The Sun,
Dear Editor:
In Mr. Craig Daniell's letter of Jan.22nd, he states that had it not been for the SPCA "Nearly 2000 deer, birds, river otters and other wildlife would have died of injuries instead of being rehabilitated and released back into the wild." In this statement, Mr. Daniell implies that the SPCA has rehabilitated these wild creatures, which is simply not true. Injured and orphaned wild creatures that come to the SPCA are turned over to wildlife rescue groups such as Wildlife Rescue Association and Critter Care Wildlife Society. It is these wildlife organizations that do the time-consuming and costly rehabilitation of the wild creatures and their eventual release, not the SPCA. These wildlife rehabilitation organizations also rely on donations to carry on their work, so it is important that Mr. Daniell acknowledge their work and not give the false impression that the SPCA does wildlife rehabilitation.
In regard to Mr. Daniell's complaint of criticisms from "animal activists", much of the improvement of the B.C.SPCA in recent years has come about because of the criticisms of people who are concerned about the welfare of animals. Mr. Daniell should welcome the imput of these people, not regard them as the enemy. We are all on the same side, are we not?
Dorothy Beddows,Langley, B.C.