Many of us in animal welfare are dismayed that the BC SPCA has appeared to only change when forced to by bad publicity.

An example of this is that the Victoria SPCA had a gas box up until four years ago when a reporter got wind of it and decided to do what he could to precipitate change. This is a prime example of when media pressure was successful.

Quotes from a radio interview on C-FAX radio July 3rd, 2006 interview with Victoria SPCA manager Penny Stone with host Stephen Andrew:

S.A. Four years ago I did a story about the SPCA using gas box for cats.
P.S. Gas box taken out 3.5 yrs ago very old fashioned, unacceptable in SPCA’s belief.

During the same interview a discussion on "no-kill" feral cats was brought up and the killing of some was justified with the statement below. It appears that much more education about how to treat and manage feral cats is needed at the SPCA.

P.S. Or once in a while we’ll get a feral cat and we can’t find a foster home and it’s throwing itself up against the bars of the cage and its not fair. We have to think of the animals best interest it’s never about what’s easier for us, it’s always about what’s best for the animals.

Explaining killing because of a lack of resources is one thing, but justifying killing as being best for a healthy animal is just not animal welfare.

Unfortunately the BC SPCA is again lagging behind Happy Cat Haven and other groups that work with feral cats.

Here is to hoping that they start catching up sooner rather than later.