Boy, would I support a strike if there was one for better conditions for animals at the SPCA, the same reason I support the teacher's strike, for better conditions for the children! Like I said in my interview with the Sun, I don't care about any pay raise, even if my union harps about it and even if it's in the media all the time, what I do care about is better working conditions for myself and the students I teach. I can't help but wonder why the workers who work at the SPCA haven't gone on strike yet! How awful can it be for them to watch dogs deteriorate in the shelters? How awful can it be for them to watch some dog with behaviour problems also deteriorate in shelters, and wonder where the heck that dog is ever going to find a home, let alone a 'good' home? How awful can it be taking in countless cats and bunnies and wonder where they are going to end up? And how can it be for those workers to tell the public they are a no-kill shelter and then turn around try to make an excuse up for why they have to kill, kill, kill.

If I were an SPCA worker, I'd sure demand better working conditions. Less animals coming in and those going out (not in body bags) are in sound mind and body so that adopting those animals out is satisfying (meaning you know you are giving a great dog to a great family). And if there were less animals coming in, the SPCA workers could do real 'adoptions' : Home checks to make sure that the dog is being placed in the appropriate homes. Follow up home visits to make sure the dog isn't on a chain or left out in a yard. After adoption help with problems.

And instead of all those countless cruelty investigations, wouldn't it be a lot easier on those workers if they were investigating breeder? (This is why I keep harping about breeder licenses.) Visiting homes where puppies are said to be sold to make sure the facilities are clean and checking the parents out to make sure they are sound and well taken care of.

Boy, would I support an SPCA strike!
Lori Cumiskey