FROM GAIL MOERKERKEN'S LETTERS TO THE SPCA IN MAPLE RIDGE |
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Jan. 7, 2001 Gail Moerkerken To: Maple Ridge
SPCA Dog # 3904 (now known as Jake) was part of the SPCA Pet Squad
visiting Valley Fair Mall on Dec. 29th, 2000.
As I was shopping I came across a wonderful and dedicated SPCA
volunteer named Joyce who was walking this dog and hoping for a kind family to adopt him. As I spoke with Joyce she explained that this lonely animal had
been at the SPCA for five weeks and was truly a loving and gentle soul. As we continued to chat Jake sat and waited
patiently for more cuddles and a few kind hands to give him some much needed petting. Although we already had a houseful of animals (three cats and a
dog, all from the Maple Ridge SPCA Shelter) I knew I could not let this dog return to a
situation where for over five weeks his medical needs had been neglected by the very
agency that is sworn to protect abused and mistreated animals. I explained to Joyce that
my husband and myself would return to the shelter the next day and adopt Jake. Upon returning home from the mall I immediately booked an
appointment for Jake with our veterinarian’s office and an animal groomer in
anticipation of Jake’s homecoming. On Dec. 30, 2000 my husband and myself brought our dog (Journey)
to meet Jake and go for a walk. Jake loved
being free and playing with Journey, but had difficulty walking. I assumed his nails
needed to be cut, but indeed this was not to be the case. Once all the paper work was completed, the adoption fee paid,
$70.00, and instructions on the free vet visit, we immediately took Jake to Alouette
Animal Hospital. The results from his first
and second examination are that Jake is suffering from severe yeast infections in both
ears and is now on two types of medication to assist with healing, he has a terrible skin
allergy and is now eating prescribed hypoallergenic food and is being bathed with special
medicated shampoo. He has also been placed on
a twenty-one day course on antibiotics for infection and a 10-day course of cortisone,
which he will most likely need for the rest of his life. The charge for the
“free” visit and the second visit amounted to $155.00. When Jake’s examination was completed at Alouette Animal
Hospital he was taken to Golden Ears Grooming for a required medicated bath and clipping. I then received a call from the groomer stating
that she, “had to cut the hair between his toes very short, as Jake had horribly
matted fur from infections in his feet”.
The cost for bathing and grooming, $30.00. My distress at the thought of Jake or any other animal having
lived for five weeks at the SPCA shelter with absolutely no medical intervention is
overwhelming. I cannot fathom how he was not
provided a visit to the SPCA Animal Hospital, put on a treatment of antibiotics or
provided with minimal medical care. The very basic qualities of life were not met for this animal, by
the very people designated and supported by the community to help unwanted, unloved,
neglected and abused animals. I believe the
SPCA motto is: We Speak For Those Who Cannot Speak For Themselves. Well I am speaking up on behalf of one of these animals, an animal that went for weeks without medical care at the Maple Ridge Shelter. This is not acceptable, incomprehensible and a disgrace to the name “Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals”. Jake is now the fifth animal member of a loving family who
cherishes him. We provide a safe and warm home, daily walks on the dykes with his new
friend Journey, good food, medication, kind words, gentle touch, and a consistent sense of
safety, love and security. His health is improving daily, his tail now wags when he is
happy, the sparkle is slowly returning to his eyes and we are truly blessed to have Jake
as part of our household. Sincerely, Dear Animal Advocates of BC, There are a few reasons to write to you today, first I would like to thank you for the incredible work you do to save our precious animals. Second, I now have a cheque written to your society that will be placed in the mail today...dated for November 23rd....to assist you with the continuing miracles you perform each day. And thirdly, I have attached two letters regarding our most beloved Jake and the circumstances surrounding his adoption from the SPCA. I feel that these letters may be important documents for your "SPCA" file and I welcome any questions or comments you may have regarding them. Since these letters have
been written, I have chatted with the new Regional Director of the SPCA, and received
$80.00 cash from the Maple Ridge Branch to assist with the costs of Jake's medical needs.*
I think Jake's story is one of many.....and may not be as "horrific" as others, but perhaps is the SPCA "norm"....which is very frightening in itself! It has now been determined that Jake has hypothyroidism and is on daily medication. He must be monitored frequently, is prone to skin and ear infections and is on a "weight loss" program. That is the medical news.....now the real news..... Jake is INCREDIBLE!!! He loves "his" cats and his best friend Journey! He spends his days with care, companionship, love, honour and tenderness. Jake and Journey's daily walks on the beautiful Maple Ridge dykes are the focus of his day......he can hardly wait to be off leash, running and playing and socializing with all the other dogs! He has learned to "walk on floors" (a challenge at first), eat on a regular basis, trust humans and accept love. Though he is still not sure what he should do with all the toys that lay around! We are encouraging "play time"....and slowly, ever so slowly, he is understanding the idea of "fun"! He is a favourite at the vets office.....often laying down in the waiting room on his back....wanting everyone to rub his exposed belly....many smiling faces result from this behaviour! :) He is also a favourite at Camp Good Dog, where Jake and Journey get the opportunity to run and play and sing and dance! Just wanted to acknowledge and say THANK YOU for your continued struggle to save those among us who have and do face extreme need. With warm thoughts, Gail Moerkerken |
