In June I was so interested to read in the Vancouver Sun that SPCA P.R. person, Lorie Chortyk, guaranteed after-sales service for dogs with behaviour problems, that I did a little checking.

The Sun story was of a young person who bought a German shepherd pup from the SPCA's retail center at a Petcetera, even though she lives in a one-bedroom apartment. Was there a home check made? She doesn't say. She calls her dog a "rescue" dog. In what way? The SPCA got some pups for free from somewhere and sold them through one of its retail centers.

Then the pup develops aggression problems. The puff piece goes on to quote Chortyk, "We only adopt out dogs who are deemed to have no 'problem' issues or ones which has some minor issues. When there are minor issues, we provide all the information on the kind of environment/training/rehab the dog will need and provide follow-up support if need. We also have information on our website [www.spca.bc.ca] to support adopters."

I phoned the Burnaby SPCA and told them that I had "adopted" a large, mixed breed dog from them last year that was now acting aggressive to children. I was offered no help and it was intimated that if I brought the dog back they would "probably" have to "put it down". I persisted in asking for advice and was told to phone SPCA head office. I did, and I was told by Nadine Gourkow to phone Barry McKnight. I did, and McKnight offered no training, no rehabilitation, not even any tips. Again there was the intimation that if I brought back my "damaged goods", that it would be "disposed of". (The indifference and callousness that was the hallmark of the SPCA in the recent past has been replaced with some expressions of regret, so the SPCA has improved its P.R. in this respect.)