Posted By: Gail
Date: Friday, 24 May 2002, at 1:10 p.m.

Yesterday afternoon some AAS supporters and myself went to the Vancouver Shelter and I spoke with Dean Edmonds (Vancouver SPCA Manager) regarding my concern about Odie's health, location and lack of response to my request for PROOF in the form of a photo that Odie is alive.

After speaking with Dean and expressing my concerns he placed a call to John V. This resulted in my being told that I should contact Cindy Soules (BC SPCA staff) to resolve this issue. I refused and explained to Dean that I would now be demonstrating with a placard (of Odie's pictures and time line) in front of the SPCA until I received an answer.

(AAS - Gail had been given "explantions" by the Maple Ridge SPCA, the Vancouver SPCA, and the BC SPCA. All told her something different, all passed the buck to someone else.)

Dean then phoned John V. and explained my next step to him. Dean then told me that John V. would be contacting the owners (?) of Odie and requesting a picture (with a current newspaper with date showing) of him happy and healthy.

I have agreed to this and the SPCA has been asked to provide this photo by the end of the business day on Monday.

To John van der Hoeven,
Director of Field Opeartions,
BC SPCA

May 28, 2002 7:14 AM
Subject: Odie's photo as promised...

As you are aware I attended a meeting with Vancouver shelter manager Dean Edmonds last Thursday, May 23, 2002 to discuss Odie's status.

The results of this meeting included Dean contacting you by telephone numerous times to review the situation, with a subsequent promise that you would contact Odie's adoptive (?) parents and request a picture of him healthy and happy with a current newspaper's date shown in the photo.

I wrote on the back of my business card that was provided to Dean that this picture should have no difficulty reaching me by the end of the business day on Monday, May 27th, 2002.

It is now May 28th and no picture, no phone call, no e-mail has come my way! Another broken promise? More cover-up? More missing information? More lack of integrity? Is the SPCA truly moving forward with new directives, policies and procedures, or is the old entrenched system still flourishing within the shelters?

I have been searching for PROOF that Odie is alive since April 2002....and there is still no PROOF.

This is my final request to you that the SPCA provide documentation to substantiate that Odie is alive and living the life he deserves.

I have been far too patient, far too forgiving and far too optimistic that the SPCA is implementing higher levels of standards when it comes to "customer service", professionalism and leadership within the animal welfare community.

Please do not delay in addressing this issue and I anticipate an immediate response.

Gail Moerkerken

A big thank you everyone who has kept Odie in their hearts while waiting for more information.