LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR A TRUE NO-KILL POUND IN NORTH VANCOUVER

  • Letters re: dogs surrendered for euthanasia sometimes huddle for days in dirty cold cells before being killed.

  • An ex-director tells how frustrating it is trying to run a humane SPCA in BC. 

  • Backyard breeders feed the pound contracting business. 

  • Malamute Rescue - SPCA has no time to phone rescue groups when they're ready to kill a dog.   
                   

LETTER #1 - Carmina Gooch

 

June 10/00

Mayor Bell and Council,

 I am in full support of a municipal no-kill pound and am confident it will work. Currently there are a number of individuals and groups on the North Shore, together with professionals, trying to make this a reality.

With spaying and neutering, education, and screening of potential pet owners there is no reason to destroy a healthy animal. Only in extreme circumstances would this have to be done. The way things currently stand many animals are unnecessarily being killed.

Having a pet is a great responsibility and not everybody is a suitable owner, as is evidenced by the fact that so many animals are relinquished, abandoned, neglected, or abused. Recently, a woman, known to staff at the NV SPCA, as being incapable of caring for an animal, was allowed to adopt a rabbit. A day later she contacted me asking if I could keep the bunny. She was afraid of it, did not understand what was involved in its care, and felt it was too much for her. She did not wish to return it to the SPCA because it would likely be destroyed. This happens to many an animal that is returned, to those in need of medical care, and to the unfortunate ones brought in when there is a lack of space. Sometimes people trying to relinquish a pet are turned away. One can only speculate what happens next. With a network of people dedicated to the welfare of animals we can provide a no-kill alternative. Its time is long overdue.

Sincerely,

Carmina Gooch

LETTER #2 - Roberge Trucking

June 10/00 

Dear Mayor Bell and Council,

A short note in support of the groups trying to form a no-kill pound in North Vancouver.

For some years now my staff and I have volunteered with transportation needs as well as pickup and distribution of donated food and supplies to the different animals in need. We are confident that such a plan is very workable and that the groups involved are eager and capable of such a plan. We will continue to support this worthy venture.

Yours truly,

Terry Roberge,
President,
Roberge Trucking, North Vancouver

LETTER #3

PACIFIC ANIMAL FOUNDATION

330 East 23rd Street, North Vancouver, B.C. V7L 3E5
Telephone: 986-8124

Registered Charity No. 87302 1752 RR0001

July 9th, 2000

Mayor Bell and Council
District of North Vancouver
355 Queens Road, West
North Vancouver, BC

 

Dear Mayor Bell and Council:

On behalf of the members of Pacific Animal Foundation, a registered, non-profit Society based on the North Shore, I am writing to support the concept of a municipally run, true no-kill shelter where authority and responsibility for directing the shelter operations rest with the local Municipality.

Every community needs to be involved in and work toward positive solutions whenever faced with questions at issue that affect every citizen of that particular community. In this case, as a community, we are being asked about our commitment to the welfare of animals that live among us and are subject to our many laws and regulations. Do they not deserve full consideration for their plight ?

If the District chose to acquire local control of the shelter, Pacific Animal Foundation would be pleased to assist in recruiting volunteers for the many projects that would be undertaken to improve our current facility. In addition to the standard recruitment of dog walkers and groomers for cats and dogs, we would be happy to be involved in raising funds and providing volunteers in order to build playground facilities, improve kennel runs and cat cages and enlisting local veterinarians to provide medical services. We believe that, with a commitment to the community of a truly no-kill shelter, funds can be raised from local businesses and the numerous animal lovers on the North Shore to provide money for these activities.

We believe that no healthy animal should be euthanized and that any animal with behaviour problems, whether due to abuse or neglect, can be re-trained and rehabilitated with the strong dedication of many animal friendly volunteers. How do we know that ? - We do it all the time and we did it for 210 animals on the North Shore last year.

Because a humane response may require hard work and creative ideas of its citizens, does that make it unacceptable ?

