The BC SPCA is a member of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, which will not join in a boycott of Canadian fish products as an effective way to stop the bludgeoning of baby seals, trotting out the old, "We're animal welfarists, not animal activists" to justify a decision that will not offend big business The boycott is led by the Humane Society of the United States, which is not so careful not to offend big business by making a distinction between animal welfare and animal activism - a distinction that the BC SPCA used for decades to smear the reputation of its critics and competition, and to carefully not offend big business.
Humane societies not behind boycott
With the Humane Society of the United States' (HSUS's) boycott on Canadian fish and seafood making the news, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) wants to reassure its supporters -- and all Canadians, particularly those from the East Coast -- that we are not associated with HSUS, nor do we support their boycott and their recent efforts to end the Atlantic seal hunt.
The CFHS is not opposed to farming, fishing or hunting. We do believe that improvements must be made to make the Atlantic seal hunt more humane, and we will continue to work toward this goal.
We are an animal welfare, not an animal rights organization: our goal is to encourage respect for and humane treatment of all animals and to prevent cruelty and abuse.
Tanya O'Callaghan, communications co-ordinator, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, Ottawa.
National Post
Published: Thursday, June 22, 2006
Re: Anti-Sealing Ads Target Canadian Fish Industry, June 20.
Is the BC SPCA likely to stop saying "We're not animal activists", any time soon? Not very likely when one of its Directors, Kathi Travers, is still saying, "Whenever someone calls me an animals rights advocate I take it as an insult."
The SPCA does claim to be an animal-welfare society, but boiling live animals clearly makes nonsense of that claim.
Boiling other (therefore lesser) species to raise money for the species the SPCA advertizes it speaks for, is blatantly hypocritical.