More must be done to put bite on puppy mills
The Province
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Page: A19
Section: Editorial
Byline: Lori Cumiskey
Source: The Province

I think it's about time the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals went under the microscope.
I have volunteered with various shelters (SPCA, city pound) and there are simply not enough good homes out there for all the animals that come in.
Why has the SPCA not done more, such as institute a breeding bylaw for dogs whereby people advertising and breeding need to have a licence to do so?
Why has the SPCA not made the living conditions for the animals more livable?
I am sure most volunteers would bend over backwards to raise funds for such a cause. Although there are little dog beds now in the kennels, it is still the most stressful place for a dog or cat.
The SPCA should do much more to curb the backyard breeding of dogs and close down the notorious puppy mills and puppy brokers still operating in B.C.
They would certainly win my support if they were more proactive.
The SPCA still has a long way to go.
Lori Cumiskey,
Vancouver
Need laws for dog owners

Editor, The Record (New Westminster):
Subject: Dog bites girl in Queensborough

I have volunteered at various local shelters and worked with many larger dogs of mixed breeds.

The lack of knowledge about dog behaviour amazes me.

So many people buy cute little puppies and have no idea what they are getting themselves into.

Dogs are social animals who need to be socialized no matter what age they are. It is especially important to do this when they are puppies.

A dog who is not socialized is a fearful dog and it is a fearful dog who attaches regardless of breed(s). Unfortunately it is the bigger breeds that people leave out in yards, pen or chain up which leads to problems.

After reading noted behaviorists, Dr. Ian Dunbar and Jean Donaldson, I can’t stress enough how dangerous it is to leave dogs outside all the time without having a chance to be around people, children, etc.

Dr. Dunbar, in his video on dog biting states, “It is the domestic dog (that is unsocialized) that is much more dangerous than a wolf.”

How would the owner of this dog know he or she owned a vicious dog if it’s penned up 24 hours a day? The dog is never with the owner.

I most definitely blame the SPCA for not pushing for laws to make it illegal to pen, or chain up dogs. And I blame the SPCA for not shutting down the many puppy mills in the Lower Mainland where it is far too easy for anyone to buy a dog.

It is not the owners I blame as there are always, always going to be irresponsible people who buy dogs from other irresponsible people.

We need laws in place to protect not only the dogs’ well being, but that of the citizens.

If I was that mother, I’d be phoning the SPCA demanding an explanation as to how this owner got this dog in the first place, and why it wasn’t illegal to pen the dog up.

It is a formula for disaster and I’m amazed that more dog bites don’t happen. And the SPCA knows it.

Lori Cumisky,
New Westminster

Now the SPCA has finally gone to a no-kill policy
Vancouver Sun, 2001

Now the SPCA has finally gone to a no-kill policy, it has to find ways to make this goal attainable. Perhaps municipalities will finally implement a control-of-breeding bylaw and put a stop to the huge numbers of backyard breeders and breeders in general.

I cannot wait for the day breeders have to be licensed and can only breed their animals so many times a year. They would have to list their license number when advertising. Perhaps the SPCA could collect a hefty fee for those licenses to pay for all the dogs dumped on them.

Many breeders are interested only in collecting their money for those cute puppies. They don’t really care who buys the puppies or whether the market is saturated and thousands of dogs are sitting at shelters.

Perhaps people will consider more carefully the time and commitment any animal takes, especially a dog. No more dropping an animal off because they divorced, moved or had a new baby.

Thank goodness for the pressure from the public and volunteers to make sure animals are treated in a humane and ethical way.

Lori Cumiskey
New Westminster