THE WATCHDOG

I tried last year to get the SPCA to go to a reserve in Chilliwack to investigate what was thought to be pitbull fighting

Posted By: Lesa Ibarra
Date: Friday, 24 February 2006, at 7:38 a.m.

In Response To: A Snowball's chance.... *PIC* (AAS)

I as well have been told by the SPCA that they can not go on the reserves, several times. What goes on at the reserves is unforgivable. I tried last year to get the SPCA to go to a reserve in Chilliwack to investigate what was thought to be pitbull fighting. I was told by a witness that dead dogs that were thought to be "bait' dogs had been found on the riverside. Several puppies were being sold and were rescued from this reserve, all very sick. There was a dead pitbull thrown to the side the property that was "hit by a car". She was left there. Another was said to be chained to a table. Another female was wandering around\sick\ not able to walk properly\ had obviously recently had a litter, no one would help her.

When I was told of this, I called the SPCA and reported this. No they could NOT GO ON THE RESERVE.

I am SICK and TIRED of the cowards who won't stand up and call a spade a spade! And I am very angry that it turns out that I was not told the truth by the SPCA. We need to start thinking about the animals that endure the horror on reserves and say No more!

Lesa Ibarra
WATCHDOG

Yet the SPCA is still telling people who try to report abused and neglected animals on Reserves that it can't go on a Reserve

Posted By: AAS
Date: Monday, 20 February 2006, at 3:33 p.m.

In Response To: All the neutered dogs were shot because they weren't "real" dogs (Ellen Morgan)

It's not true - the SPCA's statutory powers cover every inch of BC including Reserves. It can't go on Reserves to do animal control unless it has a contract with the Reserve to do animal control, but that is true of anywhere - of course no one can do animal control where they don't have a contract to do it. This is not rocket science. Yet the SPCA successfully uses this line to refuse to investigate animal abuse on Reserves.

What is the SPCA doing to encourage better treatment of animals on Reserves? It is not easy to change entrenched cultural ideas and habits as these posts all show. But the SPCA has a lot of power, and it's been given money to tackle the problem. The SPCA's latest Strategic Plan says:
Directive #12: As a consequence of receiving a $25,000 grant from the Vancouver Foundation, set aside $5,000 in each of the next five years to provide quality humane education programs for first nations communities, focusing on pet overpopulation issues."

$5,000 a year on education about overpopulation is a fine idea and will reap benefits to animals one day, maybe ten or twenty years from now, but $50,000 a year is needed to actually sterilize Reserve animals, not just talk about it.