"Chortyk said the SPCA can provide services others can’t, particularly around cruelty investigations, night emergencies and with its assessment program for animal temperament."

Unless Ms Chortyk was misquoted, this is a very disingenuous thing to say. Yet the SPCA has been saying it since 2000 when it first began battling to keep dog control contracts.

Just for the record: the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is a provincial statute which covers every inch of BC (including reserves), regardless of whether the SPCA has a branch in the area or not.

Enforcement of the PCA Act has no relation to pound contracts.

Yet the SPCA trots out this argument every time.

As for the assessment test: We are told frequently about dogs that have unresolved problems, some of them serious biting and aggression problems, but are rehomed anyway. We are also told about other examples of sloppy, or too-quick, or indifferent rehoming. Just yesterday we were phoned by a 67 year-old women with a bad back who was sold a young, high-energy husky cross. The dog is going nuts because of lack of exercise and stimulation and is digging holes in the backyard. What's it doing in the backyard long enough to dig holes? The SPCA offered no advice or help - just that the woman can bring the dog back if she wants. Nice for the dog! Where is the after-sales rehabilitation service that rehomed dogs have a right to? And can this kind rehoming properly be called an adoption?