Sincerely,

PACIFIC ANIMAL FOUNDATION

Per:

Lana Simon

Director/President- 986-8124

LETTER #4 - Barbara Welonek

July 28/00

Dear Mayor Bell and Council,

Just a note to say that my family and I are very much in support of a municipal no-kill pound. The Friends of the Pound people involved in this project are exemplary in their commitment to animal welfare and will doubtless strive to make this pound a place that people are not loath to visit, unlike the current utterly outdated pound, where people are frequently seen to leave in tears.We hope that the North Vancouver pound will become an example,the first to be run entirely according to the best interests of the animals in their care.

Barbara Welonek                  
Surrey B.C.

LETTER #5 - Laura Dean


July 29/00

To Whom It May Concern:

     I have been involved in animal welfare for only two and a half years.  I began as a Director at the BC SPCA Penticton and District Branch.  Soon after "coming on board" I was elected Vice-president on the Board.  My ten plus years working as a veterinary assistant was one of the assets I brought with me to the group.

    As a responsible Director I visited the shelter as often as my work schedule would allow; usually a minimum of twice a week.  I would arrive unannounced and walk through the kennels and cattery.  To my disgust and dismay I witnessed, on almost every visit, animal abuse and neglect within the walls of the Penticton shelter.  I took the time to document the abuse/neglect and would bring my findings to the Board of Directors.

    Two of the most horrific incidences occurred when some puppies had been left for over 24 hours in their own excrement.  No food or water was present in their pen.  On the second occasion, a cat had been brought into the shelter on a Sunday.  The cat was in obvious distress and yet the staff  left it to sit in a carrier for more than 1-1/2 hours.

  Luckily another Director had stopped in, a rare occurrence, and instructed them to contact the vet on-call to have the animal examined.  The cat was euthanised, as it was past treatment.  The vet suspected poisoning.  Both employees involved were given a written warning only.  I pleaded with the Board to terminate the two staff members that were in charge when both of these atrocities occurred.  The Board refused because they were afraid of a wrongful dismissal suit being filed against them.  I told them if they chose to do nothing then I would be forced to resign.  That is how I came to leave the Board of Directors.  Not one other Director would stand with me.  Even after I described how this neglect was violating the Act that we were supposed to be enforcing.

AAS comment:  We have heard from many good people who have quit as directors of an SPCA because no one at the BC SPCA (head office) would support them.  What AAS believes is that the SPCA attracts animal-users to its boards, breeders, etc (not animal-lovers).  The true animal-lovers give up.

Then there was the time that the shelter manager apparently put a cat in the deep freeze or morgue before ensuring the cat was dead.  He had used the CO2 box and either did not have the expertise or time to make sure that the cat had succumbed to the effects of the gas.  He is reported to have put the cat in the freezer, and the next day when another staff member went to place another body in there, she found that the cat had clawed its way out of the body bag.  It had tried in vain to claw its way out of the freezer as the inside of the freezer lid had been clawed and torn.  That poor animal suffered an unthinkable death because of the uncaring and irresponsible actions of a man that was an ex-RCMP Staff Sergeant!!!

AAS comment:  this sort of uncaring stupidity has been reported to us many times.  It stands to reason that the SPCA must hire people who will kill animals for a paycheque.  (see the Moral Contradiction of Pound Contracts and Betrayed). The BC SPCA has an official policy of killing all feral  cats (punishing the victims) and they all kill excess dogs, especially the ones that hold pound contracts.  There may be as many as 30 or more SPCA pound contracts in BC.  The Vancouver SPCA alone has 18.  A pound contract is a contractual obligation to sell or dispose of stray dogs, for money.  It is a clear moral contradiction of its professed purpose "to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves".  They are silencing them.

