VERNON & DISTRICT ANIMAL CARE SOCIETY

MEDIA RELEASE

September 7, 2005

BC SPCA Will Not Commit to Full Shelter Services

The BC SPCA has announced plans to convert the Vernon shelter into a holding facility for animals seized in cruelty investigations in Interior. Many people are concerned about the impact this will have on local animals.

At a public meeting last night BC SPCA President Mary Lou Troman, CEO Craig Daniell and Vernon SPCA Community Council President Pat Raines refused to give an unqualified assurance that the Vernon shelter will continue to take in abandoned and surrendered animals or attend seriously injured animals at all times. Terms “as resources allow” or “to the best of our ability” were used.

“This is extremely worrying” said Heather Pettit, President of the Vernon & District Animal Care Society. “Our group admitted 87 cats and kittens in the months of July and August which had been turned away by the SPCA. In addition, a horribly injured cat, still conscious and moaning with pain, was found by a kindhearted citizen at 2 a.m. one morning. When she phoned the SPCA emergency number she was told that nothing could be done until 8 a.m. If this is the service that is provided now, what will it be like when time, space and money are directed to housing animals from other areas.”

“Needy animals in the North Okanagan face a very bleak future” said Pettit. “I also find it disturbing that the BC SPCA shows no interest in tackling local cat overpopulation by spaying and neutering the animals at the shelter. A few thousand dollars spent on spay/neutering programs would prevent endless animal suffering.”