Crown counsel lays animal cruelty charges against Forgotten Felines
March 26, 2009. For immediate release.

Crown counsel has laid formal charges of animal cruelty against Penny March of Forgotten Felines, a Lower Mainland-based animal group. The charges are based on evidence gathered after the BC SPCA responded to complaints that numerous cats in Forgotten Felines' care were in serious distress. Forgotten Felines director March faces one count of animal cruelty under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

"In October 2008 we responded to a complaint that there were very sick, emaciated and even dead, decomposing cats on the property," said Eileen Drever, senior animal protection officer for the BC SPCA. "When we attended the scene we found an appalling situation. The cats were suffering from life-threatening neglect and many were in critical distress." She says the constables found emaciated, dehydrated and extremely sick cats throughout the property. The bodies of two decomposing dead cats were also found. "On the recommendation of the accompanying veterinarians we removed 51 cats who needed immediate medical intervention," says Drever. The animals were rushed to a veterinary clinic, but despite round-the-clock care, five of the kittens and cats died within hours due to the critical nature of their illness. Thirty-six of the cats responded to treatment under the SPCA's care and were adopted into new homes with the assistance of other local cat rescue groups. For others, the prognosis was very poor and despite receiving ongoing treatment they were humanely euthanized to relieve their distress on the advice of a veterinarian.

"The veterinary report, which outlines the medical condition of each animal examined during the investigation, contains some of the most damning and disturbing evidence of animal neglect the SPCA has ever witnessed," says Drever. "The SPCA applauds any rescue group that takes in animals in need, and we understand that there will be sympathy toward Forgotten Felines. But it is never acceptable, either morally or under the law, for anyone to promote themselves as a charity and then to cause such horrendous suffering by withholding food, proper shelter and veterinary care. These animals were suffering and dying from starvation, dehydration, infection and illness. There is no excuse for that."

Debra Probert, executive director of the Vancouver Humane Society, said VHS fully supports the actions taken by the BC SPCA and Crown counsel in laying formal cruelty charges against Penny March. "An animal shelter must provide a high standard of care to its animals. If an animal is in distress, then obviously the facility must have the resources to deal with the situation. Good intentions are not enough."

Drever notes that the BC SPCA has tried numerous times to work with Forgotten Felines, despite ongoing complaints over the years from volunteers and visitors about neglect and cruelty at that facility. "The SPCA's approach is always to try and remedy a situation first through education and support and we have provided regular assistance to Forgotten Felines with the agreement that they only take in the number of animals they can properly care for," said Drever. "Again and again, they have violated their promises and we had no choice but to forward the disturbing evidence in this case to Crown counsel so that animals would not continue to suffer."

The non-profit BC SPCA is the only animal welfare organization in the province with the mandate and responsibility for investigating complaints of animal cruelty. Cruelty investigations and ongoing veterinary and rehabilitation costs for seized and surrendered animals are generously paid through public donations. For more information about the BC SPCA's cruelty investigations work, visit spca.bc

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For more information:
Eileen Drever, senior animal protection officer, BC SPCA, 604-709-4670;
Shawn Eccles, chief animal protection officer, BC SPCA, 604-709-4668;
Lorie Chortyk, general manager, community relations, BC SPCA, 604-647-1316.

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The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.