During the huge wildfire in Salmon Arm in August 98, the Shuswap BC SPCA were left to deal with evacuated livestock, companion animals and their own shelter animals.  The highly paid staff members at the BC SPCA's Head Office did not contact the shelter to see if they needed any additional staff, or financial support.  Only after they were contacted by myself and one other Penticton Director, did they "bother" to phone the shelter.  That took two days to happen and by this time the Shuswap SPCA was in the dilemma of having to evacuate the shelter and still assist others in the area to leave.  Again, I was disgusted, embarrassed and shocked by the apathy and lack of caring from the Head Office staff and the Field Operations Director, Carl Ottosen, from Kamloops.  If you check out the BC SPCA web site http://www.spca.bc.ca/about.htm
you will see that they are taking the credit for the work of the Shuswap Branch.  As an added note, it was not the BC SPCA that evacuated "smoke effected deer" as it says on the web site.  It was a group called Critteraid that went up to a wildlife rehab centre and orchestrated the removal of one fawn, hawks, owls, skunks, raccoons, chickens and horses.  To the best of my knowledge the 32 Branches still do not have an organized evacuation or disaster plan/policy in place.

AAS comment: 

AAS comment:  this makes one wonder how much of the SPCA web site, and media releases, and mail-outs are truthful? Look again at their site,   http://www.spca.bc.ca/about.htm, scroll down to "1997...dedicated to treating and rehabilitating injured wildlife" and then go to our page Trigger-Happy SPCA and read the SPCA version of helping wildlife.  the section The SPCA often takes credit for other struggling and broke groups' hard work.  Most recently, after POWER (their mandate is to get the residential tenancy act changed to allow pets in rental accommodation) worked hard and spent hard-earned money to get a test-case before the courts, and won it, and then actually got the interest of the provincial government, the SPCA waltzed in, and grabbed the spotlight and the credit. And after referring to animal "rescue" groups as disreputable, the SPCA may have decided that the term may be gaining public acceptance, and even some admiration, and maybe (horrors!) some donations, hence Stephen Huddart, Director of Community Relations, BC SPCA, in a letter to the Courier newspaper, claimed:  "We rescued 2,400 animals..."   Huddart also makes the interesting statement that the SPCA "responded to 20,000 complaints, 3400 of which involved allegations of abuse or neglect.  That leaves 16,600 investigations that weren't about abuse or neglect.   Were they to do with their obligations and duties under their pound contracts?   No wonder the staff are too busy to clean the excrement out of cages, wash blankets, or even know what animals they have back in their grim, medieval cages.
And too busy to prevent cruelty. The SPCA has also been saying, about the groups that are doing all the real work, "We are animal welfarists - they are animal activists".  Frankly, they are neither.  But why aren't they animal activists?  Isn't that what they were created to do - act for animals.  They leave the activism for all the women who scrimp and save, and have bake sales, and go out fearfully in the middle of the night to take a dog that has suffered for years, because the SPCA DOES NOT ACT!  And they boast about it.

And why aren't they animal activists?? See Nick Read Quotes.



I guess my point in telling these accounts of my time with this one shelter is to convey my feelings of disappointment and disbelief.  I once held the BC SPCA in high regard.  I thought that they did everything they could to prevent animals from suffering.  Not only do they choose to not enforce the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, but there are times when they have been guilty of committing offenses under that act themselves. 

AAS comment:  this is true.  Even the way they keep animals in their "shelters" should constitute "neglect".

I cannot comment on what happens at other shelters in B.C.  I only know what has been reported to have occurred and what I have witnessed first hand, at the Penticton Branch.  I believe that it is time to hold the BC SPCA accountable for their obvious lack of commitment to the animals in our province.  John van der Hoeven, long-time Director of Operations for the BC SPCA, (paid employee) told me that it is improper and probably illegal for them to investigate animal cruelty cases if the RCMP are investigating.  This comment was made to me after I inquired why the man that beat a dog in the head with a hammer and then buried it alive, was not going to be prosecuted for animal cruelty.  Mr. van der Hoeven also blames this on the Crown.  Who then is responsible for seeing these cases make it to court?  Isn't this what the public wants? . 

