The BC SPCA: A Prison Camp for Animals

The BC SPCA: April 29/04: A prison camp for animals:
Barbara Yaffe:
Vancouver Sun: The SPCA allowed this dog to die in distress at one of its own facilities and then the CEO covered up for the manager who permitted this.
If this were the only instance of this treatment of animals by the SPCA and of covering up , it would be bad enough; but this example is only the tip of the iceberg. Decades of documented SPCA cruelty proves this.

"Both women used the term "Auschwitz" -- the name of a Second World War concentration camp in Poland -- to describe what they've witnessed in their respective shelters, and said there is an alarming insensitivity around the practice of euthanasia."

Taken to the vet....too late.

Posted By: AAS
Date: Thursday, 29 April 2004, at 8:25 a.m.

Neglect of suffering animals and excessive euthanasia happen too often at society shelters, two insiders say

Barbara Yaffe
Vancouver Sun
Thursday, April 29, 2004

Most of us don't spend much time thinking about what goes on at SPCA shelters, assuming society staff and volunteers do the best they can for homeless animals.

According to two SPCA workers, this is not always the case. They came forward recently with some disturbing stories about the way the organization's charges are treated.

SPCA management did not refute much of what the two had to say.

Annie Swift, on unpaid leave, is an employee at a suburban Lower Mainland shelter; Brigitta MacMillan is a volunteer at a second shelter. Both started at the B.C. SPCA in 1999.

The two approached me with photographs and e-mails documenting some horrific situations to illustrate their contention that the SPCA is, as Swift puts it: "an organization that exists to employ people, and the animals are a commodity."

Both women used the term "Auschwitz" -- the name of a Second World War concentration camp in Poland -- to describe what they've witnessed in their respective shelters, and said there is an alarming insensitivity around the practice of euthanasia.

An excessive use of euthanasia bothers them; they claim potentially adoptable animals are sometimes killed for lack of resources or because they're suffering from a condition as innocuous as a cold.

They are also troubled by the fact sick or injured animals too often suffer for days without getting access to veterinary care.

Craig Daniell, chief executive officer of the society, says the SPCA is far from a perfect organization. It has financial challenges and shelters in dire need of replacement. But no single agency can be expected to bear total responsibility for society's homeless animals.

The public needs to play its part in respecting and caring for animals. Daniel correctly noted that some city councils which contract services from the SPCA think only in terms of budget numbers, rather than animal welfare.

The SPCA relies heavily on donations to make up its $20-million budget and donations from areas beyond the Lower Mainland have been declining since the organization began centralizing its operations in Vancouver. While the SPCA has been running multimillion-dollar annual deficits, this year it's expected to balance its books. The problem is, that to bring its books into the black, the SPCA has had to lay off many of its staff -- another 25 in 2004 -- and cut back on public education and other programs.

Aside from more donor money, the SPCA is pushing for some action on the part of municipalities around B.C. Most city councils have yet to introduce bylaws making spaying and neutering mandatory. Nor do they provide grants to ensure needy pet owners have access to the procedure, which is so essential in curtailing animal overpopulation.

Also, in contrast to the B.C. government, which provides an annual grant of $71,000 to the SPCA (specifically for the training of animal cruelty investigators), Alberta gives its SPCA an annual grant of $750,000, Ontario, $700,000. Money like that would allow the organization to hire more animal caregivers, upgrade dilapidated shelters and reinstate programs it has had to cut.

The SPCA takes in 57,000 animals a year. It does not have statistics on the number that get euthanized although it is working on compiling them for The Vancouver Sun.

Daniell said he was distressed but not surprised that the SPCA workers had come forward with concerns about the society. "We are not a perfect organization, far from it."

He said shelters in some parts of B.C. are "wanting," but would not compare any to a concentration camp. He cited Nanaimo, Campbell River, Prince Rupert and Prince George as being first on the list needing repair or replacement if money were available. In addition, Surrey badly needs a new shelter, as does the Coquitlam-Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows area.

Daniell acknowledged that a lack of resources would be a factor that could lead to euthanasia, especially if such a circumstance were combined with other factors such as the animal suffering from a cold and/or an inability to adopt the animal out.

Shelters have only so much space and finite budgets. But he also pointed out this should not be happening in the Lower Mainland where shelters tend to have more resources.

A B.C. SPCA Workplace Review report last April asked SPCA employees to express concerns about their organization. Nearly 30 per cent of respondents focused their complaints on animal care and standards, policies and procedures.

