Protesters want watchdog on SPCA

Surrey News, April 29, 2006

Marissa Babic

Accompanied by a horse, animal rights activists protested at BCSPCA headquarters in Vancouver on Friday alleging harassment by the society that's charged with the prevention of cruelty to animals.

Petra Smith, owner of Brighter Day s Horse Rescue Centre in Surrey, was among the protesters.

Smith, who has had her troubles with the Surrey SPCA, said the demonstration was held to expose what they call the SPCA's heavy-handed tactics against operators of animal welfare centres.

The protesters want the province to set up an independent government organization to oversee animal welfare.

"We just want a government body to control the SPCA a little bit. We believe they're misusing their powers", Smith said.

"We want the SPCA to be more accountable for its actions."

Smith said officials from the Surrey SPCA have paid several visits to her shelter. In the latest incident, on April 21, they investigated a complaint lodged by someone about the mistreatment of a horse in her care. She hasn't heard anything from them since.

"Why are they threatening me with taking me to court for animal abuse if nothing happens? To me, that's misusing their powers", she said.

Smith, who admits there are some "bad rescue centres out there", notes the horses at her farm arrive in pretty rough shape, and that it takes some time to nurse them back to health.

Marcie Moriarty, general manager of cruelty investigations for the BCSPCA, denies Smith's allegations.

Moriarty said the SPCA is obligated under law to investigate complaints about abused or neglected animals. She also denies that officers who visited rescue centres harass owners.

"We simply respond to complaints that we receive", she said.

Moriarty said the protesters are entitled to their views but the BCSPCA is the right agency to protect the welfare of animals.

"We are the appropriate body and we work very hard to carry out our mandate under the provincial cruelty to animals act", she said.

Donna Liberson, spokeswoman for the Animal Rights Coalition, said the coalition supports the campaign for a government body to oversee animal welfare.

Liberson describes the coalition's mandate as one of a watchdog over the SPCA.

"We're here to defend the animals against the SPC, that's our main job", she said.