Amanda Muir used to be the SPCA's Golden Girl. Less than a year ago she bravely handled a potentially disasterous situation involving a Rottweiler. She sustained severe bitewounds and the SPCA got a lot of good publicity, which equals increased donations.
Since that incident, Muir has been commended by the SPCA time and again for her professionalism and dedication to her job.
From the BC SPCA FastTrack June 20, 2003:
“Amanda is one of our most outstanding employees.....She always goes the extra mile ensuring every dog is walked before she leaves for the day, ensuring animals are fostered as needed and works closely with rescue groups to save the lives of more shelter animals.”
Not only that, but just last month Amanda Muir was honoured and given an award for heroism at the 2004 Delta Police Awards. And because she is a person whose moral compass is pointed in the right direction, she used her few moments of fame to educate the public on the cruelty of keeping dogs as cheap alarm systems.
But few who are truly animal-centered can work long at the SPCA, and Amanda is one of them that the animal have lost because of her principles. Amanda has proven that her loyalty lies with the animals, NOT the SPCA, and for this she had been dethroned by the SPCA and now risks being prosecuted by it unless she compromises her values.
Until yesterday, Amanda Muir had been volunteering steadily at the Delta SPCA through her recouperation. She has now been told by the SPCA not to return. Once the SPCA's hero, she now waits to see if the SPCA is going to attempt to criminalize her. All because she spoke for one who could not speak for himself.
BC SPCA FAST TRACK June 20 2003
Amanda’s actions immediately following the attack are a testament to her professionalism. Although she was in tremendous pain and bleeding profusely from her injuries, she managed to maintain a grip on the dog’s collar in an effort to prevent it from attacking bystanders, including a group of schoolchildren.
“Amanda is one of our most outstanding employees,” says Cindy Soules, Fraser Valley Regional Manager for the BC SPCA. “She always goes the extra mile ensuring every dog is walked before she leaves for the day, ensuring animals are fostered as needed and works closely with rescue groups to save the lives of more shelter animals.”
On behalf of everyone at the SPCA, we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Amanda and wish her a speedy recovery.
Amanda Muir Update
Amanda Muir, the Delta SPCA officer who was savagely bitten by a Rottweiler, is recovering from her injuries at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster. She was taking the injured dog to the Tsawwassen Animal Hospital when it attacked her, inflicting severe lacerations and compound fractures to both her arms. Her injuries, though significant, are not considered life-threatening. She has undergone surgery on one arm and another surgery is planned in the next few days.
BC SPCA FAST TRACK August 25 2003
Amanda Muir Sends Thanks to Well Wishers
Despite a number of setbacks in her recovery and some additional skin grafts to come, Amanda is optimistic about her recovery and anxious to return to work. She has been visiting the Delta Shelter weekly to spend time with the animals.
Amanda Muir, the Delta SPCA staff member who sustained serious injuries to both arms in a dog attack in July, has asked us to pass along her thanks and appreciation to colleagues for all the get well cards, prayers and good wishes she has received since the attack. “I was amazed by the outpouring of support and I want people to know how much it meant to me. I especially would like to thank all the Vancouver and hospital staff/management who baked, cooked, and sent along a generous supply of Save-On Foods gift certificates so that I would be well fed while I healed.” Amanda says she wishes she could thank people individually but has not yet recovered to the point where she can type or write without significant pain.
BC SPCA FAST TRACK May 31 2004
Amanda Muir Receives Honour in Delta
Delta SPCA worker Amanda Muir was honoured at the 2004 Delta Police Awards in Ladner last week. Amanda received an award for her heroic efforts to protect the public from harm when an injured Rottweiler she was transporting became frightened and began attacking her in a public area with children and other members of the public nearby. Amanda was seriously injured in the attack but managed to restrain the dog so that he did not hurt anyone else in the crowd. Despite her extensive injuries, Amanda publicly expressed her compassion for the dog, who had been kept as an unsocialized guard dog. She also used the opportunity to carry out numerous media interviews to educate the public about the inherent cruelty and dangers of keeping dogs solely as guard animals.