The BC SPCA responds to my open letter
October 8th, 2009
BC SPCA clarifies food policy position
In response to Sarah Kramer’s posting calling on the BC SPCA to serve only vegan menus at any SPCA events, we like to clarify the society’s position. The BC SPCA is an animal welfare organization, not an animal right’s organization, so the policies of the organization will reflect a slightly different point of view than Sarah’s personal beliefs. Many of our staff, volunteers and supporters do choose to be vegetarian or vegan, but as an animal welfare organization we acknowledge that people in our world do eat animals for food. Our goal is to ensure that animals who are raised for food are treated as humanely as possible throughout their lives and are provided with the five freedoms outlined in our mission statement. To this end, the BC SPCA is a Canadian leader in promoting high standards of welfare for farm animals through its SPCA Certified Program and through extensive work at the local and national level increasing the codes of practice set out for producers. With respect to events, the BC SPCA has a policy that outlines that vegetarian (and where possible, vegan) options must be provided at all SPCA events and approved third-party events and that products meet acceptable standards of welfare.
October 8th, 2009. For immediate release.
We completely respect Ms. Kramar’s right to make personal choices and to offer her volunteer time and resources to an organization that most closely aligns with her personal belief system. However, there is a difference in philosophy between animal rights and animal welfare which she may not have been aware of when she signed up with the SPCA. The BC SPCA works regularly in partnership with animal rights groups and there is a mutual respect among the organizations with whom we work. Where we can agree on mutual goals we work together, and on other issues we respectfully ‘agree to disagree’ but still support one another’s efforts without imposing our philosophies on one another. At all times, we work with a shared passion for the benefit of the animals that we all love.