Animal
Advocates of B.C. |
EUTHANASIA
STATISTICS - HOW MANY ANIMALS HAS THE SPCA REALLY KILLED? |
BC SPCA General Animal Statistics sent to AAS by a reliable source, but the figures are not reliable as the SPCA has fudged the figures so often that there is no way to know the true figures. In 2004 the CEO of the BC SPCA told the Vancouver Sun that there are no statistics. 1996 – 1998
Volunteers have known for many years that SPCA euthanasia figures are inaccurate. The proof of this is in it's own fluctuating published figures. Insiders know that whole boxes of kittens come over the counter and out the back in plastic bags without being entered in the records. Even some dogs and pups don't make it into the log, to say nothing of the hundreds of little animals. And where are the SPCA's records on number of raccoons killed for pest control companies for a fee? (Read more, click here) The recent housecleaning at the Vancouver SPCA by
the euthanasia of six dogs, is just one example of how the SPCA is trying to cover up how
much killing it does for no reason other than the dead animals weren't sellable and were
taking up room that could be filled by another, more sellable animal. This analysis was sent to AAS from Maple Ridge SPCA volunteer and SPCA Pet Squad member Brigitta MacMillan (read more on the SPCA by Brigitta, click here): These are the Maple Ridge SPCA's own figures (below from an interview in the Maple Ridge News with Maple Ridge SPCA manager Rick Favelle):
Re: The Sun, BC SPCA to cut shelter destructions, will euthanize only for health
reasons - March 6/02 Brigitta MacMillan, March 16, 2002 Mr Douglas Brimacombe, Dear Mr. Brimacombe, Re. Kelowna Capital News article of Friday, March 8th, 2002 SPCA takes dogs from all over B.C. The comment of assistant manager, Ms. K. Woodward, that she cant remember ever euthanizing an adoptable animal at the Kelowna shelter, needs to rebutted. Can she really not remember? What do her words mean when they are set next to the lives of the hundreds of animals that were killed at the shelter in the last year? Sadly, the statistics speak for themselves. With 4,365 animals surrendered and 2,196 adopted, did the remaining 2,169 animals simply evaporate? Is Ms. Woodward really asking the citizens of the Central Okanagan to believe that almost exactly half of the animals surrendered to the shelter were sick or aggressive? How about the endless parade of adorable kittens that were dropped off at the shelter during the spring and summer months, whose only ailments and crimes were over- abundance? What about the loyal old cats condemned to death, whose only illness was advanced years and whose only misbehavior was having lost their youth and spunk? Or the big, bouncy black mutts that have never been housebroken or obedience trained, whose crimes were the unwillingness of new owners to spend the time and energy necessary to overcome the neglect and poor management of the dogs previous owners? How about the countless cages of gentle rabbits? What about the animals whose only sin was that they allowed their owners to move away without them? Perhaps Ms. Woodwards denial is of the Bill Clinton variety--she doesnt remember ever euthanizing an adoptable animal because she didnt actually do the euthanizing. I suggest that, of the 2169 unadoptable animals, a number worthy of remembering were neither sick nor vicious. Nevertheless, many of these animals were destroyed simply because there are far too many unwanted animals in the Central Okanagan for the number of adoptable homes available. Why cant that sad reality be stated loudly and publicly by the Kelowna SPCA? Furthermore, Ms. Woodwards comments also demean the endless work being done by other smaller animal groups. Some volunteers have raised funds to help low income families afford spay/neuter costs for their pets. Volunteers all over the Okanagan Valley worked outside all months of the year, trapping, spaying and neutering, and managing feral cat colonies. Still others rescued and rehabilitated high risk animals from shelters. Yet, according to Ms. Woodward, the Kelowna shelter was able to take in 500 animals from other shelters because it was so empty. Is Ms. Woodward really expecting the public to believe that the above volunteers efforts were unnecessary because there wasnt a problem with animal over-population in our area? The sad truth is that until pet ownership becomes a privilege and not a right and strict spay/neuter bylaws are enacted and enforced--thus curtailing the backyard breeders and puppy mills--the problem of unwanted animals will only continue to worsen. In order for the public to act on the truth, it must know the truth. Selective amnesia and comments that knowledgeable people cant and wont swallow only exacerbate the problem. Certainly, its time for the Kelowna SPCA to stop sugar coating the truth and admit that memorable numbers of loving, healthy, adoptable animals must be killed every month because there are not enough adoptive homes. Its time for the BCSPCA to free its employees and boards all over the province to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Please, enable the public to know the full extent of the cruelty caused by animal over-population. Isnt that the least that your society, whose apparent goal is the prevention of cruelty to animals, should do? Sincerely, Mandy Rawson, 05/11/2001 After openly criticizing the Delta SPCA for its pound contract with Delta council, the Animal Advocates Society of B.C. recently learned that 1996 "neglect" amendments to the animal bylaws have never been enforced. The information came to light after the North Vancouver-based society sent a letter, dated April 10, to Delta council asking whether Bylaw 5128, amendment 5436, had ever been enforced. Lance Renyk, superintendent of the Delta SPCA, wrote in his April 20 reply, "We have not ticketed any person in Delta for failing to comply with our neglect sections of our bylaw, but would do so if no other viable solution could be found to help a dog or cat." Stone asked for this confirmation because she is concerned that dogs tied up and left to flounder on choke-chains with no food or water are not rescued early enough by the SPCA. She is adamant Delta SPCA has continuously ignored the amended section of the bylaw, rather than not having to use it. "The problem with that," said Renyk, "is that youll drive by a home and see a dog in excellent health and good condition, but with a 10-foot chain. If I go up to the owner and ask how often he lets the dog off and he says One hour in the last 24, what can I do to disprove him? Id have to stay for 24 hours, which just isnt feasible. I dont like a dog on a chain, but what can I do?" Stone, for her part, insists the SPCA become more active in saving more dogs to justify the large donations people pledge to the organization, "believing the money goes to help the dogs at their pound." Lorie Chortyk, communications director of the regional SPCA, has long known about AAS and believes they should ease off. Were not a perfect organization by any means, but what she (Stone) is saying is simply inaccurate. Last year we received 24,156 dogs and we placed 99 per cent of them. Chortyk's statements are what is "inaccurate". |
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© 2002 |
Edited: Nov 10/02 |