Animal Advocates Watchdog

We will continue to point out its mistakes, lawsuit or not
In Response To: Rough times for SPCA ()

Many thanks to Amy O'Brian for her comprehensive piece "Rough Times For SPCA", March 31, 2005.

As one of the BC SPCA's "critics", I would like to respond to BC SPCA CEO Craig Daniell's comment that we are "short on solutions". Animal Advocates Society has offered the BC SPCA many times to pay the vet bills and rehabilitate sick or old or otherwise "unadoptable" animals. We have never been taken up on our offers, and in many cases the animals we offered to help were killed by the BC SPCA.

We have offered our database of puppy mills and protection dog breeders so that the BC SPCA may use it to ask for control of breeding legislation. Our offer was ignored.

Beginning in the mid 1990's, Animal Advocates Society had its own Humane Treatment of Dogs Bylaw adopted in eleven Lower Mainland municipalities, in an effort to relieve the suffering of yard dogs. We know of no instance where the SPCA has ever enforced it. Dogs still suffer on chains in municipalities where this bylaw exists, and the SPCA still tells complainants that it cannot act as the law isn't good enough.

In 1997 Animal Advocates Society attempted to have its Humane Treatment of Dogs bylaw adopted province-wide, so that the provincial Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act would allow it to be enforced anywhere in BC. The SPCA stopped it.

Animal Advocates Society has never once said that it wishes to see the BC SPCA destroyed. Our goal is to reform the BC SPCA so that it truly serves animals in this province. And as reluctant critics, we have slowly forced it towards this goal. We will continue to point out its mistakes, lawsuit or not, until it gets it right. We do this for the animals, as they deserve a strong voice to speak for them, but it must be a voice with integrity.

Jennifer Dickson
Animal Advocates Society of BC
Defendant in the BC SPCA defamation lawsuit against Animal Advocates Society of BC

Messages In This Thread

Rough times for SPCA
SPCA Speaking for Animals - Which animals?
What are the SPCA's "euthanasia" stats for rabbits and all the other unnoticed little "pets"?
I hope for the sake of the animals that the SPCA has changed in the last few years
Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind's made up
You're missing the purpose of the test
It is you who has missed the point
Dogs need a better test then a stranger wanting to see their aggression
Critics are short on solutions?
Critics ARE proposing viable solutions to the BC SPCA !
I believe that by aligning oneself with such a business the BC SPCA is somewhat culpable
The SPCA took our old cat without our knowing and killed him
We will continue to point out its mistakes, lawsuit or not
I guess Mr Daniell missed the many solutions offered by his critics, so here are a few...
Does this mean the B.C. SPCA's Community Consultation was a waste of time and money?

Share