Their specific complaints were alarming: "Euthanasia is administered inconsistently; animals stressed; animals do not receive enough direct care and attention; animals are being warehoused; veterinary attention is sometimes delayed; staff does not seem to care."

Daniell freely provided the report to The Sun.

The two workers who came forward assert that when animals are seized as a result of an SPCA cruelty investigation it is possible for them to wind up receiving poorer care at the SPCA than the place from which they were seized, or they might wind up being euthanized for any one of a number of reasons.

Daniell said the two women likely haven't seen the settings from which such animals are rescued. He personally believes animals are better off dead than living in such environments or spending their lives in a cage.

Here again, money would enable small shelters feeling pressure to keep animals for longer periods of time. More staff might translate into more contact with animals who are known as companion animals because they desperately need human contact. Dogs and cats often become extremely depressed and stressed in crowded shelters where they are left in cages, and this can lead to them being classed in SPCA jargon as "unadoptable" and killed.

Private animal shelters in the Lower Mainland, which tend to be highly critical of the SPCA, often take in some of these critters destined for death (SPCA volunteers sneak the animals out the back door). The private shelter owners say they have been able to nurture and rehabilitate the animals so that they quickly become adoptable and get a second chance at life in a new home.

Swift and MacMillan showed photos of cats in SPCA cages less that a metre square. In one of several photos taken surreptitiously by volunteers over a period of years, four cats are shown without food or water in their bowls and a litter box badly in need of cleaning.

Daniell, who joined the organization in November, 2002, said the photo was years old and if it happened today, "that would be grounds for dismissal." The cages remain the same size, although accommodate only one cat each.

In another photo shown by the women, an emaciated elderly terrier, unable to stand, is lying in a cage semi-conscious in his own feces. The dog was made to wait days to be examined by a vet, at which time it was euthanized.

Another photo shows a kitten with maggots, which waited two days before receiving care. By then, it was too late to save the two-month old tabby.

Daniell said he had looked into these incidents and while they are factual, the employee responsible for the terrier's care was identified and "action was taken."

He said animals currently see a vet whenever vet care is required. He cautioned there is some subjectivity involved in making that decision so it's at least possible some workers might dispute his assertion.

A new system of management is now in place and staff can take concerns to managers and managers can contact the SPCA's chief of operations to address problems.

Swift said that in her experience her concerns were not followed up by management although she has been on leave for a while. She also said she had been disparagingly labelled "a puppy hugger" by some of her fellow employees, Canadian Union of Public Employees members, too many of whom have become desensitized and work exclusively for their paycheques.

Daniell acknowledged this is indeed an unavoidable problem.

In the end, many of the difficulties experienced at the SPCA derive from poor management practices in the past and an ongoing lack of cash.

Vancouver is a well-off community; it is truly shameful that we leave our homeless animals to face such precarious futures.

Tired of SPCA excuses
Lori Cumiskey -- Thursday, 29 April 2004, at 9:01 a.m.

Why would the SPCA not have statistics on how many animals are euthanized???
Shirley Henderson -- Thursday, 29 April 2004, at 10:33 a.m.

SPCA p.r.: "The animals in our care receive veterinary attention when needed".
AAS -- Thursday, 29 April 2004, at 2:06 p.m.

Recently a Richmond SPCA employee "dropped" a rabbit, breaking its jaw in five places
Carmina Gooch -- Thursday, 29 April 2004, at 2:22 p.m.

Animal care guidelines are closely monitored?
Carmina Gooch -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 3:44 p.m.

Just to name a few of the more memorable examples of the BC SPCA’s duplicity
Jo-Anne Chambers -- Thursday, 29 April 2004, at 2:15 p.m.

Write The Sun
AAS -- Thursday, 29 April 2004, at 4:31 p.m.

The blunder that will not die
AAS -- Thursday, 29 April 2004, at 7:45 p.m.

The tragedy is that countless animals died unnecessarily
Terry Roberge -- Thursday, 29 April 2004, at 9:10 p.m.

SPCA - forget blaming the public for not "respecting and caring" for its animals
Valerie Barry -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 7:02 a.m.

SPCA misplaces the blame for its own ethical shortcomings on the public
Jennifer Dickson -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 7:20 a.m.

SPCAs are worse than concentration camps: One cat is saved out of thousands *PIC*
Jennifer Dickson -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 8:25 a.m.