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SPCA may have reimbursed complaining adoptors in the past, but this is the first time AAS
has heard of it. We have been told countless times that when an adoptor complains
about the ill health and terrible condition the dog they adopted is in, they have
been told, "You can bring it back." And when asked if the SPCA will kill
the dog, they have been told, "We can't guarantee we won't." Which is at
least better than the answer given to adoptors of large dogs with behaviour problems who
are regularly told that the dog will be put down when it is returned. Why was Gail Moerkerken reimbursed? Is it because the SPCA recognized another land mine when they read her very professional letter? They really never know when a complaint is going to end up on the AAS web site. Or is this an example of the "reformed SPCA"? (See SPCA REFORM - IS IT REAL?) To read the Recommendations from the SPCA Community Consultation Panel, released November 3, 2001 go to http://www.spca.bc.ca/community/cc_recommendations.htm . This report is astonishingly honest and harsh and it confirms all that AAS has alleged about the SPCA. But will it result in the SPCA sticking to its mandate to prevent cruelty? The writers of the Report have finished their jobs, and actual reform will be up to the SPCA and some of the employees who made the SPCA what it is are still there. Someone will have to hold the SPCA's feet to the fire - forever. Again from Gail Moerkerken, It has been your society that has forced the hand of the SPCA. Without your website and the detailed information that is provided, most animal lovers would have felt lonely and isolated in their cause to restructure, reform and lobby for better treatment of our helpless ones. I too believe in the power of networking. Your website has been sent to all of my animal loving friends and many discussions have taken place regarding what the Animal Advocate Society does and why it does it. Perhaps, as information continues to be gathered more and more people will understand that true effort is required to help our animals. Not just a false front and meaningless words that have so often been promoted by the SPCA. And I must also say, that I do admire those volunteers who continue to work within the SPCA "system"....without these dedicated and loving volunteers, how many other horrific situations would have occurred! While I read your story regarding the law suite launched against the Animal Advocate Society and you personally, I could not help but admire your professionalism and concise reflection regarding the FACTS you had gathered from many sources. I also know that the website must have "put the fear of God" into the SPCA for them to spend their time and energy fighting against the Society....rather than working with the Society to implement change. Congratulations for your continuing efforts despite the very real threat that was placed in your path! You are a true leader Judy, one who knows how to encourage, understand concerns and promote change when change is needed. I am grateful to have become a "supporting member" of the Animal Advocates Society and I will continue to network and share my knowledge with those who need to understand the desperate circumstances of our closest companions. AAS is not a big powerful organization, but we can be a big, powerful coalition, with women like Gail Moerkerken who do the right thing. As a life-time supporter of the SPCA I have become despondent, distrustful and disillusioned with regards to the treatment of animals at the Maple Ridge SPCA. The following two stories are examples of my most recent experiences dealing with the "systems" and staff that are in place at the Maple Ridge shelter. On Dec. 13, 2001 I rescued a dog that had been abandoned on the Maple Ridge dykes for approximately three weeks. As I have five animals in a small townhouse it was impossible to "foster" this dog until a new home could be found and I had no choice but to place him in the "care" of the SPCA. After many calls and conversations I discovered that after six days this animals tattoo had not been looked at, nor his previous owner contacted. Not until this issue was brought before the senior constable and the animal services review committee of Maple Ridge did action take place. This resulted in six days in a shelter, when, perhaps this frightened animal could have been reunited with his human family days earlier. I question why it took six days to examine this dog's tattoo, why was no action taken until this issue was brought before a committee meeting? I am still awaiting information on the steps that will be taken to ensure this does not happen to another animal. In the meantime this wonderful dog now languishes in the Maple Ridge shelter, waiting for a special family to call his own. The important issue as a supporter of the SPCA is, a dog was in the care of a society that is mandated to serve and respond to the need of animals, and I feel we have RESCUED an animal from the very agency established to protect them. Gail Moerkerken
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