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But we hear too of starving cows and horses and donkeys, and the
cruelty of pet stores, and the vile conditions of puppy mills. And almost without
exception we are told that the caller has been told by the SPCA, "There's nothing we
can do, the law says as long as it's got food, water and shelter." And
then they go on to say that a tree, soon to be leafless, is adequate shelter, (see the section on shelter that AAS had adopted in 10 lower
mainland municipalities - including the municipalities where the SPCA says a tree or an
overhang is "adequate shelter"). And that if you're giving water to the pup that
has been drinking out of feces-filled puddles, then that's okay. And the crying pup
that has been muzzled: if it is fed and given water then there's no law being
broken. And the mother dog whose chain is so tangled that she can't reach her
dilapitated doghouse to put her pups in, so they drown in the depression she has dug
for a nest. "Can't do anything - laws aren't adequate" Why doesn't the SPCA help these thousands of animals a year? We can tell you that animal control (pound contracts) pay, (if they're run cheaply enough) and animal welfare costs. And that a seized dog costs the SPCA money to hold for the 14 days given the owner to dispute the seizure before the SPCA can sell it or kill it.
Pound contracting is simple - stray
dogs are collected, other dogs are surrendered. Any strays not claimed, and all the
surrendered dogs, can quickly sold or killed. But a seized dog must be held until
the case is resolved.
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