Animal Advocates Watchdog

B. Pengelly: "Volunteers are useful only if they keep their mouths shut"

BC SPCA salutes its 4,00 volunteers

If only that were true, but sadly, it is not. Over the years many caring
dedicated volunteers have been terminated or have quit because they dared
to 'speak for the animals' when the SPCA would not.

In the latter months of 2010, at the Surrey Shelter, 2 volunteers were fired
and at least 10 others left voluntarily because of the euthanization of a much
loved dog named Titan. More time was requested for Titan and alternatives given
but the SPCA would have none of it. He was to be disposed of and so he was.

Volunteers are useful only if they keep their mouths shut. Power and control
are of utmost importance to the SPCA and it matters not how much a volunteer
contributes to the animals' well-being the SPCA will not tolerate dissent.

After being contacted the SPCA's own Board of Directors would not look into
Titan's case. Apparently they stand as one and they too entertain no dissent.

To honestly value the volunteers the SPCA would need to listen to the people
who know the animals well, abandon their quasi-military style of operation and
treat volunteers as near equals, not mere pawns.

Until then, I don't believe it because I know better, I've been there.

B. Pengelly

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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