"We just have no way of knowing" says Shawn Eccles, in regards to the whereabouts of these hundreds of roadside zoos and places that harbour exotics.

I know I am not the only one who has complained to the SPCA about numerous operations that exploit exotics. I have reported to the local branches and I have written directly to the General Manager of Cruelty Investigations about many such operations in the Okanagan. The operations I reported were well known already by the branches I reported them to.

I'm sorry Mr. Eccles, but the old "we didn't know" story just doesn't cut it anymore.

Perhaps it's time to admit that the SPCA has been told about all the cruelty that goes on in this province, and it's okay to say that you haven't yet figured out what to do about it. We have never asked the SPCA to solve everything overnight, we have only asked that it please be honest.

To say that "we just have no way of knowing" simply isn't true. It would imply that my email to current BC SPCA CEO Craig Daniell (then Manager of Cruelty Investigations) simply shot off into space somewhere and never reached his inbox. If that is the case then I wonder who emailed a reply, promising me he'd look into things.

http://animaladvocates.com/cgi-bin/newsroom.pl/noframes/read/1726

THE WATCHDOG

More Exotics kept in questionable conditions

Posted By: Jennifer Dickson, OAWF
Date: Tuesday, 3 December 2002, at 8:58 p.m.

In Response To: 15 primates seized in raid, Vanc Sun (AAS)

Dec. 3, 2002

Craig Daniell
General Manager of Cruelty Investigations

Re: 15 primates seized from property in Kaslo, B.C.

Dear Mr. Daniell:

I am pleased to hear of the seizure of a large quantity of neglected animals from a property in Kaslo by the BCSPCA.

I do hope the BCSPCA is successful in bringing charges against this person. The keeping of exotic animals is a moral crime that has been overlooked by the BCSPCA for far too long, and I commend you on your proactive actions in this case.

I would like to bring to your attention two other cases of primates being kept in neglectful and psychologically distressing situations. Both are in the North Okanagan, near Armstrong. The Vernon Branch SPCA is aware of both situations but has made no effort to rectify them. Instead, they have disappointingly held a branch fundraiser in which one of these facilities was invited to display.

Chickadee Ridge Miniatures, a petting farm located at 1403 McLeod Road, Armstrong, owned by Lorne Major, was invited to set up a display at the third annual Vernon SPCA "Petarama". Chickadee Ridge has for several years displayed caged exotic animals on their property and has charged admission to the public to see them. Currently they have two Japanese macaques and two coatamundi, amongst other various exotic birds and reptiles. The macaques and coatamundi are kept in large covered chain link pens. When I visited Chickadee Ridge in July of this year I was horrified by what I saw. The female macaque appeared to be very depressed and was carrying around what appeared to be a dried up husk of a body. I was told by a fellow onlooker that this was the body of her dead baby. Apparently the baby had died and the owners had been unsuccessful in retrieving the body. I also noticed that the wooden structure inside the macaques' cage (I suppose it was intended to be their "house") had styrofoam cups, paper bags, plastic utensils, and other pieces of human garbage streaming out from inside its opening.

I was very disturbed by this scene. I am disturbed that the Vernon SPCA has neglected to address the situation at Chickadee Ridge. Instead, the Vernon SPCA has promoted Chickadee Ridge by inviting it to their annual fundraising event. I find this to be very hypocritical.

There is another Japanese macaque imprisoned and on exhibit at the Log Barn Fruit Stand, 4782 Highway 97A, just north of Armstrong. The owner of this establishment is Fred Isaac. His macaque is alone in a cage on his property. Mr. Isaac does not charge an admission fee to view the macaque, but he has a large sign above the macaque's cage which reads "Monkey See Monkey Do". This sign and the cage are clearly visible from the highway, and, along with his petting farm, serve to draw tourists in, who will then spend their money at his fruit stand.

The Vernon SPCA was alerted to Mr. Isaac's business last summer by a complaint regarding two baby goats who appeared ill and neglected. A special constable from Kelowna SPCA was sent to Mr. Isaac's property to conduct an investigation. The goats in question ended up being moved closer to Mr. Isaac's house and out of public view. The SPCA never addressed the situation of the caged macaque.

My concerns are:

1. Currently there is no law in BC regarding the exhibition and trade of exotic animals. Will the BCSPCA be asking for a provincial law regarding the sale and keeping of exotic animals in the near future? If so, is the BCSPCA willing to consult first with independent animal welfare groups experienced and knowledgeable in this matter, so that together they may compose an intelligent and effective proposal? An ineffective or poorly written law is more dangerous than no law.

2. What will become of the exotics seized from the Kaslo property should they become property of the BCSPCA? It is obvious that we have no appropriate sanctuary for them in BC. Is the BCSPCA willing to do the research, spend the money, and go through the red tape in order to get them to a sanctuary in the United States?

3. Will the BCSPCA be investigating the above described situations with the three macaques currently caged and exploited in the Armstrong area? Is the BCSPCA willing to help these three primates? They are within the Vernon SPCA's cruelty jurisdiction, but so far all the Vernon branch has done is invite one of them to their fundraiser. Please advise what the BCSPCA intends to do about this situation.

Again, I am pleased to see the BCSPCA taking action with regards to the Kaslo situation. I sincerely hope this type of humane work continues.

Yours truly,
Jennifer Dickson,
President, Okanagan Animal Welfare Foundation

Photo taken in 2002 at Chickadee Ridge