I wish I could say that I had an inkling of what's going on with Missy, but to date, I've been shut out of the case. This is particularly frustrating and disheartening for me because I spent so much time and energy into ensuring Missy's rescue, from the moment I saw her tied to a pallet, 24 hours a day in the yard of a dilapidated house as a 3 month old pup in early November 2002.

I spent hours trying to ensure that this pup did not fall through the cracks after I first reported her to the Alberni Clayoquot SPCA, when I was told that they were not going to take further action beyond their initial visit, as they saw no problem with Missy's living conditions or physical/emotional health. As you can tell, this was not the case as she was eventually seized after I contacted Craig Daniell, then the new General Manager of Cruelty Investigations. She was in fact seized for malnutrition and an untreated medical condition called demodectic mange sometime during the middle of February 2003. I don't know the exact date she was seized because it has never been given to me, although I asked many times. I last saw Missy tied in the back yard on February 14, 2003 and can only assume it was shortly thereafter. Had I not followed up with over 16 letters and countless phone calls, over a 4 month period, Missy would still be literally rotting (from mange) and starving to this day.

Since Missy has been seized, I've written to Irene Towell (Clayoquot Alberni SPCA shelter manager), Greig Jenkinson (SPCA Regional Manager, Vancouver Island) and Kim Capri (BC SPCA Chief Operating Officer) over a period of 4 months asking for information about Missy's current condition. I have received nothing but stone-walling evasive answers. I've asked many times if I could visit Missy and was told that I could not. I've offered monetary assistance for Missy's vet bills, and offered to help find Missy a foster home (in fact I had two foster homes available, which the SPCA chose not to use). I asked to be told the date that Missy's vet treatment was to end. I asked if the owner's of Missy could still apply for her return and if not, what date Missy would be up for adoption. I asked for Missy's case number. I have been unable to get direct answers to these questions. My last letter to Greig Jenkinson, dated May 22, 2003 has gone unanswered.

This is incredibly disappointing and frustrating and at the very least, I would just like to get the chance to see Missy, now that she has been rescued from her terrible living conditions and is on the road to recovery. I cannot simply pretend this dog doesn't exist now that she isn't rotting away in a filthy, garbage strewn backyard on the end of a rope. Since Missy has been in the SPCA system, I've been unable to get the most basic information on her welfare or whereabouts and have no idea what is happening with her.

I will always be available to provide any assistance necessary for Missy's welfare, including fostering or helping to find a responsible, loving, adoptive home.

See further posts on Missy at: http://www.animaladvocates.com/cgi-bin/newsroom.pl/read/1924, and put "Tofino" in Find to read more)