Fur flies in SPCA facility flap
By Jennifer Feinberg

Two keen members of the local SPCA volunteer corps says they are eager to set the record straight in the wake of the kerfuffle caused last week by the decision to close the Chilliwack SPCA shelter.

Their main concern was the dubious assertion made by provincial SPCA rep Lorie Chortyk that Chilliwack volunteers were “quite happy” with the sudden decision to close the facility by April 30.

Stephanie Smith, a local volunteer who sits on the three SPCA committees, says there are about 25 volunteers involved in Chilliwack SPCA activities.
Volunteers were “completely stunned” initially by the decision, she states, and then later by the assertion made by the provincial reps that the volunteers were OK with it.

“It was a complete shock for all of us,” she says. Ms. Chortyk told The Progress last week that many of the volunteers were “quite happy” with the decision. “When we saw that, we were totally taken aback because it’s not
true,” Ms. Smith says. She asserts she has not met even one volunteer who agrees with the decision to close the Chilliwack shelter.

“I don’t know why she’d say that when as far as I knows, none of the volunteers were contacted about this particular matter or any other matter. I’ve personally never even met her,” she says.

Ms. Smith’s own status as a volunteer with the animal protection organization is up in the air, pending final decisions by the B.C. SPCA. “We haven’t given up but we are reeling from the shock and re-evaluating our roles as volunteers,” she says.

And contrary to what Ms. Chortyk stated last week, “there is no guarantee the SPCA will retain the original volunteer corps from this community.” Ms. Smith says she can guarantee most of the volunteers she works with will not be returning.

“The main reason is the speed of the decision to close and the absolute disregard for the efforts of volunteer Ina Vermerris (who spent $30,000 to build a communal cat facility),” she adds. The move was “an incredible blow” and they’re still incredulous that SPCA management could have attended the cat facility opening when they must have known the shelter would be closing.
assertion that volunteers were happy, was to assume that somehow the SPCA
official was given “erroneous” information.

“When I was phoned the night before the decision to close was made, the regional manager said she hoped I could attend an important meeting the next day,” the chair of the fundraising committee recounts. “She requested that key volunteers be in attendance. If we are considered ‘key volunteers,’ then where did the assertion that volunteers were in agreement come from? “We were not contacted by Ms. Chortyk or any other members of the B.C. SPCA. In fact, many were angry and upset about the decision and the manner in which it was presented to us,” Ms. Stander adds.

“The only indication at that meeting that I personally gave, was to say, if I have to go to Abbotsford to walk dogs, I will do it because of my love for animals. But I cannot, in all good faith fundraise for the B.C. SPCA if our shelter is being taken away from us.”