We all know of the S.P.C.A. and what it stands for: they exist
to prevent cruelty to animals.
To all animals? No, just to a select few.

We all know that numerous animals, whether horses, cats, dogs and a few
others have been saved, rescued, medically treated, spayed/neutered and
adopted out by the S.P.C.A. It's what a respectable organization does.

We should also know by now that certain animals seem not deserving of the
S.P.C.A.'s efforts and thus these animals continue to be used and
abused, if not tormented and killed, while the S.P.C.A. looks away.

Apart from some too-brief statements after many decades of silence, against
the torture of rodeo animals, the sad lives of caged/chained dogs, the equally
sad existence of exotic birds kept in little cages as store displays,the horrific ending
of live crustaceans ending up piled on
top of each other as if they were already foods for humans in tanks at
supermarkets and other outlets, Canada geese being culled, a.k.a. killed
because they foul up beaches in the Okanagan, rabbits being culled, a.k.a. killed
because some idiotic humans decide there are too many of them.... etc., etc, the
S.P.C.A. seems to believe only certain animals should be protected.

We know there are those' non-animals' that are kept in captivity in
laboratories at UBC....
The S.P.C.A. has been a silent witness to their suffering for perhaps 50 years,
but in its infinite wisdom seems not to consider laboratory animals'
suffering quite bad enough. The word cruelty does not seem to apply to these
poor living creatures that are
used for experimentation and whatever cruelty is inflicted on them does
not enough concern the Society that supposedly is against cruelty to animals
for it to refuse to condone it.

Thus I conclude that while all animals are equal, to the S.P.C.A. some
animals are more equal than others and inflicting pain and suffering on
animals in laboratories is acceptable. And that's where the S.P.C.A. is
wrong: it is NOT ACCEPTABLE AT ALL!
No cruelty to animals is ever acceptable and if you're in the business
of preventing cruelty to animals, you had better stay on top of ALL
cruelties, not just the easiest ones.

I used to work for the S.P.C.A. because I respected them.
I used to donate to the S.P.C.A. because I respected them.
Just about all my pets have come from an S.P.C.A. shelter, because I
respected them.
However, until the S.P.C.A.starts to work in order to prevent cruelty
to all animals, I no longer respect or support the S.P.C.A.

Right now, many people like myself are anxiously awaiting the S.P.C.A.'s
firm stand against the abuse of animals in laboratories.
It is way past due!

Madelon Keij
Surrey, B.C.