March 2003 the SPCA announced no more killing for space and no more killing for cash. AAS had hammered the SPCA for these two grossly unethical practices for three years. The "moratorium on killing for space" was the direct result of some intelligent and ethical volunteers at the Vancouver SPCA going to the media with proof that the SPCA was clearing out space by mass killings of nice dogs that simply had not sold quickly enough. The only thing that has forced the SPCA to improve has been fearless people who find out the truth and say it. The "moratorium" followed the pattern of dishonesty that the SPCA is infamous for - killing dogs for space was now to be done under the rubric of poor behaviour or poor health. But there really wasn't any way to disguise the crassness of killing any pet as long as it was paid and so that nice little sideline business was discontinued.