Re: Moratorium on CAMP – Companion Animal Management Program

I am writing to you in the hope that the board of the BCSPCA will reconsider implementing the CAMP program. I have become aware that Jo Anne Chambers, President of the Victoria SPCA CAC Committee resigned because of her concerns about the CAMP program. The resignation of a long-term volunteer of the Victoria SPCA, one who dedicated years for the animals and was a loyal supporter, is very troubling.

I hope that you are aware that there are also others with grave concerns about CAMP. These people are volunteers and employees in Victoria and also other branches that are at a crossroads, torn between their work helping the animals yet tormented with what the CAMP program is doing to every reason that they loved and joined with the BCSPCA.

Implementing the CAMP program in its present form will have dire consequences as many more employees and volunteers will no longer be affiliated. The public and donors who had redoubled their efforts to help the BCSPCA because of the highly publicized seizures of puppymill dogs will again have their hopes dashed. In real terms, the CAMP program will be a financial disaster for the BCSPCA. People won’t be giving their money to an organization that is not making a real effort to help dogs that need it. Specifically, these dogs are those in CAMP's "orange zone", dogs which are not immediately adoptable but will be with a little time and effort.

Euthanizing dogs that have correctable problems is NOT an acceptable method for a society mandated to prevent cruelty to animals to deal with the problem. “Scientifically” justifying the euthanization of these unfortunate animals won’t work. It isn’t going to be a good enough reason to get rid of animals that volunteers and employees have become fond of, and have seen how these dogs can be someone’s loved pet if given some time, training and love.

There is enormous criticism concerning dogs needing to be moved from one branch to another. Off-loading an endless supply of these dogs to other branches tasked with making room by euthanizing orange zone dogs to make space for "green zone" dogs (dogs that are easily adoptable with little time or expense)* is never going to effectively deal with the problem of excess animals.

I implore you to put a moratorium on the CAMP program until the full effect of it is considered, to the employees, the volunteers, donors to the BCSPCA and mostly for the animals.

Sincerely,

Anita Horne
From The CAMP phase One manual:
p.40 "Orange zone animals with treatable conditions can only be kept in the shelter when the resources are not needed by green zone animals living in overcrowded shelters"
p.41 "The receiving shelter cannot refuse green zone animals living in overcrowded sheltes unless the Branch Manager states that they are already full of green zone adoptable animals. Orange zone animals (on hold) that cannot be adopted by average pet gueardians must be euthanised to enable equal access to resources for all adoptable animals."
p.45 "During Phase One many orange zone dogs may be euthanised because of 'not reasonably available resources' or because green zone dogs need these resources..."