The BC SPCA should do the job the donating public thinks they are doing -enforcing the PCA Act.  So many abused/neglected animals are falling between the cracks because the Special Constables are too busy carrying out the obligations of their pound contracts that they don't have time to properly investigate neglect and abuse complaints. 

AAS comment:  Indeed, they are very assiduous in carrying out their pound contract obligations and duties such as issuing fines, selling licenses, stopping lonely back-yard dogs from barking, etc.  They could lose the contract if they didn't. 

The PCA Act is capable of helping thousands, it just needs to be consistently enforced by the society that is legally empowered to.  They are paid for this job through the donations of little old ladies and young children who honestly believe that each penny or dollar they give goes to "help the animals".   When they find out that this is not the case, they will be heartbroken. 

Less money needs to be wasted on the salaries and expenditures at the Provincial office and the Vancouver Regional Branch.  They should leave the animal control contracts to the municipalities. I applaud the efforts of Friends of the Pound to effect change, and to establish an actual "no-kill" pound.  It will take a lot of hard work, commitment and some sleepless nights.  All involved must come to the table without egos, and with the welfare of the animals at the top of the list always.

Best regards,
Laura Dean
Summerland, B.C.
BC SPCA member

LETTER # 6 - Alexandra Stolte

 

Mayor Bell and Council
District of North Vancouver
355 Queens Rd.
North Vancouver, B.C.

 Mayor Bell and Council,

 Before awarding the pound contact to the North Vancouver S.P.C.A. for another year please consider the viable option that is available to you. 

 Friends of the Pound are competent and dependable people.  If they make a commitment they will carry it through.  They would never jeopardize the welfare of the animals.  This will free up much needed time for the S.P.C.A. do the job of enforcing the “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act”.  The situation now is they are too busy to properly investigate neglected and abused animals because of the obligations of their pound contract.  Many animals are suffering from abuse or without proper food, shelter or water. To change these conditions requires more time.  Relieving the S.PC.A. from pound duties would allow them to spend time where it is needed the most.  It is difficult for any organization to effectively take on two jobs when you have barely enough staff to do one. 

 There is an inherent contradiction between the motto “We Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves” and then to kill them by the hundreds pursuant to a pound contract.  If there is a reasonable alternative it should be considered and applied.  The bottom line is that you have nothing to lose.  If the Friends of the Pound do not live up to their commitment you can revert to the previous arrangement; what do you have to lose? (except the confidence and respect of the community).

 Alexandra Stolte

Surrey,

 

LETTER # 7 - Yves Contracting Ltd


Dear Mayor Bell and Council

A few words in support of Friends of the Pounds efforts to have a Municipal pound. Truly the time has come to make our pounds animal friendly.Staffed with people to whom the animals' well-being is paramount. The innocent victims of abuse and neglect deserve better than to end their lives in loneliness and terror at the hands of uncaring individuals.

We hope this will be the beginning of a reform in all pounds.

Sincerely Yves Barillec 
Owner Yves Contracting Ltd

LETTER # 8 - Lori Cumisky

Dear North Vancouver Mayors and Councilors,

I have been volunteering with the Vancouver pound for over two years now. I foster, screen potential dog adopters, do adoption follow-ups, and walk the pound dogs.  The Vancouver pound is very popular because of its "no-kill" policy.  First, I think it important that the public understands that no-kill just means that they do not put down "adoptable" dogs (some dogs
are still, indeed put down). 

I also think it hugely important for the public to know that although the pound claims to be humane because of their no-kill policy, they allow most of the dogs to go to anyone without even a little bit of screening, or asking questions of potential adopters (this is really left up to the handful of volunteers if they're around).  I have seen this policy "burn-out" many
wonderful volunteers who could do an amazing amount for the shelter dogs to the point where volunteers no longer come into the shelter.

I would hope that if friends of the pound happens, it would attract many people like myself who enjoy working with dogs and want to see a shelter run in an honest and positive way.  I would certainly be happy to volunteer my services at such a shelter.

