The state of no-kill in BC is being obscured in the same way it is being obscured everywhere. In February, BC SPCA CEO Craig Daniell wrote in the Vancouver Sun, "When the SPCA must euthanize an animal, it is for the same reason so-called “no-kill” facilities euthanize animals — to end the suffering of an animal that is beyond medical help..."

What did Mr Daniell mean by "so-called" no-kill facilities? To the reasonable person, "so-called" means that the thing named isn't what it calls itself.

What BC "facilities" is Mr Daniell referring to? There may be 200 groups rescuing animals in BC (keeping them out of SPCA facilities), some who have chosen to register for charitable status, and some who haven't, some who have facilities and some who haven't, and there are undoubtedly thousands of individuals who quietly and without any affiliation, rescue one or a few animals a year. There are also SPCA volunteers who rush animals out of SPCAs at the request of a manager or employee who fears for the animals' safety. AAS calls this body of people the alternative animal welfare network.

Is AAS one of the "so-called no-kill" facilities Mr Daniell refers to? We don't have an impound facility; we use foster homes as do most other members of the alternative animal welfare network, so perhaps not.

AAS is no-kill according to the dictionary meaning of euthanasia. In fact, one of the very first web pages AAS made when we opened our site said clearly:

We will never kill you because you’re old, ill, homely, upset, matted, withdrawn, untrusting, snapping, noisy, or poop too much. We will never label you "unadoptable", so you can be killed and forgotten, as though you never existed. And we will never kill you for your "owner" for money.

Read AAS's 'Promise and Mission Statement' at http://www.animaladvocates.com/about/promise-mission.php