Daniell said shelters in some parts of B.C. are "wanting," but would not compare any to a concentration camp
AAS -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 8:38 a.m.

The SPCA cries poor every chance it gets, but what IS it spending its millions on?
AAS -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 11:44 a.m.

Daniell said shelters in some parts of B.C. are "wanting," but would not compare any to a concentration camp
AAS -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 8:33 a.m.

BC SPCA CEO Craig Daniell rebuts
AAS -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 11:59 a.m.

Blaming the public while setting the wrong example for the public to follow
AAS -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 1:32 p.m.

The SPCA can do better!
Lana Simon -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 3:40 p.m.

First Craig Daniell says the SPCA has no euthanasia statistics, then he says BC SPCA has one of the lowest rates in North America
Joann Bessler -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 3:55 p.m.

Some assistance for Mr Daniell's euthanasia count
AAS -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 4:05 p.m.

At least it's not 75,000 a year anymore
AAS -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 4:13 p.m.

Lorie Chortyk can help Daniell with his body count: According to her the SPCA only kills 1% of dogs
AAS -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 4:19 p.m.

Today the BCSPCA employees over 30 administrative and provincial staff and yet they're suddenly too busy and overworked to provide these stats to their members and the public?
Pat Bentley -- Saturday, 1 May 2004, at 12:01 a.m.

For the public: others should bear responsibility. For real: the SPCA kills instead of accepting offers from rescue
AAS -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 7:17 p.m.

The rescue community has extended our hand multiple times to help the animals and sadly the SPCA refuses
Mia Riback -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 7:21 p.m.

Do they give out educational material when someone adopts a cat or dog in English, as well as other languages?
Lori Cumiskey -- Saturday, 1 May 2004, at 6:42 a.m.

Mr. Daniell believes that killing seized animals as collateral damage is an acceptable method of cruelty prevention
Jennifer Dickson -- Friday, 30 April 2004, at 11:12 p.m.

More SPCA PR Lies: SPCA Press Release: Kelowna Man at Center of High Profile Animal Cruelty Case Pleads Guilty *LINK* *PIC*
Jennifer Dickson, Okanagan Animal Welfare Foundation -- Sunday, 2 May 2004, at 9:27 a.m.

Animals are worse off after being seized for "cruelty" BY the SPCA!
AAS -- Sunday, 2 May 2004, at 1:07 p.m.

AAS has the file on the incident of the Christmas Terrier. Yaffe's facts are straight and here are some more *PIC*
AAS -- Sunday, 2 May 2004, at 9:16 a.m.

More women are defying the SPCA's ever-ready lawyers
AAS -- Sunday, 2 May 2004, at 9:20 a.m.

SPCA Should Be Tried for Animal Abuse
Jennifer Dickson -- Sunday, 2 May 2004, at 11:36 a.m.

More "have not" branches now than before restructuring
Pat Bentley -- Sunday, 2 May 2004, at 11:52 p.m.

All we know for sure is that the SPCA sure took care of the dead part *PIC*
Jennifer Dickson, Okanagan Animal Welfare Foundation -- Sunday, 2 May 2004, at 9:44 a.m.

Clutching at straws to justify killing: Giardia is easily treatable *LINK*
AAS -- Sunday, 2 May 2004, at 9:56 a.m.

Is this how the BCSPCA takes care of problem employees?
Emma Vandewetering -- Thursday, 29 April 2004, at 10:17 a.m.

Classic SPCA! They don't know the dog is pregnant and the SPCA has Parvo! *PIC*
AAS -- Sunday, 2 May 2004, at 12:31 p.m.

Mr Daniell would get more sympathy if....
Carol Sonnex -- Sunday, 2 May 2004, at 1:33 p.m.

Barbara Yaffe points out discrepancies in Daniell's statements that AAS pointed out too *LINK*
AAS -- Sunday, 9 May 2004, at 4:27 p.m.

The whole story of how the Surrey SPCA killed so many dogs because of easily treatable kennel cough *NM* *LINK*
AAS -- Sunday, 9 May 2004, at 5:16 p.m.

Big Heart Rescue met with Craig Daniell to ask questions on April 16th: Still no answers
AAS -- Sunday, 9 May 2004, at 5:30 p.m.

"Mistakes" are endemic at the chaotically-run BC SPCA. The BC SPCA historically was easy to run...
AAS -- Monday, 10 May 2004, at 7:58 a.m.

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