Sent: Thursday April 17,2003
To Bob Busch, SPCA Regional Manager for the Kamloops Branch

Subject: Dogs Surrendered to SPCA Kamloops

Dear Mr. Busch,

I set aside time recently to visit the dogs which were surrendered to the Kamloops Branch of the SPCA and subsequently relocated to Vernon. I am so thankful that they have been saved from a life of cruelty and neglect following the action taken by Craig Daniell and his team members.

It was heartbreaking to see the fear in their eyes and physical posturing but at the same time encouraging to see the yearning for human contact and love which they deserve. I did not see one that does not have the potential to be a devoted and loving companion.

My understanding, after speaking with a female SPCA staff member, is that when the physical condition of the surrendered dogs is determined and treated they will be available for adoption. She did indicate that they would remain at the shelter,receiving treatment,for a yet undetermined period of time.

I strongly recommend that all seized and surrendered dogs be freed from their cages and placed in foster care as soon as their medical condition will allow. I do not believe that rescued Puppy Mill dogs should be adopted until they have spent as much time as is necessary ,which in some cases is for their lifetime, in carefully screened foster homes. To do otherwise will not result in a positive outcome in the process of rehabilitation for the dog or for the adjustment of the new family members. It will simply create an environment for failure and further shuffling of these dogs repeatedly from shelters to homes.

I sincerely hope that you will consider my opinions as you look at options for care of the many dogs which have been and will be seized or surrendered as a result of the leadership of Craig Daniell.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts as you begin to address the issues involved in rehabilitating and rehoming.

Yours truly,

Gail Ferraro,
Vernon, BC

In the wake of the sad mishandling of the rehabilitation of the Beaverdell dogs (see http://www.animaladvocates.com/beaverdell-topaz.htm) which resulted in 46 seized dogs being confined to an SPCA facility for seven months, 34 of which failed SPCA "assessment" testing after prolonged confinement and were killed, concerned people such as Gail and myself are wondering when the SPCA will release the surrendered puppy mill dogs into appropriate and competant foster homes. Having visited the portion of surrendered dogs that were transferred to the Vernon facility, I am concerned that they spend as little time in a caged situation as possible. They are all very fearful, and confinement will only make this behaviour worse. If they undergo SPCA "assessment" testing before being properly socialized in a home environment, they will fail, just as the Beaverdell dogs failed. If they fail, they are labelled "unadoptable" and killed. The SPCA cannot be allowed to keep killing dogs without giving them a fair chance at rehabilitation. Please email Mr. Busch, COO Kim Capri, and the Board of Directors, BC SPCA, to make them aware that we are all watching how the rehabilitation of these dogs is being handled. The SPCA placed Scarlet the Rottweiler in a foster home while cruelty charges were pending. There is no reason why it cannot do the same with the seized puppy mill dogs. We would like to know when the SPCA plans to begin rehabilitating these dogs.

Jennifer Dickson
President, Okanagan Animal Welfare Foundation

Bob Busch, Regional Manager, Kamloops Branch: bbusch@spca.bc.ca
Kim Capri, BC SPCA Chief Operating Officer, kcapri@spca.bc.ca

Att: The President and Board of Directors, BC SPCA:
info@spca.bc.ca