Dear Board Members:

As someone who has donated to the SPCA in various ways over the years (including having family members make donations in lieu of buying me Christmas and birthday gifts), I was distressed to learn that the SPCA is engaged in a lawsuit against Animal Advocates.

Although I cannot judge the merits of your suit on a legal basis, I can judge it on what appears to me to be a regrettable waste of resources which I, and I'm sure many other donors, thought were being used for the humane care of animals in distress, not for litigation of this nature.

I have always applauded and admired the courage of those who speak for the animals in an effort to ensure their safety and dignity. However, I am at a loss to understand what you are trying to say for the animals with this legal action against Animal Advocates. In all fairness, I did visit your website to search for the BCSPCA's version of events which led to the lawsuit but found nothing which would explain the Society's position. More is the pity because I am also left with the perception that your actions are also draining Animal Advocates of even scarcer resources than yours.

At the end of the day, despite the differences between your organizations in philosophy, policy and procedure, I thought that your espoused concern for animal welfare would have prevailed above all else. As the "Goliath" in this case, I expected that the SPCA would have shown greater leadership in trying to resolve the issues at hand before resorting to litigation.

As a result I cannot, in good conscience, continue my financial support of the SPCA while holding the perception that funds are being used in this manner. However, as of today, I have pledged monthly financial support to Animal Advocates in a modest attempt to help them mitigate the costs of doing what their life's work is meant to be -- caring for the animals, not fighting costly lawsuits.

Respectfully,
Connie Filletti
West Vancouver
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Dear Ms. Troman,
I know you must be busy so I’ll try to be brief. I have heard from many
people who no longer support the SPCA and from some who have revised
their wills to exclude the SPCA. It’s common knowledge that this
organization has had its troubles. But I’ve seen how the SPCA has tried
to silence its critics or has refused to respond to them. This cannot
help the SPCA.

One critic can be crazy; a small group can be in collusion. But when you
have a large number of critics in different organized groups such as
Animal Advocates, CYA, and the BCAWC, then people say “where there’s
smoke, there’s fire”. There are always a few critics who are irrational
and unreasonable. But the vast majority are animal lovers with valid
concerns. Their suggestions have been offered, I needn’t remind you. If
the SPCA is seen to respond, not defensively but constructively, these
critics will not just fall silent, they would applaud the improvements.
Only the very few irrational ones would continue to campaign, and they
would soon be recognized for what they are.

Paying lawyers to silence critics is not the answer. It does not
reassure the public that the SPCA has nothing to hide. What works is
caring of a kind that cannot be faked. I have in mind the Maple Ridge
SPCA. There are a few young women there who have been working there for
a couple of years now at least. They are completely dedicated and
compassionate, particularly one whose job title is, I believe,
Receptionist. She is the one people talk to when they phone or come in,
and the people see someone energetic, committed and devoted to the
animals in her care. So visitors and volunteers alike have confidence in
that shelter. The Maple Ridge SPCA enjoys the support and respect of the
community and of other rescue groups within the community. Employees
like this not only do a great service for the animals but for the SPCA
itself.

I’ve taken up enough of your time. I hope you see my point. Money spent
on lawyers will never help the SPCA the way it could if it was spent on
the animals.

Sincerely,
Brigitta MacMillan
Katie's Place Cat Shelter
Maple Ridge
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Judy Stone is not the SPCA's "worse enemy" but she is an informed and intelligent critic.
To insinuate she is the SPCA's enemy is both inflammatory and unfortunate as it suggests she is fanatical rather than analytical in her statements concerning the BC SPCA.

There are many of us who post on the Animal Advocates "The Watchdog" who believe that expressing our views publicly is driving " positive change" within the BC SPCA.

I myself have found suggestions I have made on "The Watchdog" implemented very quickly whereas when I write a letter to the Board of Directors I often receive no reply and no change is forthcoming.

Yours sincerely,

Carol Sonnex
Victoria

Board of Directors BC SPCA

Presently I find the financial priorities of the BC SPCA to be extremely concerning.

Recently 59 cats were killed rather than treated at the Kamloops SPCA and it has come to my attention that there is no spay/neuter program at the Kamloops Branch of the BC SPCA. There are other branches which also do not have a spay/neuter program.

When there is obviously a pressing need for funds to be spent saving lives and spaying and neutering can you tell me why money is being wasted suing a small society such as Animal Advocates? As this lawsuit has been going on some time I must assume considerable dollars are being spent with no noticeable return to the animals that the money was donated for.

Carol Sonnex
Victoria