Lori Cumiskey
New West, B.C

LETTER # 9 -Barry Faires

July 20/00

Your Worship, Honourable Councilors:

  When the Vancouver Pound announced that it was going to become A No-Kill Pound I was very excited.  Animal Advocates Society was taking dogs deemed "unadoptable", paying for their spay and neuters, and all other vet bills necessary to make them sound and comfortable, and finding foster homes for them.    I believe that I adopted the first dog to be spared a death sentence after this announcement was made.  His name was Jack.  We at home called him General Jackson because he immediately assumed an air of dignity and authority.  He was fourteen years old and truly one of the most intelligent dogs I have ever met.  For some unknown reason he had been dropped off at the Vancouver Pound where he languished, alone in a concrete cell, cold and miserable.  He had arthritis and a large dangling tumour on his tail.  He was scheduled for death.  Through Animal Advocates Society, I met him, loved him and adopted him.  This certainly had nothing to do with my magnanimity.  It was he that was magnanimous.  Words are inadequate to express the happiness that his presence added to our family group.  Everyone loved him from the moment that they met him.  The day that he died was truly horrendous.  People traveled from miles around to be with him during his passing.  It was a testament to him and his presence.

    I discovered, soon after adopting him, that he would have been defined as "unadoptable" due to his age and his arthritis and his obvious tumour.  He would have been murdered because  the animal control officers thought he was not a candidate for adoption.  This was a dog who was featured on the television news stories that surrounded the announcement of the pound becoming no-kill.  That is the Vancouver City Pound's version of no-kill.

    I am a person who believes, perhaps naively, that no-kill means no-kill.  This is not the case at the Vancouver City Pound.   I have witnessed the Manager of said pound change the status of a dog from adoptable to unadoptable on the most meagre of grounds.  I find this appalling.

    I live in south-east Vancouver.  I want you to know that I am willing to travel by any means possible to get to the North Vancouver Pound to be a volunteer at a truly no-kill pound.  I am involved already with the Friends of The Pound for the North Shore.

    If you, the Mayor and Councilors of The District of North Vancouver, have the courage to take back the pound contract and allow FOTP to aid you in establishing a truly no-kill shelter, I believe you will be setting a precedent that will be an example of compassion and fiscal responsibility for the rest of the North American continent.  

       So for Jackson, and for all the thousands of innocent dog  who find themselves in similar predicaments, I offer my unwavering support for the return of the contract to the people and animals of The District of North Vancouver.

Barry Faires
2162 Waverley Avenue
Vancouver,V5P 1R5
322-0132 chenrezi@telus.net  
See Barry and Jack's story:  www.animaladvocates.com

LETTER #10 - Malamute Rescue

This memo is in support of the efforts of Friends of the Pound to have the SPCA contract replaced with a municipal shelter with a no kill policy. The Alaskan Malamute Help League is willing to assist with the placement of any mal or mal X dog. We are a national non profit organization whose objective is first to assist people with solutions to help them keep their dogs, and if that is not possible, to assist in finding a suitable permanent home, or a foster home until a permanent home can be found. We have found the shelters that are the most cooperative are the municipal shelters. We often get calls for help. We very seldom got calls from the SPCA, and have never from the North Van SPCA. We have been advised after the fact that at least 1 mal was put down there. While the general objective of a shelter is to reunite owners and pets, as well as re-homing animals, it seems incredible that when help is offered - free - it is not accepted.

A comment made to me by an SPCA staff member of the Vancouver/Coquitlam SPCA/pound when I took info in regarding a mal up for adoption was " when a day is scheduled for putting animals down, we are too busy to make phone calls to a
rescue group". Actually, we would like to hear when the dog is available for adoption - not the day the dog is being put down.

AAS comment:  pure-bred dogs are "sellable".

We have recently moved to Vancouver Island. We have not yet advised all shelters that we are still available, only those that have been cooperative in the past. That does not include North Van.

