I'm confused.
The BC SPCA's policy statements, which includes #43 re: feral cats, was appproved in January 2002. That was almost four years ago! What changes has it made in that time?

Among other things, the SPCA says it will target education to focus on the prevention of abandonment, advocate mandatory spay/neuter and mandatory identification by-laws, and highlight the criminal aspects of abandonment.

Given the SPCA's track record of ignoring the plight of chained yard dogs, who are very visible and easy to remove, I can't see the SPCA pursuing criminally the people who abandon their cats.

The SPCA says it will offer greater encouragement for the relinquishment of cats to shelters. And then what? What will it do with all those cats? Hmmm?

The SPCA will work more co-operatively with cat rescue groups. Oh really? It only names named three. I wonder why? The SPCA has a bad reputation with cat rescues, generally. It ignores them, or harasses them, or belittles them.

In the case of Bev Parent, a well-respected cat rescuer, the SPCA's p.r. person, Lori Chortyk, demeaned Ms. Parent, and referred to her as a "hoarder" while the woman was dying of burns she sustained in a house fire, while she was trying to save her rescued cats.

The SPCA will explore and research reproductive control measures. Oh - rocket science! Sure, spay/neuter is too difficult a concept - let's research it some more!

The SPCA will "promote affordable sterilization and aims to work in collaboration with legitimate cat rescue organizations and appropriate individuals to facilitate ongoing live trapping, neutering, vaccination and proper care of feral adult cats."

Who will decide what is a "legitimate organization" and who is an "appropriate individual?" The SPCA will decide, of course. Then it can control (or so it may think it will control) the cat rescuers, (who work for free) as well.

The SPCA helping feral cats. Let it be seen, to be believed.