I never cease to be amazed at the short-sightedness of people, especially those on municipal councils who should know better.

The City of Nanaimo made a grant of $25,000 to the Nanaimo Region SPCA in May 2002 towards the cost of a spay/neuter programme (SNIP). Funding was also received from a private donor (Marjorie's Fund) and area veterinarians. An application was made for continuing funding in 2003, but this was declined. So much suffering is relieved at a relatively trivial cost by grants for spay/neuter programmes. Meanwhile the City of Nanaimo has given land worth over $1 million to a US developer to build a hotel. Sadly, I guess our animals are not as important as US developers.

I hope that the Regional District of the North Okanagan will respond to the needs of animals and give the Vernon & District Animal Care Society everything that it is requesting. Also many thanks to Hazel for all that she is doing for the cats.