We maintain our many contacts on the mainland with general dog rescue groups and are still prepared to provide info to prospective malamute owners. We do not expect all shelter staff to be familiar with all breeds. That is why if we can help in any way, it amazes that the help is not accepted. Unless of course the shelter's main objective is NOT the welfare of the animals.

Obviously, our vote is for a municipal no kill shelter, where staff are accountable to local elected officials.
Ken & Diana MacTavish

LETTER # 11 - Shirley Henderson


To whom it may concern (District of North Vancouver)

I feel very strongly that the care of animals in our district must be the responsibility of the people who live in the district! Therefore, I am advocating a District run pound.

I will not accept the killing of dogs, cats and other animals just because they are not wanted!  It is possible to find homes for the greater percentage of these animals and those who do not find homes can still be kept in friendly, caring centres.  I do not agree with keeping these animals penned up in "basic" shelters full of fear.

Let's follow New Westminster and Vancouver, who have learned that pounds can be run efficiently and still be caring environments without killing!

Sincerely

Shirley Henderson.
4520 Jerome Place
North Vancouver, BC

LETTER # 12- Darlene Sanders - Avant Gardener


Dear Mayor Bell and Council,

I have been reading through the letters on the Animal Advocates Society website, and am appalled at what is going on in our pounds, and decided to write a letter of support.   I too thought no-kill meant that no animals were killed.  The current policy implies that a dog in less than perfect shape does not stand much of a chance.  How awful that the pound  treats dogs as commodities, numbers to crunch.

I don't have any dog stories to tell but in each of my stores I have a wonderful resident cat. One was rescued in very rough shape after having been abused, and put up for adoption by my vet.  The other was found  abandoned on the street with a severe ear infection by a friend. I hate to think of the possibility that these two cats who give so much pleasure to so many people might have been euthanized, as both did not look "adoptable" when found.  These two tales could just as easily have been about dogs.

I sincerely urge the North Van District Council to establish a truly no-kill municipal pound.  It certainly seems do-able; it's just a matter of having the will to see it done.

Sincerely yours,
Darlene Sanders
Owner, The Avant Gardener
West Vancouver and Vancouver

LETTER # 13 - Jane Bowers

August 7, 2000

Dear Mayor Bell and Council

I totally support the Friends of the Pounds' efforts to have a Municipal pound and, while I do not live in North Vancouver, I would drive to North Vancouver to volunteer at and support a municipally run shelter.

Volunteers could greatly assist in the success of the municipally run shelter by obtaining background information to identify a dog's strengths (i.e.: the dog may be particularly good with cats or patient with children) and to choose the type of new home most appropriate for the individual animal. This would reduce the number of returned pets by ensuring a good match with new owners. I know this works well because I have fostered and successfully placed pets from my home. In addition volunteers can provide follow up advice to new owners.

At the shelter volunteers could reduce the stress for dogs by walking, training and playing with them and by finding foster homes as needed. I know from experience working at veterinary hospitals, fostering and by working with animals that those who are stressed may show signs of fear and stress. Their behavior can be misread as aggression by untrained staff. These animals are not aggressive but simply afraid and confused and would in fact, make an excellent companion for the right someone. Sadly, they run a high risk of euthanasia if their behavior is misinterpreted by untrained shelter staff.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of a municipally run shelter.

 Jane Bowers
Vancouver , BC

LETTER # 14 - Kimberly Brower

August 16/00

To whom it may concern,           

There are many things about the SPCA that I wish more people knew. I have volunteered there for many years. Only a few of them follow:
-  An older poodle mix scheduled to be killed; she limped for unknown reasons, but was not in pain. I offered to take her; they insisted that I pay for a hip operation at their clinic and boarding. (my impression was that their decision being challenged was not appreciated.) It cost $350 to get her out. She still limped after, but found a happy home through me.

- An older be-barked dog, scheduled to die, terribly matted but other than needing dental work, healthy. I had to pay over $200 which included boarding to get him out.

- Older dogs and cats are routinely killed. They usually need no more than dental work to make them healthy. They  "take up space" longer than more quickly adopted young pets.

