Animal Advocates Watchdog

Hazel Smith: We actually know the truth about how much value the Surrey SPCA places on its volunteers"

Dear Mayor Dianne Watts and Council,

I would like to comment on how little the Surrey SPCA appreciates its volunteers as this is volunteer appreciation week.

I volunteered there for over 2 years, two days a week and thought this would be something I would do for many years until an incident happened in the middle of October. Many euthanizations had happened up to this point, which of course was always upsetting, but things came to a head when a beautiful Dogo Argentino named Titan was euthanized even though volunteers and staff tried everything we knew to save this lovely dog. We even offered to pay for its transportation to a Dogo Rescue in the States as the SPCA said they couldn't afford to do this. Other avenues were also offered to staff because we felt so strongly that this dog was worth saving. We thought mistakenly that volunteers' experience with this dog would count for something because we had walked and spent lots of time with it during the period it was there. A newly hired animal behaviourist sentenced this beautiful animal to death without so much as seeing or spending time with him. Two dedicated volunteers were fired and ten more volunteers resigned over this incident. We all wrote letters explaining our reasons and as far as I know the Surrey SPCA didn't even bother to answer the letters.

We actually know the truth about how much value the Surrey SPCA places on its volunteers. Words are easy to use but actions speak much louder than words.

Hazel Smith
Surrey BC

Messages In This Thread

Four letters from ex-SPCA volunteers that expose the truth
Karen Kwan: SPCA "Volunteer of the Month" says, "I was told by management in my meeting that volunteers were NOT THE CORE of the organization"
Was the U.S. expert who decided Titan was unadoptable the same who said the sled dogs weren't adoptable?
There may be a connection
Titan was the dog the SPCA killed *LINK* *PIC*
Hazel Smith: We actually know the truth about how much value the Surrey SPCA places on its volunteers"
B. Pengelly: "Volunteers are useful only if they keep their mouths shut"
Judy Daser: "Most of the employees had no idea what dogs were even in the shelter, you had to ask a volunteer"
Maple Ridge News editor: "I hear repeatedly that volunteers are scared of opening their mouths."
I volunteer elsewhere

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