"short on solutions"? Does this mean the B.C. SPCA's Community Consultation was a waste of time and money?

"BC SPCA COMMUNITY CONSULTATION
Summary Report & Recommendations - Index

Presented by the Independent Panel Marguerite Vogel, Chair

Panel Members:
Hon. Kim Husband
Mike Woodworth
Dr. Ken Langelier, D.V.M.
Joan McArthur-Blair

November 3rd, 2001

Background
The BC SPCA Community Consultation was initiated in June 2001 to seek public input on animal welfare issues. The four-month consultation solicited feedback from more than 1,000 individuals around the province on issues ranging from tougher enforcement of anti-cruelty laws to solutions to BC's serious pet overpopulation problem.

The process was led by an independent panel chaired by Marguerite Vogel, President of the Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada and Director of the Western and Territories Region for the CRTC.

Summary Report & Recommendations

Executive Summary

Background
On June 1, 2001 the BC SPCA launched a community consultation throughout the province to seek input on animal welfare issues and to assist the Society to define its future role. The stated objective of the consultation was to engage British Columbians - critics as well as supporters - in constructive dialogue that would lead to a new publicly supported model of animal care and protection in BC.

The consultation process was led by an independent panel chaired by Marguerite Vogel, the current President of the Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada, and Director of the Western and Territories Region of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Also on the panel was the Honourable Kim Husband who, until this past summer, served for twenty-three years as Provincial Court Judge. Local panelists joined the independent panel in three regions of the province - Mike Woodworth, News Director for CKPG-TV in Prince George, Dr. Ken Langelier, D.V.M., Island Veterinary Hospital in Nanaimo, and Joan McArthur- Blair, Vice-President, Vancouver Community College in Vancouver. These panelists attended the public hearing in their cities and contributed a local perspective to the proceedings.

The public consultation process took place between June and October of this year and proceeded in three stages:

1. Submissions
The BC SPCA invited members of the public, volunteers, staff, municipalities and groups with a special interest in animal welfare to offer their feedback through written submissions, emails, faxes and through a special 1-800 number. To assist people to engage in the consultation, the BC SPCA proposed a number of topics on which participants could comment. These topics were published on the BC SPCA website, in brochures and posters that were distributed to all staff and volunteers and communities across the province. Paid advertisements and media coverage also publicized the community consultation.

2. Deliberative Dialogues
As part of the public consultation process, the BC SPCA trained staff and volunteers in a process called deliberative dialogue. This process encourages people to reach common ground on issues or problems in a way that is collaborative and positive rather than confrontational. Three deliberative dialogues were held on enforcement of the PCA Act, with a focus on how the BC SPCA could be more effective in enforcing anti-cruelty laws. Dialogue participants included representatives from: BC SPCA field operations, animal care and education; the legal and law enforcement professions; the City of Vancouver, and concerned citizens. A deliberative dialogue with BC SPCA staff and volunteers and members of local animal rescue groups was also held on pet overpopulation. Recommendations from these dialogues have been integrated into the Community Consultation Summary Report and Recommendations (the report).

3. Public Hearings
Public hearings were held in six locations in BC - Prince George, Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Vancouver and Chilliwack. In each location, the panel toured the local shelter and met with staff and board members to discuss their work and the particular animal welfare challenges in their region. In the afternoon and evening, the panel listened to presentations from members of the public who came to express their views.

Certain topics emerged as areas of key importance, drawing high numbers of submissions. For example, the role of Animal Shelters, Enforcement of the PCA Act and Pet Overpopulation account for approximately 35% of submissions, with Animal Shelters drawing the strongest response. Feedback regarding Education and Animal Control issues account for approximately 25% of submissions. Comments pertaining to Feral Cats, Wildlife, Agricultural Animals, Accountability and Advocacy account for another 25%, and the remaining 15% address First Nations, Human-Animal Bond, Animals in Entertainment and Exotic Species.

Observations and Themes
In total more than a thousand people took part in this community consultation. The independent panel found the quality of submissions impressive. Most participants provided informed and constructive feedback on a range of issues. There was a remarkable similarity in feedback throughout the province, regardless of region. Several themes emerged in both written and oral submissions.

There are voices of dissent. But even dissenters believe the BC SPCA should continue to be the primary animal protection agency in BC. There is also a great deal of goodwill among donors and volunteers. However, their collective sense of trust and confidence needs to be restored and the BC SPCA can only accomplish this by taking action in areas where critics see shortcomings.

The public expects the BC SPCA to live up to its name. It is the view of the panel that initiatives that increase the BC SPCA's ability to prevent cruelty to, and promote animal welfare of animals should be pursued vigorously and transparently. Initiatives, however, that detract from, or drain resources or energy from this mission should be discontinued as soon as possible.

The public is deeply disturbed about the conditions of animals that need protection - from tethered dogs to animals at auction. They believe that in enforcing the PCA Act, the BC SPCA has taken a baseline approach to care - adequate food water and shelter - and has not considered the psychological needs of animals in its interpretation of the Act's neglect provisions. The panel has formulated a number of specific recommendations focused on strengthening enforcement of anti-cruelty statutes. A key recommendation is that the BC SPCA creates internal species-specific standards and definitions by which it will enforce the Act. Integral to this recommendation is that the BC SPCA defines what constitutes "neglect" with more precision.