-  People who bring in sick or injured pets, and can't afford all the costs to treat the animal at once, are most often advised to surrender the animal to the SPCA (and will most likely be killed). If they are reluctant, they are referred to small non-profit groups as a source of funds.

- Animals brought in by owners to be killed sit in cages for hours and sometimes days. I have seen a frightened dog that was brought in on a Friday and was still waiting to die on Sunday.

-Animals are put up for adoption before being spayed or neutered. The reason given is that it would be a waste to neuter them if they didn't get adopted and were killed. How many of those adopted intact went on to produce litters?

Volunteers are often treated with disdain and suspicion. Turnover of volunteers is very high. It is only those with a thick skin and determination to help the animals that stay.

Kimberly Brower,
Vancouver

LETTER # 15- FOTA, Surrey B.C.

August 17/00

Mayor and Council  members.

My name is Theresa Jensen and I belong to Friends of the Animals, a non-profit group in Surrey that truly helps those who cannot speak for themselves. 

We (FOTA), wholly support Friends of the Pound. The SPCA no longer does what it claims to do and has lost its sense of direction. Over the years I myself have reported numerous dogs in dreadful conditions, only to be told by the SPCA there is nothing they can do. I was under the impression that the SPCA helped animals, but I guess I am wrong. If the SPCA can’t or won’t help the animals why are they even there? It's time to get an organization that can and will do something!

Friend of the Animals recently had an ad running in several lower mainland papers, trying to find good homes for dogs.  I lost count of the number of people who expressed their disgust and disappointment with the SPCA, especially the Surrey  shelter.  Every last one of them vowed never to go to the SPCA again when they are looking for a pet. It is too stressful to see the animals in such horrific conditions. Any suggestions to the staff to better these conditions is met with total indifference and of course nothing is done. If conditions were more humane at the shelters and the staff less hostile and acted as if they cared about their charges, a lot more animals would be adopted out to good homes instead of having to be killed.

I lived in Los Cabos in Mexico, part time for six years and I saw what a group of caring dedicated volunteers can do starting with a lot less than we have here in B.C. A fantastic Humane Society was started from scratch and a shelter built with funds raised by volunteers.  The animals are kept in clean runs with a blanket to lie on and toys to keep them occupied.  They are visited every day by volunteers on a one to one basis, they are walked, bathed and socialized and most important - they are given love. This makes for a easier to adopt pet, and because of the compassionate, pleasant atmosphere at the shelter people are happy to go there to adopt.

If the SPCA was doing what it is supposed to do there would not be the need for all the other rescue groups cleaning up after them. It is definitely time for a change!

A volunteer pound would be run by people working to improve the conditions that exist in most of the SPCA’s today. People with enough compassion and love to “move mountains” to make it work . Whether it is raising funds to support such a concept or giving time to make it possible, we Friends of the Animals will be there 100 per cent.

 Theresa Jensen
16711 18th. Avenue,
Surrey, B.C. V4P-2N9

AAS comment:  we are phoned many times a day by people wanting us to find a home for their pet, and every one of them, without fail, say "I don't want to have to take it to the SPCA".  This alone should tell anyone that there is a serious contradiction in what the SPCA claims to be in its appeals for donations and what the public perception is once they have had to consider giving up their pet to this organization.  Hundreds of times we've been told by people that they went to the SPCA and were sickened by what they saw; many leave in tears.  They recount terrified, lonely, dirty, matted dogs, cold, indifferent, rude, unhelpful staff, who don't know what dogs they have, or anything about their personalities (except misinformation).  Who would rather kill a dog (cheap and easy compared to working hard to rehome it - see letters from Malamute rescue (above) and Ron Polly, ex-volunteer)   What they are describing to us is a bottom-line pound contracting business - but they haven't realized this.  The manager of Vancouver Regional SPCA's pound contracting empire is Brian Nelson, a former private pound contractor who was bought out by Vancouver Regional to stop him expanding his business into Vancouver Regional's long-time lucrative markets, such as Surrey.  About the number of dogs being euthanized by Vancouver Regional, Nelson said "More coming in than going out." (See Dudley's story).  He also said at a North Vancouver District committee meeting that he had killed 50,000 animals in his career.  Many of those animals died under his hands as a private, for-profit, dog pound contractor.  If ever questioned about the high number of euthanasias, the SPCA always claims that they don't like to have to do it, but someone has to.  This obviously specious argument has been repeated uncritically by the media for fifty years and so the donating public has believed it too.  Two very obvious flaws in this smokescreen excuse are (1) that the pound contracts they went after in 18 lower mainland municipalities and are fighting so aggressively to keep, absolutely force them to take in stray dogs, many of which they must kill; and (2) they have never tried to stop the source of these (lucrative) excess dogs - backyard breeders.  Backyard breeders feed the pound contracting business.

