Dear Editor

Re: Trevor Lautens column Friday, July 4, 2008

Congratulations to Trevor Lautens for alerting the public to the incomprehensible SPCA lawsuit against North Shore-based Animal Advocates. Having adopted three dogs from this wonderful and compassionate organization, I can personally attest to the single-minded dedication of Judy Stone toward the rehabilitation and re-homing of abused, neglected, and abandoned dogs. Ms. Stone has always emphasized that she has no wish to damage the SPCA with her comments; she merely wants the SPCA to reform its practices.

I would like to know the answers to two questions: What does the SPCA think can be gained in destroying a small, grassroots animal rescue organization by forcing its president into bankruptcy defending an egregious lawsuit; and where is the money coming from that the SPCA is using to support the lawsuit? (Ms. Stone has not used public donations to defend herself, because that would violate her personal code of ethics, and she is prepared to lose her house and all her savings over that issue.)

In a perfect world, the SPCA would recognize the contributions of small rescue groups like Animal Advocates toward the prevention of cruelty to animals, but sadly, it doesn’t look like that is going to happen. As Mr. Lautens says, free speech is never free. The cost to the citizens of the North Shore may well be the loss of a wonderful community-based animal rescue organization that has been trying, with its comments, to influence the SPCA to improve its practices.

Colin MacKay
North Vancouver, BC