The BC SPCA's unadvertised "public" meeting concerning their planned changes for the Vernon shelter was attended by about 50 people, many of whom were Head Office or Kelowna and Vernon SPCA staff members. CEO Craig Daniell, President Mary Lou Troman, General Manager of Cruelty Investigations Marcie Moriarty, General Manager of Community Relations Lorie Chortyk, General Manager of Operations Bob Busch, Animal Protection Officers Kathy Woodward and Brad Kuich, Interior Central Regional Director Bonnie Bischoff and a retinue of lesser lights attempted to turn the meeting into a self-promoting, self-congratulatory love-in for themselves. A fostering and fundraising volunteer and several BC SPCA Life Members asked why they had not been informed of the meeting. President Mary Lou Troman smilingly replied "we're not perfect" and stressed how very overworked the four shelter staff members and the three members of the Vernon Community Council were.
Repeated attempts to get straight answers to questions were deflected by Mary Lou's longwinded bafflegab. At one point Craig Daniell, promoting the Society's shortsighted answer to cat overpopulation (PetExpress), remarked that cats transported to Victoria would be adopted "over a weekend". Two minutes later, however, Vernon Manager Diane McKeown and Mary Lou Troman were saying that all shelters and humane societies in the province are bulging with cats. When I attempted to get a clarification of these contradictory statements, I got the usual backtracking and verbal obfuscation. I really came away with the impression that none of these people has a clue what they're saying; they just babble.
The Strategic Action Plan document is "fluid". The copy that has been circulated to a select few is "from last April" and many amendments to it are being made as branches submit suggestions for changes. So no wonder the brass appear to babble - an organization with a "fluid" strategic plan must be awfully hard to figure out - even for Head Office. Mary Lou, however, assures us that the changes to the shelter will not significantly impact local services. It's wonderful what a little media attention can do. An informed source told me that the original plan was to close the shelter completely to the surrendering and adopting public. Then, when the news started to trickle out, the plan was changed to opening one afternoon per week. Now, because of media attention, they have reverted to the four afternoons per week that they have been open for the last few weeks.
The attached press release covers the most important aspects for local animals. After the meeting, I urged Pat Raines, the Vernon SPCA Chair, to establish a spay/neuter fund for the animals at the shelter. I assured her that people would donate to it. Unfortunately, she replied that it is the responsibility of the new owner to spay or neuter his newly adopted pet.
Face to face encounters with anyone from the BC SPCA are a waste of time and energy.
Heather Pettit