http://www.brindleweb.com/rescuebb/

Lurker
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:55 pm

Floodcat wrote:

"I know we all have diverse views about how the SPCA responds to 24/7 yard dogs, and maybe the media will pick up on this topic -- about how the SPCA and municipalities might do more to stop dogs being kept as lawn ornaments.

I still have the image burned in my brain of a dog a few blocks from me who was kept on a concrete driveway it's entire life with no proper shelter, and the SPCA did not step in until the dog was no longer able to get up off the ground. Only then did they act - by picking it up for euthanization."

I have seen this theme here and other boards before. That is that the SPCA is slow to react and it seems to be that people believe it is the choice of the SPCA.

Before too much blame is placed on the SPCA for any lack of action anywhere, there is something that needs to be thought about. Do you actually know what is required to legally take someone’s lawfully owned property away from them? In most cases the owner possesses the dog lawfully. They may not be keeping it in a legal manner but they do own it legally.

The SPCA has to convince a judge that they should be allowed to invade the owner’s privacy and take their property away from them. Once that is successful, if they choose to, they then have to be prepared to convince another one that the lawfully owned property should not be returned to the owner.

The judge’s job is to make sure there are proper justifiable reasons to invade the privacy of a resident of this country. This is to protect all us from the government entering our property and taking or doing what they want simply because a neighbour thinks something is wrong.

So at the risk of being flamed, I say the next time you experience what you feel is an unreasonable delay in action by the SPCA please consider the previous. It could be that the information to convince a judge is inadequate or is still be gathered. But it could also be that the only other alternative is occurring and that is you are right, the SPCA has what must be a hidden agenda and wants to see the animal suffer some more.