One member of BCSPCA management responded to my e-mail and seems to understand my concerns though remedy is not within her jurisdiction. Our local shelter superintendent asked that I address such concerns to him first (but that's where I started two years ago). He also pointed out that I dwell on the negative without acknowledging the positive. On this point, I stand corrected. While things still need changing, some things are so much better. Staff are not unpleasant. The cats have Hide-and-Perch boxes and grass, the dogs have beds... things truly are better than they were. I feel badly if the local staff feel criticized. I do indeed know SPCA employees who treat people and animals with indifference at best, apparently with impunity. But the staff last Tuesday were working hard; they're pleasant and positive under trying circumstances. It's nearly impossible to attend to all the animals well and clean the place while answering the phone and dealing with visitors. The Maple Ridge facility is also in very poor condition and that makes the job harder. Much soul-searching goes into these public criticisms I make and I want to be fair.

Huge sums of money are spent on the bureaucracy and improving the corporate image while shelter operations are often a shambles. I do believe the blame lies squarely with management. I have asked them when improvement can be expected. But neither Mr. Brimacombe, Mr. van der Hoeven nor Mr. Green have responded yet or acknowledged receipt of my e-mail.