SPCA donations are spent in Victoria

Michael Steven
Times Colonist

Thursday, December 12, 2002

Re: "SPCA needs to control noise," letters, Dec. 5.

I would like to respond to a very serious allegation made against the B.C. SPCA in this letter.

It stated that the provincial body of the B.C. SPCA has "grabbed" away major funds held by the Victoria branch. This is a damaging and completely false allegation.

Not a single penny of funds held by the Victoria branch has been spent elsewhere by the provincial society. The B.C. SPCA is one legal entity with 31 branches around the province and therefore the society is the legal owner of any funds donated throughout B.C.

However, the practice of the B.C. SPCA is to ensure that funds designated to a particular branch remain in that community. This is the case with the Victoria branch, where designated funds remain in the capital region to help animals in need.

Sadly, when false statements like the one expressed in the letter are printed and donations to the SPCA drop off, it is the abandoned and abused animals who depend on SPCA programs and services who ultimately pay the price.

Michael Steven,
Volunteer President,
B.C. SPCA.