AAS research since January 2004, keeps showing over and over that the impression given by the BC SPCA's Violence Link Project's material, website, and promotions in the media, that there is a working system of foster homes and advice for Transition Houses, is not the case.

Recent enquiries to SPCAs to provide a safe place for a cat belonging to a woman who can't leave the abusive relationship she is in until she finds a safe place for her cat resulted in each of the SPCAs saying that they are full or have either ringworm or upper respiratory syndrome (colds) and that they do not recommend the cat stay at an SPCA. Warnings were also given that the SPCA would only take the cat for two weeks and statements that the cat might then be "adopted" or killed were made.

Nor did any of the SPCAs contacted offer the names of any other animal welfare groups that might be able to help this woman, although one of the transition houses did.

There are some exceptions that we have found, notably the Nanaimo, Powell River and Nelson SPCAs.