From: Craig Daniell
To: pjbest@telus.net
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 10:57 AM
Subject: RE: Please Read and please respond.....help these dogs....
Dear Ms. Best:
Thank you for your email expressing concern about the return of a number of dogs previously seized in the Chilliwack area.
I can understand your frustrations. It does not seem right, nor fair that seized dogs should be returned the same individual that they were in fact seized from. Please understand though that in these cases, the Society is often as frustrated as the public. We do not want to return animals we have seized. Occasionally, however, they are returned. They are returned because the legislation that we use to seize them in the first place, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, provides a mechanism for owners to claim return of their animals. The legislation currently does not give the Society a right to absolutely refuse to return animals. We can in some cases, apply to the Supreme Court for an order of custody where there are sufficient grounds for a judge to believe that animals lives may be in danger. We have made use of this mechanism on two occasions this year already and will continue to do so. Unfortunately, it is a very expensive procedure made difficult to achieve by the fact that the law still considers animals as property, a fact that the Society has been working for many years to change.
If animals are in fact returned, they are always returned subject to a number of conditions. These conditions are in fact very onerous on the animal owner and are one way of ensuring that the animals receive the care they require. In addition, we also insist on the right of unannounced inspection to check on the condition of any returned animals.
While I can understand your anger and frustration, I would ask that you also understand that we are not simply abandoning these or any other animals. I would also ask that you write your MLA and ask for an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act which would make it extremely difficult for animal owners to reclaim seized animals.
Thank you for taking the time to write to me.
Craig Daniell
Acting Chief Executive Officer
BC SPCA