Dear Editor,
As one of the people named in the SPCA lawsuit, I am extremely disappointed. There are many people who are extremely concerned about the way the SPCA is run. Although I am sure there are some at the SPCA who work very hard and I can not begin to imagine the stresses of their job, there are also some real concerns about what is going on, and I think it very important on behalf of the animals to question some of their practices.

I am concerned about some dogs (and I'm sure the same goes for cats) who are euthanized and why some are and some aren't. Although I certainly understand that the SPCA wants to keep the public safe, I wonder about the tests being used and how valid they are? The 'Cheech' incident in Delta brought about many concerns from citizens, and I wonder why this dog was tested 3 times and then decided was aggressive? Why so many times and how often does this go on with other dogs?

A year and a half ago, I attended a conference on dogs with some very noted dog behaviourists. I listened to Sue Sternberg speak who described a lengthy assessment process she uses on dogs before she decides whether a dog is dangerous, and importantly she makes sure that the dog has had a fair amount of time to settle into her shelter before being tested, and most importantly she has small rooms where the dogs stay with old couches that make the dog's stay there humane and liveable. To my knowledge, no SPCA top personnel were there to hear this wealth of resources. Does the SPCA make sure that the dogs live in conditions that are not so stressful for the dogs that they tamper with the results of an assessment test, and are the dogs given sufficient time at the spca before they are tested?

Not only that I am very concerned about the numbers of dogs at various shelters. There are just way too many dogs looking for homes, and way too many dogs with behaviour issues looking for experienced homes, and there are simply not enough homes like that out there. I feel that the SPCA needs to be taking a much more proactive approach to stopping backyard breeders. I don't think the SPCA has gone after one backyard breeder, maybe because there is not enough interest from the media. The SPCA seizes expensive purebred dogs from puppymills, not the big cross breeds from backyard breeders that pounds and SPCA's are full of and the SPCA is killing.

I am sorry that the SPCA has chosen to sue a well-known group (Animal Advocates) as they work hard and spend every single donation penny on dogs that need their assistance that often the SPCA would not help. I am also sorry the SPCA has chosen to sue me -- I have fostered many cats and kittens over the years for the SPCA and have spent a lot of money out of my own pocket on food and medical care for these animals as I felt the SPCA was 'cash strapped' for donations. Perhaps they could save their money suing me, and spend the money on all the animals that I have fostered, as well as the animals in their facilities instead.

Lori Cumiskey
Vancouver, BC