The following is a reply I received from Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, John vanDongen's Deputy Minister, Bud Graham. I had written vanDongen regarding my concerns about chained dogs, and the SPCA's lack of action in that issue.

Apparently, the Act's definition of distress differs from that of the BCSPCA's own definition of the 5 Freedoms. In other words, more hair-splitting, rhetoric and excuses for lack of action from the Society.

Dear Ms. Esther:
Thank you for your email dated May 18, 2003 concerning the issue of dogs being kept chained for extended periods. The Honourable John van Dongen, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries has asked me to respond to your email on his behalf.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animal's Act authorizes the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to take action to assist animals that are in distress. The ACT defines distress; amongst other things, an animal is in distress if it is abused or neglected. The definition of distress contained in the ACT appears to be broad enough to apply to dogs that are kept chained for extended periods, depending on the particular circumstances.
However, the Society must make a determination about the particular case and whether or not the circumstances warrant action. In making these determinations Society enforcement personnel must act in accordance with the ACT and the Society's guidelines for its personnel.

In your email, you refer to the "Five Freedoms: that the Society has adopted. One of these freedoms is "freedom from distress." It is important to keep in mind that the Society's Five Freedoms do not form part of or replace the definition of "distress" in the ACT.

Thank you for taking the time to share your views with me. I hope you will continue to support the Society in its efforts to educate people on the responsibilities of dog ownership.

from Diane:
The most galling of his statements is the final one: urging me to support the Society to educate the people. How about the Society listening to those of us who are already well educated in dog ownership? We have been trying to tell them for years how to protect, rescue, home and treat animals. Nobody is listening. Not even our Minister of Agriculture.