During July 2002, after several, possibly as many as ten years of complaints to the BC SPCA from concerned residents of the Creston area about Mr Bo Myers who was keeping 56 dogs tethered to trees in the woods near Topaz Creek, often without food, water, or medical attention, Creston PAWS, a small local animal rescue organization that had been asking Mr Myers for a year to surrender the dogs to it, was finally given the dogs. The BC SPCA then allowed Global Television and the Vancouver Sun to give it credit for this rescue - the very organization that ignored the many appeals to help these dogs, thereby getting the donations that the public would have sent to PAWS if it had known who really rescued these dogs.
While extensive evidence has been presented by PAWS to the SPCA that clearly documents the abuse and neglect of the Creston dogs, to the best of my knowledge, the SPCA has not asked Crown Council to lay criminal charges. Nor has the SPCA given a report to PAWS that demonstrates the reason prosecution is not a choice in this horrific case of animal abuse and endangerment.
As a concerned volunteer who works with PAWS I am hopeful that Craig Daniell, the BC SPCA's new General Manager of Investigations, will actively seek conviction of Mr Meyers through the criminal justice system.
On October 11th, 2002 I wrote Michael Steven, the President of the BC SPCA, asking that charges be pursued against Bo Meyers and that the official investigtion documents be released to all concerned parties.
Here is the response I received:
Dear Ms. Moerkerken,
December 2, 2002
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the Creston dogs.
As you may be aware a team of special constables followed up on this case during the summer to determine the welfare of the animals currently in the care of this individual. Since that time bi-weekly visits have also been conducted to monitor the situation. There is no evidence to suggest that the animals are in distress or are being neglected. If that occurs, we will immediately take action and will prepare a case for Crown Counsel.
You state a concern in your letter that the individual is telephoned in advance regarding site inspections. I have checked with our new General Manger of Cruelty Investigations, who assured me that our approach in this case is to conduct both announced and unannounced inspections.
With regard to the changes to the BC SPCA enforcement, we are fortunate to have on our staff (as of Nov. 1st) Craig Daniell, former Director of Cruelty Investigations for the Ontario SPCA. He comes to BC with an outstanding reputation for increasing cruelty convictions, reporting and accounting cruelty cases, shutting down puppy mills, and developing close cooperation with Crown Counsel. He is currently putting into place a new system of enforcement for cruelty investigation in BC.
The BC SPCA has worked hard during this past year to increase cooperation between the Society and individuals and groups involved in animal rescue. While we cannot change what has happened in the past we can commit our energies and resources to improving animal welfare and working more closely with groups such as PAWS. In the case of the Creston dogs, the SPCA provided financial support and worked in partnership with PAWS to place the dogs in new homes. It is obvious that you care deeply for animals, and I hope you will agree that by working together and directing our energies into a positive relationship we can provide the best care possible for animals.
Sincerely,
Michael Steven, Volunteer President
BC SPCA
And my response to Mr. Steven:
December 8, 2002
Attention: Mr. Michael Steven,
Volunteer President
BC SPCA
RE: BC SPCA Letter of Response to the Creston Crisis, dated December 2, 2002
Dear Mr. Steven,
I have now received your letter in response to my five-page document regarding specific and detailed concerns about the lack of action taken by the SPCA on behalf of 56 abused and neglected dogs that had been chained in the mountains around Creston, BC for up to 3 years.
I appreciate the fact that you have addressed a few of the concerns noted in the above mentioned document, but am disillusioned that once again, key issues have been dismissed, overlooked or ignored.
I am positive you did not intentionally avoid the key focus of my letter, requesting the delivering of charges to Crown Counsel against Mr. Meyers, and the SPCA’s dereliction of duties by not enforcing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA Act).
As noted in your December 2nd letter, “As you may be aware a team of special constables followed up on this case during the summer to determine the welfare of the animals currently in the care of this individual. Since that time bi-weekly visits have also been conducted to monitor the situation. There is no evidence to suggest that the animals are in distress or are being neglected. If that occurs, we will immediately take action and will prepare a case for Crown Counsel”. This statement indicates that the SPCA is willing to pursue charges in the Creston case, should a further incident arise and I must question, why then, is the SPCA not willing to pursue charges through the criminal justice system for the 56 dogs that suffered extreme abuse and neglect at the hands of Mr. Meyers.
The SPCA has been provided with detailed and substantiated documentation that proves without question, that these animals were suffering from thirst, hunger, malnutrition, discomfort, pain, injury, disease, constant tethering, and emotional distress.
The BC SPCA Charter recognizes that animals should have, at minimum, five essential freedoms. Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom from distress and freedom to express behaviour that promotes well-being. The 56 dogs chained to trees, standing in ground littered with filth, urine and excrement did not experience any of the five essential freedoms.
As Mr. Craig Daniell is now developing close cooperation with Crown Council and has an extensive and successful history of increasing cruelty convictions I am positive that the Creston Crisis is a perfect venue to demonstrate his skills and abilities in the province of BC. Without doubt, Mr. Daniell’s is a leader and I anticipate that his negotiations with Crown regarding prosecuting Mr. Meyers will be very promising.
Mentioned in your letter, “In the case of the Creston dogs, the SPCA provided financial support and worked in partnership with PAWS to place the dogs in new homes”. The fact that the SPCA supported PAWS financially with the extensive veterinarian costs is testimony in itself that many of the dogs from Creston were in dire need of medical attention and were suffering from a multitude of wounds, injuries, malnutrition and skin conditions. Additionally, the SPCA working in “partnership” with PAWS resulted in only a handful of dogs being sheltered by the SPCA, while hundreds of animal welfare supporters and groups fostered, rehabilitated, and re-homed the vast majority of these animals. PAWS received unconditional support from the community for they had accomplished what the SPCA would not. They managed an amazing rescue with little to no resources available and with blind faith and trust demonstrated that miracles can and do happen.
Additionally noted in your letter, “I hope you will agree that by working together and directing our energies into a positive relationship we can provide the best care for animals”. As the SPCA continues to develop a focus on working with the animal welfare community it is certain that a positive relationship can develop. This is possible by upgrading facilities, enforcing the PCA Act, shutting down puppy mills, increasing cruelty convictions, removing chained and tethered dogs, and truly becoming accountable to its membership and the citizens of BC.
Until then, we ALL must speak for “those without a voice”
I anticipate hearing from you regarding the delivery of charges against Mr. Meyers for cruelty and abuse to animals.
Sincerely,
Gail Moerkerken