Also, I would just like to take issue with Ms Chortyk's bogus statement referring to "Recovery centres elsewhere in North America run almost exclusively on volunteers and shoestring budgets." This is not necessarily true! I think Ms Chortyk needs a 101 class in animal welfare PR? Most of the rescue groups up here are fully aware of the successful and well managed wildlife centre in Seattle. I'm talking about the PAWS Wildlife Centre which is a charity and not only provides an advocacy office, but also shelters domestic animals as well as wildlife. Get your facts right Lorie. First your organization misinforms the public about the operation of the RSPCA and now you try and mislead by over-generalizing about other welfare facilities that you appear to know nothing about.
You should put your money and morals where your mouth is. After all what did you say in your Strategic Plan "...we believe the Society can and should aspire to provide leadership in its policies and practices, including advocacy, within a global context. There is no reason why the BC SPCA should not aspire to be a model for humane societies everywhere." That statement would lead me to believe that you should be taking animal welfare leadership examples from the top rather than setting goals that appear to come from the bottom.
http://www.paws.org/about/history/
Fiscal Information
Fiscal Year: 2000
Assets: $3,794,155
Income: $4,325,135
"Wildlife Center
The PAWS Wildlife Center is a world renowned wildlife rehabilitation facility. Formerly known as HOWL, the PAWS Wildlife Center receives over 5,000 injured or displaced wild animals every year. The center houses and rehabilitates wild animals, and prepares them for eventual release back into the wild. The Wildlife Center has cared for bears, coyotes, opossums, seals, starlings, bobcats, squirrels, and many other species of wild animals that populate the Pacific Northwest.
The Wildlife Center is located in Lynnwood, Washington. The facility includes modern veterinary examination offices, large areas for bears and other large mammals, and cages for small wildlife. On the grounds are large bird aviaries, as well as tanks for aquatic birds and aquatic wildlife. Behind the facility are large aviaries for owls, eagles, and other large birds. Large pens housing coyotes, opossums, deer and elk can also be found.
PAWS Wildlife is staffed by a dedicated crew of veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitation experts. During the busy summer months as many as 200 volunteers work in the Wildlife Centers helping to maintain the almost round-the-clock feeding schedules of the birds, clean cages, and help with wildlife releases.
As residents of the Pacific Northwest encroach more on the habitat of wildlife, the Wildlife Center's facility is routinely fill to capacity. During the summer and fall of 1998 the Lynnwood facility was home to over 10 black bear cubs--normally the center is home to only one or two cubs. The Wildlife Center is currently developing a large mammal and raptor facility to be housed in a more rural setting than the relatively urban environment of the Lynnwood Wildlife Center. The large mammal and raptor facility will allow bears, deer, elk, eagles, and other large animals to be rehabilitated without the interfering sounds and smells of cars, dogs, and humans."
Wildlife Center
The PAWS Wildlife Center is a world renowned wildlife rehabilitation facility. Formerly known as HOWL, the PAWS Wildlife Center receives over 5,000 injured or displaced wild animals every year. The center houses and rehabilitates wild animals, and prepares them for eventual release back into the wild. The Wildlife Center has cared for bears, coyotes, opossums, seals, starlings, bobcats, squirrels, and many other species of wild animals that populate the Pacific Northwest.
The Wildlife Center is located in Lynnwood, Washington. The facility includes modern veterinary examination offices, large areas for bears and other large mammals, and cages for small wildlife. On the grounds are large bird aviaries, as well as tanks for aquatic birds and aquatic wildlife. Behind the facility are large aviaries for owls, eagles, and other large birds. Large pens housing coyotes, opossums, deer and elk can also be found.
PAWS Wildlife is staffed by a dedicated crew of veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitation experts. During the busy summer months as many as 200 volunteers work in the Wildlife Centers helping to maintain the almost round-the-clock feeding schedules of the birds, clean cages, and help with wildlife releases.
As residents of the Pacific Northwest encroach more on the habitat of wildlife, the Wildlife Center's facility is routinely fill to capacity. During the summer and fall of 1998 the Lynnwood facility was home to over 10 black bear cubs--normally the center is home to only one or two cubs. The Wildlife Center is currently developing a large mammal and raptor facility to be housed in a more rural setting than the relatively urban environment of the Lynnwood Wildlife Center. The large mammal and raptor facility will allow bears, deer, elk, eagles, and other large animals to be rehabilitated without the interfering sounds and smells of cars, dogs, and humans."