LETTER # 16 - Sierra K9 Dog Training

August 16/00

To FOTP,

Once the North Vancouver pound is run by the municipality, I will volunteer what ever time I or my staff have available.

Cheers, Joan Klucha
Owner, Sierra K9

LETTER # 17 - Anne and Michael Stevens

Dear Mayor Bell and Council:

I believe that "Friends of the Pound" would significantly improve the fate of animals in the care of the pound.  We support this endeavour 100% and hope that you will seriously consider the proposal. The SPCA shelter in Surrey is deplorable - a place that people stay away from because of the dark, dirty cells and the rude, indifferent staff.  Surrey also needs a municipally-run pound and a Friends of the Surrey Pound Society.

Anne and Michael Stevens
7472 147 St.
Surrey, B.C.

LETTER #18 - Betty Watson

August 17/00

Dear  Mayor Bell and Council:

Because many of the dogs in the lower mainland are kept tied and kenneled, therefore unsocial to people and other dogs,  I believe that Friends of the Pound would provide a very positive service to both people and animals. Their mission statement to provide for an animals' needs (training and rehab) and to not profit from an animal in any way is the only way to assure dogs are not "sold" by a profit-driven pound business.

Betty Watson
3628 Dease Lane
Vancouver, B.C.
V5S  1M6

LETTER # 19 - Jennifer Dickson

August 21/00

Dear Mayor Bell and Councilors:

Although I now reside in Vernon, B.C. I spent 30 years as a citizen of North Vancouver. During that time I became thoroughly disgusted with the way the S.P.C.A. handled the pet overpopulation situation. They are without compassion or common sense where the welfare of animals is concerned. Frankly, their organization only makes sense from a bottom line business  point of view, and every business wants to keep running right? As long as the S.P.C.A. holds the pound contract in North Vancouver nothing will ever change. (See AAS comment below.)  Animals will continue to suffer and be killed, and money will continue to be poured into the round up and kill cycle that is pound contracting as we know it in North Vancouver today. You see, getting paid to round up and kill IS their business. Why would they want to make any effort to change a well-paying status quo?

   Please give Friends of the North Vancouver Pound a chance to change this. They are more than capable of ending this business of killing that is thriving in so many municipalities. They WILL make changes for the better, and the municipality of North Vancouver should be proud to be given the opportunity to pioneer a new and truly humane program of pet population control that will be an example to other municipalities across B.C.-a program based on spaying and neutering, and control of breeding,  rather than rounding up and killing.

   How can I be so sure we need this change? From years of experience doing animal rescue myself, with no funding but my own- much of my work being saving dogs and cats FROM the S.P.C.A., who were going to kill them. Wonderful homes have been found for all.  Good homes can ALWAYS be found, and Friends of the North Vancouver Pound are just the people to do it. Furthermore, they will work to ensure that through spaying and neutering there will come a day when there will be no more homeless. Please give them a chance. If you would like to know more details to support my statements please feel free to contact me ). Thank you for your time and consideration.            

Jennifer Dickson
Veterinary Technician
Professional Dog Groomer
Vernon, B. C.

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