Jo-Anne Chambers
Victoria, BC
V9B 1L2
May 23, 2003
BC SPCA
Administration Center
1245 East 7 Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V5T 1R1
Attention: Ms. Kim Capri, COO
Dear Ms. Capri:
Re: Kamloops Seizure and Killings
I am writing to you to voice my concerns about the status of the 34 dogs who were seized from a suspected puppy mill on March 29, 2003. I would also like to voice my displeasure at Mr. Busch’s response of May 22, 2003 to various parties as follows (Mr. Busch’s comments are italicized):
“The two dogs in question were unsocialized and extremely fearful of humans”. This comment is particularly disturbing. If this was the excuse used to kill two of the dogs, then ALL of the seized dogs may be killed because they are ALL unsocialized and fearful to some extent.
“Although a month was spent attempting to rehabilitate the dogs, they did not improve”. Did the BC SPCA “experts” actually expect these dogs to improve after only one month, particularly in a kennel environment? I can speak from personal experience - I adopted one of the Topaz Creek dogs five months ago and he certainly hasn’t gotten over his fear of strangers or unfamiliar situations. It takes a long time and a lot of patience to help abused animals overcome their distrust – in fact they may always be somewhat wary. Allowances have to be made to help these animals have a happy and normal life – you don’t just kill them after leaving them in a high stress environment for a month.
“Although the BC SPCA supports the use of qualified and appropriate foster homes and rescue groups, it was decided that the nature of these dogs' behavior would not have been improved in a foster/rescue situation.” Mr. Busch stated that the dogs were fearful. The best way to rehabilitate a fearful dog is to care for him/her in a secure home environment where he/she will have a better chance to overcome that fear. Why weren’t these dogs given the opportunity for this type of rehabilitation?
Animals that have been taken from abusive/neglectful situations cannot possibly receive enough social or environmental enrichment in a kennel in order to be rehabilitated. “Shelter” staff do not have enough time (or necessarily enough experience) to deal with the needs of abused/neglected animals, particularly in this case where thirty-four dogs arrived at the “shelter” at the same time. Fostering with experienced rescue groups or individuals should be the first course of action in order to provide the dogs with every chance of having a normal life. However, I think that the BC SPCA may have a very selfish reason for keeping these animals in their “shelters” – it reaps substantial media attention and in turn, donations.
The BC SPCA must realize when they seize dogs from puppy mills or abusive situations that they aren’t going to get “Lassie” type dogs that are ready for adoption immediately. They must also realize that all or most of the dogs are going to be “orange” or “red” zone dogs (according to CAMP) and most of the dogs will not be suitable for the “average dog guardian”. Therefore, I believe that CAMP is setting these dogs up for failure, and ultimately, disposal.
It appears to me that the BC SPCA seems intent on bungling every attempt they make when trying to stop cruelty to animals in British Columbia. What is so repulsive is that huge donations are being collected while animals continue to die at the hands of the society who has been given the responsibility to protect them from harm.
Yours truly,
Jo-Anne Chambers
cc. Rick Sargent, President BC SPCA
Pat Cutler, BC SPCA Director, Thompson Region
C. Daniell, Manager of Cruelty Investigations, BC SPCA
Animal Advocates Society