentially cheerful, trusting, and very affectionate, but at first he was fearful of men and rough behaviour, very common in dogs that have been abused. He expressed his fear only verbally, by growling - clear dog-speak for wanting you to stop whatever you are doing.

He has not ever bitten anyone. He has never been a danger to anyone.

B.B. told us that before the installation by CEO Craig Daniell of Michelle Rodgers, as manager, the staff at the Delta SPCA had created the best, most humane SPCA in the province. Since the advent of Rodgers, staff felt they were being discouraged from doing their best for the animals and tensions built.

When Cheech first arrived at the Delta SPCA he was put through a Dog Temperament Assessment Test (DTAT) which he passed easily, being assessed at level "yellow", the most adoptable level. Recommendations were made to help him with fear anxiety.

(B.B. also told us some shocking details of disappearing money, which we will reveal in a sub post.)

We next phoned Delta SPCA's volunteer professional trainer, who we will call A.C., who told us that she too had assessed Cheech as rehabilitatible who only needed a bit more time and work. She too was trying to stop Rodgers from killing Cheech.

We pieced together the series of events that led to the destruction order. Cheech was doing well and was sometimes allowed in the front office until one day a man came into the SPCA carrying a rabbit. We were told that Manager Rodgers either roughly grabbed Cheech by the collar or pulled roughly on his lead to get him out of the public area. In the hubbub and stress, Cheech growled at Rodgers in objection. He did not bite and he went were he was being led, but from that moment it is our understanding that Cheech was doomed.

Rodgers called in the SPCA's Head Office dog assessors for a "scientific" justification for killing Cheech, which she got. We were told that Barry McKnight, large and uniformed, went into Cheech's kennel with an object, probably a broom, and Cheech attacked the object. McKnight told Rodgers that Cheech needed more work but the decision was up to her.

Another long-time dog rescuer told us that Rodgers does not have a clue about dog behaviour, asking her for advice about her own aggressive dog. We can state unequivocally that almost no SPCA staff know or have ever known what a dog's behaviour means, and nor do they care to learn. Even now SPCA web sites tell adoptors to crate or isolate dogs that suffer from separation anxiety - blatant stupidity and cruelty.

We then phoned Manager Rodgers, who acknowledged AAS's reputation for successful rehabilitation of dogs like Cheech. We stated repeatedly and clearly our offer to foster Cheech at our expense and to rehabilitate him. We asked her to consider our offer and to postpone the destruction of Cheech.

Twenty minutes later we were phoned by long-time Delta SPCA worker Amanda Muir. Amanda is one of the staff who is responsible for all the humane improvements that were made before the advent of Daniell/Rodgers. Amanda is also the fearless and compassionate person who was attacked by a guard dog last year and had both her arms badly injured. She never once blamed the dog. She has been on WCB leave since the attack but continued to volunteer daily at the Delta SPCA.

Twenty minutes after our offer to Rodgers we were phoned by a fearful Amanda telling us that the order to destroy would not be postponed or rescinded. We asked her to quickly remind Rodgers of our involvement and told her that we were going to immediately phone CEO Craig Daniell.

We did and we stated the whole case and repeated our offer to foster Cheech several times. We asked him to phone Rodgers and tell her to postpone the destruction order until our offer could be considered and to get more input from trainers and volunteers. He would not promise us anything.

Daniell phoned us back shortly and told us that Bob Busch, General Manager Operations was on his way to the Delta SPCA. Daniell would not tell us if Cheech's life would be spared.

Then we were phoned from the SPCA parking lot by another long-time volunteer who we will call D.W., frantically telling us that Mark Thakur, Manager Vancouver SPCA had arrived and that Cheech was about to be led into the euthanasia room. Daniell had sent in his troops! We gave her the phone number of CTV and told her to phone quickly.

Soon after Cheech was removed by someone who took him to the Tsawwassen Animal Hospital because of a sore leg that the SPCA had ignored. The female vet there was asked if she would euthanize Cheech if the SPCA asked her to. She replied unequivocally that she would not, that Cheech was clearly a fine dog.

Cheech was then taken to a private home.