Animal Advocates Watchdog

Maple Ridge News editor: "I hear repeatedly that volunteers are scared of opening their mouths."

Of course it's just PR! PR makes you look good without necessarily having to be good. A year ago I spoke to my local city hall about the SPCA and the press reported on it. The SPCA promptly contacted the media, and at least one editor was surprised at their attitude. The SPCA had a right to defend themselves, the editor said, but aside from an email and photo call that "attacked MacMillan herself" the editor also noted in a blog that "the e-mail I received contained a comment that really riled me up. It said that MacMillan was 'just' a volunteer"

'Justavolunteer' is a label I've heard from the SPCA ever since I got involved with them in 1999. They trot out the label when a volunteer doesn't simply toe the line and stay quiet. Criticism is NOT welcome (who said "God bless my critics, they keep me honest"?). The editor's blog ended by saying, "[The SPCA] can ignore it all they like, but I hear repeatedly that volunteers are scared of opening their mouths." Any volunteer who doesn't stay quiet is shown the door without explanation. That was my experience and the experience of others here. Disturbingly, that seems to be fine with city hall.

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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