The media gave, and the SPCA took, credit for the rescue of the Topaz Creek dogs by Creston PAWS. AAS sent the letter below to Global and the CRTC pointing out that we had proof that the media knew who was responsible for the rescue but had given the credit to the SPCA, and the SPCA certainly knew which Society made the rescue and it wasn't them, and also pointing out that we knew that stealing credit for another's work is the same as stealing money because credit is what draws donations. The media has helped the SPCA to maintain its false image for decades. The media distorts and destroys with impunity, but our letters made it give credit where it was deserved. Global did run other stories in which Creston PAWS was given credit and the SPCA offered to assist with Creston PAWS's vet bills for the rescued dogs. These actions are clear admissions, in our opinion, that the SPCA and Global knew that we knew that there were grounds for an action.

August 21, 2002

To: CRTC: c/o CRTC Director Marguerite Vogel
c.c. to:
Canadian Broadcast Standards Council

GLOBAL BC
Steve Wyatt, General Manager:
Ian Haysom, Director of BCTV News on Global: Toronto office:

President Michael Steven,
Board of Directors, BC SPCA,

Re: BCTV/Global Newscasts on the rescue of dogs from Topaz Creek, BC

It has come to our attention that in several recent newscasts, BCTV/Global deliberately credited the rescue of the Topaz Creek dogs to the BC SPCA when in fact the rescue was carried out by Creston PAWS Society. When these omission were pointed out to BCTV, it did not make full corrections.

We request that BCTV be made to air another newscast on the rescue of the Topaz Creek dogs, with full credit given to Creston PAWS, including the important information that the BC SPCA had been informed of the dogs' and cats' conditions for years and had done nothing. If the public does not know that the SPCA is frequently not preventing cruelty, it will continue to be mislead by the media into giving donations to the SPCA under false pretences, and the SPCA will continue to receive money that rightly belongs to other Societies, in this case, Creston PAWS. The media has a clear duty to find and publish all relevant facts. In this case, BCTV has deliberately withheld, distorted, and manipulated facts that it was in possession of, and as a consequence, it has directed funds away from the correct, and deserving, recipients to incorrect and undeserving recipients.

Judy Stone
President, Animal Advocates Society of BC