SPCA does not have to say how many seized animals it has killed

The SPCA's manager of Cruelty Investigations has not answered our letter asking how many of the dogs it seized from Chris Camping, of 150 Mile House in 2004 and again in 2006, it has killed.

It would not tell Gwen Wilson how many of her cats it killed.

The fact is that many people who have animals seized by the SPCA which are then sold or killed, have asked in vain to know if their animals are dead or alive.

We certainly agree that the names of the new owners of the animals can't be revealed to the owners the animals were seized from, but knowing if the animals are alive or dead does not compromise this principle.

The SPCA has more power and less accountability than the police do. The BC  government protects the SPCA from any public oversight by exempting it from Freedom of Information enquiries, claiming that the SPCA is not a government agency.  Yet it was created by a government statute and it has police powers to enforce that statute.  The SPCA's protection from scrutiny and accountability must be changed.

I personally object to any agency where I live having such extreme power, secrecy, and protection by government from scrutiny. But my main objection is that the SPCA is killing seized animals.

----- Original Message -----
From: Animal Advocates
To: mmoriarty@spca.bc.ca
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 9:40 AM
Subject: Question re: seizures of Campling's dogs in 150 Mile House

May 31, 2006

Marcie Moriarty,
Manager of Cruelty Investigations,
BC SPCA

Re: Seizures of Camping dogs in 150 Mile House

Dear Ms Moriarty,

According to Mr Camping the SPCA seized 43 dogs and 19 pups in November 2004, leaving behind quite a number of dogs. According to the BC SPCA's press release the SPCA seized 50 more dogs around May 18th this year.

While fully supporting the SPCA's decision to seize these dogs, we have concerns to that the SPCA killed most or all of the 62 dogs seized in November 2004. Mr Camping has reason to believe that the SPCA will kill the 50 dogs seized this month.

Can you please inform us of the disposition of the 62 dogs from the first seizure and the disposition, or planned disposition, of the dogs from the recent seizure? We have read the SPCA press release for the second seizure and seen the photos and urge you not to kill dogs with treatable conditions such as mange, overgrown nails, embedded collars, etc. None of these conditions are "critical" distress as the distress they cause is relievable. Real animal welfarists treat these conditions in dogs not infrequently, and surely the wealth of the BC SPCA and the expectations of its donors demands no less of the BC SPCA.

If there is a press release for the first seizure, would you be so kind as to forward it to me?

I look forward to your earliest response,

Judy Stone,
Animal Advocates Society of BC

(AAS note: As usual, there was no reply from the SPCA.)