I am convinced now more than ever that you guys are just trying to whine about whatever you can. If you are going to try to argue a point, then you had better know what you are talking about. Especially when you're trying to bluff your way through something and the person you're trying to bluff volunteers there. The fact that you try to say the Williams Lake SPCA has dogs tethered as a means of housing just goes to prove that you are ranting instead of making a ligitamate argument. You may have very well showed up when there were dogs tied up to the fence outside, and they may have had overturned water buckets next to them. I would like you to know that when the staff clean the kennels there, the dogs are taken out of their kennels and tied up to the fence only long enough for the kennel to be dissinfected. The dogs buckets, bowls, toys and beds are also removed(which might explain an empty bucket lying on the ground, appearing to be the dogs only water source) and once the kennel has been rinsed out again, the dogs are returned to their kennel, and given new dishes. The reason that it is done this way is because the dissinfectants would irritate the dogs paws, so we obviously can't leave them in the kennel while we clean. You probably were there when we were closed if the gates were locked and you felt so inclined to ignorantly honk your horn and call the answering machine to try to get in. The hours are clearly posted on the front gate, and if you had an emergency, the answering machine has BOTH of the veterinarians emergency numbers on it. You may argue that you didn't see anyone there while you were rudely honking and that the dogs were outside for so long. Well, the staff probably continued working inside until you left because people get extremely rude when we tell them we are closed and they want in. The may try climbing over the fence to get in, and that is just not acceptable. Staff being outside only fuels these type of people'f fire. It's funny, because you don't go to the bank and honk your horn and demand to be let in on a day they are closed or to be let in a few hours early. During kennel cleaning time we are not there for ignorant people, we are there to clean the kennels. We have public hours fo a reason!

Now the issue of Erin, the dog you imply that we said should live outside. We didn't say that Erin should live outside, we said that she likes the outdoors. I think it is good for active dogs to go to homes that are going to be out and about don't you?? It was one of the things that we knew about her, and so we posted it with her information. It wouldn't be good for Erin to go to an elderly home or a home where she would be restricted inside all of the time. She likes and prefers to be outside when the weather is nice. I know you say no dog prefers to be outside looking in, and argue it all you want. I knew the dog, you didn't. Another important thing about Erin was that she had an appointment to be sayed when she was adoted, and the adopters never took her to the appointment. No, we didn't check to verify her spay right away like we should have. We get busy too, and things come up. We did however to a check up call with the family a little while after the adoption, and they didn't tell us about the puppies. Now it may be easy down at the coast to do home check up visits, and I wish that we had the time and money to do that, but up here, we adopt to people who live 400 miles away from Williams Lake. We are the closest shelter to them. Unfortunately we must rely on the good old telephone and people's honesty. Sometimes we're duped, even after the questioning and applications that we go through before adoptions. We can check vet backgrounds and nothing shows up wrong. The next thing you know they're bringing the dog back after selling her 6 week old pups to the pet store, and we can't get them back, because they don't legally belong to the SPCA after the adoption contract is signed. There are just bad people out there who lie their way throughthe red tape. A happy story that you could post is how Erin has found a new home with children that love her. She gets to go out in the great outdoors with these people, and she has a new start to her life. The love her very much and include her as a family member. Why don't you write about that huh?! Why not write abot the dogs that the SPCA does find homes for?? Becuase it's not as exciting as listening to you compain? Why not write about something that you know about? If you had concerns about Williams Lake, I encourage you to try calling them, or E-mailing them. They're are open to suggestions, so bring it on. If you're so into saying what needs to be said, then talk to them. Don't cry on your message board, hiding behind your computer screen and trying to stir the pot. Contact the manager of Williams LAke and confront her personally about the dogs being tied up outside with no water. Maybe then you would know what's really going on!!

Jo Durkson