I would like Vernon and area residents to be aware of my concerns regarding the operation of the local B.C. SPCA premises.

I have lived in this area for 28 years on our farm a few miles out of town. I remember the days of animals being dropped off on the highway, thrown out in farm areas, or being taken to Gertie Miller's house in Vernon and left there. There was no group or facility responsible for these animals or those which were injured or needed care. The fundraising began and the area communities built the local animal shelter which is now occupied by the B.C. SPCA on Haney Road. A few years later the community again raised funds and purchased a vehicle for that facility.

My concerns are as follows.

* Dog control has been contracted out to a private business at a location separate from where the B.C. SPCA is located.

* The Animal Care Society runs a cat rescue operation at yet another location.

* B.C. SPCA will not deal with injured cats.

* There is no certified Animal Protection Officers working out of the Vernon location anymore.

* The B.C. SPCA has lost valuable long-term staff since the operation has been run out of Kelowna.

* The B.C. SPCA has drastically reduced the hours of operation at the Vernon location and it has become a part-time operation.

I question the effectiveness of all these functions not being provided out of one locally controlled operation as it was in days of the local SPCA, before the B.C. SPCA assumed control.

Pat Peebles

Pat Peebles is a former Vernon SPCA Community Advisory Council Chair