Your Vancouver Sun
Attempt to 'seize' dogs is theft, SPCA warns
People claiming to represent the agency have attempted to take animals away from their owners
Nicholas Read, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, December 08, 2006
SURREY - Someone is claiming to represent the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and attempting to seize dogs on the society's behalf, Surrey SPCA branch manager Janice Levers said Thursday.
"These individuals, calling themselves B.C. Animal Rescue and Control, state they are working with the SPCA and the City of Surrey and have attempted to take dogs away from their owners on the basis that they are not providing proper shelter," Levers said.
"They also leave a form letter with the City of Surrey's address at the top that states the owner can have no contact with the dog and that the SPCA may be following up with animal cruelty charges."
But Levers says to her knowledge there is no legitimate group called B.C. Animal Rescue and Control, and even if there is, the SPCA has no connection with it.
"If you are approached by these individuals, please call the Surrey branch of the B.C. SPCA immediately," she said.
The individuals wear uniforms, Levers said, and drive vans, sometimes with B.C. Animal Rescue and Control decals on the side.
Surrey resident Charlie Bains said his brother-in-law was approached by three men pretending to be animal control officers last week. His brother-in-law keeps a two-year-old German shepherd outside in a kennel, and because of that, people have complained repeatedly to the SPCA about its treatment.
"They were dressed up in a blue uniform and they had some patches on their shoulders, and they said they were animal control officers and they had some complaints the dog wasn't being looked after properly," Bains said.
However, he said his brother-in-law became suspicious because the van they were driving didn't have any SPCA logos on it.
"So they backed off and left a letter with a City of Surrey logo on it saying they would be back."
Shawn Eccles, the B.C. SPCA's chief animal protection officer, said this is not the first time people independent of the SPCA have attempted to remove dogs from situations they deemed cruel.
Eccles says some animal-protection groups believe the SPCA doesn't go far enough in trying to protect animals, and will take matters into their own hands. Two years ago a number of animals were removed from their homes for that reason, he said.
"They are concerned for animals," Eccles said. "And they certainly won't hesitate to take some action. So I would strongly suggest to anyone receiving letters of this kind to protect themselves. And the best way to do that is to take care of their animals. If you leave your house and tie up your dog on a chain, you're a target."
But regardless of their motives, removing animals without permission of the owner or the SPCA is theft, Eccles said. So he advises anyone approached by someone claiming to be from the SPCA to ask for identification.
nread@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
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Your Province
Dognappers aim to 'rescue' pets
Fake officers try to nab dogs left outside in cold
Elaine O'Connor, The Province
Published: Friday, December 08, 2006
Surrey dog owners are being warned to keep their pets on a short leash after a pair posing as animal-protection officers attempted dognappings this week.
The B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals received three complaints from South Surrey residents that individuals purporting to be from B.C. Animal Rescue and Control tried to seize their dogs using an elaborate disguise.
Janice Levers, manager of the B.C. SPCA's Surrey branch, said she thought the impostors' aim was to rescue the dogs rather than to steal and resell them.
The two suspects -- a man and a woman -- had vans complete with decals, uniforms, forms with City of Surrey letterhead and wigs. The letters stated the owner was prohibited from having contact with the dog and that the SPCA may be following up.
They tried to pick up the same German shepherd twice near 160th Street and 80th Avenue and then targeted another German shepherd near 152nd and 40th.
The potential victims grew suspicious when the impostors cited abuse and wanted to take their dogs immediately. They refused and called authorities.
"It's really scary to think that you could leave your dog outside to go to the bathroom and you come back and someone has taken it because they thought it was cold," Levers said.
Sarbjit Deol owns a blueberry farm where one of the dogs was targeted. He said he recognized the woman as a one-time customer of his fruit stand and said she had made two other attempts to take the family dog, Jogi, before appearing with the van Tuesday.
Deol said Jogi was an outdoor dog but was well cared for.
B.C. SPCA spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk said there is no B.C. Animal Rescue and Control group with authority to seize animals.
"We just really want people to be very aware that these people have nothing to do with any legitimate organization," she said, noting it was the first time the B.C. SPCA had heard of the group.
Chortyk said the SPCA never seizes a dog on first contact. They issue animal-welfare orders and return in a specified time to see if the level of care has improved. Only then would they seek to confiscate an animal.
The society visited both owners and found no evidence of neglect.
They alerted Surrey's bylaw enforcement manager, who contacted Surrey RCMP.
One of the residents took down a licence plate number found to belong to an unregistered vehicle.
eoconnor@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Province 2006