These would be my wishes:

1. That there had been a public consultation.

2. That the PCA is expanded so (that municipalities where animal bylaw enforcement is not done by the SPCA, Animal Control Officers under the municipal umbrella or the contractor have the same powers under the Act. That this power is extended equally for the benefit of the animals and not covered by the SPCA only.

3. That the bill would have demanded improvement of impound ("shelter") facilities to give same power and support to municipalities to reach a higher level of animal care.

4. That the media would have stated that in all areas of the province (not just remote), the police already have the power to enforce the PCA Act and the Criminal Code for animals in distress.

Using Finnegan as one example, I struggle to see that expanding the BCSPCA's power is a benefit to the animals when they said they couldn't enforce the existing Act which names "suffering" as an offense under the Act, while he lay frozen to the owner's porch, in terrible suffering from severe spinal pain almost unable to stand even if he hadn't been frozen to the porch.

So when I hear "we have to DO something", my heart says "but is THIS it?"

Just my opinion.
Donna T