There is serious concern over the condition of BC SPCA animal shelters, the level of care provided to shelter animals and the attitude and performance of staff. The panel traveled to six regions of the province and could see that there is a pool of talented and dedicated staff and volunteers. However, the panel was also disturbed by the wide disparity in the resources available to branches in different parts of the province, and the inconsistencies in the care of shelter animals and in operational practices.

It is clear that the BC SPCA needs to apply higher and more consistent standards of animal care at its shelters and provide more services than are currently offered. In particular, the panel sees room for a lot of improvement in the housing of shelter animals, in levels of customer service, and in adoption procedures. The Society must, in the very near term, address the substandard condition of some of its older shelters.

The concept of no-kill shelters was brought up in submissions, but it became clear that the term no-kill needed definition. No-kill shelters, in many cases, means "not killed here". In fact, animals are still killed but not on shelter premises. The panel believes that no kill shelters, if taken literally, may be in conflict with the humane treatment of some animals. The BC SPCA's goal should be that no adoptable animal will be euthanized.

The role of volunteers is a subject that surfaced throughout the submissions. There is genuine concern on the part of volunteers for the humane treatment of shelter animals. Volunteers are willing and ready to work in a more collaborative relationship with shelter staff. However, it appears that they are often discouraged in their efforts to integrate into the organization. Volunteers are a valuable resource and one that the BC SPCA needs in order to survive. It is clear that the Society has to do a much better job of integrating volunteers into its branches. The panel recommends that improved recruitment, screening and training of both staff and volunteers be established at all shelters. A commitment on the part of staff and volunteers to applying best practices in the care of shelter animals must be consistent and the norm.

The BC SPCA's role in animal control emerged as another area of concern. It is evident from submissions to the community consultation that the BC SPCA's reputation has suffered because the public perceives that the Society has put the business of animal control ahead of animal welfare. For many, animal control is in direct conflict with the BC SPCA's mission. It is the view of the independent panel that municipalities should handle animal control since they enact the by-laws that regulate, control and license animals. The independent panel recommends that the Society should seriously consider getting out of animal control as contracts expire and put additional resources into prevention of cruelty, education and advocacy - the foundation of its mission.

The public is deeply troubled by the number of surplus and unwanted animals and they want the BC SPCA to work harder to reduce pet overpopulation. They are calling on the BC SPCA to spay/neuter all shelter animals prior to adoption and to apply improved animal assessment and adoption procedures in an effort to promote pet retention. The panel supports these views and also recommends a greater focus on educational initiatives covering all aspects of responsible pet guardianship.

The panel suggests that the BC SPCA shouldn't try to do all that needs to be done by itself. Rather, the Society needs to seek out specialists and form alliances with them to prevent cruelty to all species. There is much to gain by strengthening partnerships with other animal welfare groups, with local veterinarians, with law enforcement agencies and with municipalities.

Underpinning all submissions is a unified appeal by the public for the BC SPCA to provide much more education - in schools at all levels, through the media, videos, the website, and at all SPCA shelters. The panel believes that education should be of the highest priority in the BC SPCA's work. Failure to prevent cruelty is costly in terms of harm to the very animals the Society seeks and is obliged to protect, and in terms of the costs involved in prosecuting offenders. Education is by far the best means of promoting animal welfare and preventing cruelty to animals.

Organization of the report
The report is organized topically. Under each topic we describe the issue, give a summary of public feedback and articulate the independent panel's recommendations. A table summarizing the recommendations is included as an appendix to the report. Although the recommendations may appear to be focused on dogs and cats, other species should be read in as being included in general recommendations. Recommendations are identified as urgent (next 3 to 6 months), short-term (next six months to one year) and long-term (beyond one year). In terms of these time frames - the panel intends that the recommendations be started in that time frame - not necessarily completed. It is up to the BC SPCA to develop strategic action plans to carry out specific recommendations.

Conclusion
The Community Consultation Summary Report is based on public feedback. The feedback from the consultation is unlike a scientific survey because it is largely anecdotal. The responses do not constitute a "representative sample" in scientific research terms. However, the feedback is crucially important to the BC SPCA because it identifies and measures expectations that exist in the community.

The public was very appreciative of the opportunity to express their views and concerns. They were grateful that the BC SPCA was willing to listen to them. They invested much time, thought and energy in making submissions and they intend to hold the BC SPCA accountable.

The panel believes that the BC SPCA can win back public support by taking concrete action in response to the recommendations. It is the panel's view that the recommendations are reasonable and achievable.

Once the Society develops its action plan, the panel recommends that the BC SPCA undertake a communications campaign to explain what the Society is, what it stands for and how it relates to the needs of the community. Keep the Society's supporters informed.

The panel extends its deep appreciation for being invited to serve the BC SPCA and the community in this very important process."