The Comox SPCA sold 123 animals in August ( http://www.cvspca.shawbiz.ca/) and this month the BC SPCA has opted to run a campaign called " Adoption Challenge".
While the main BC SPCA website has information about what is involved in adopting an animal what is the reality for animals being sold in such volume?
The reality can be seen in Comox's Shanty and Bella. The reality can be seen in Coquitlam's Gilbert, Jade, and Elmo. The reality can be seen in Nanaimo's Major and Degas.
Unfortunately, these are the lucky ones who were returned to the shelter when their purchasers were not satisfied with their goods.
How many others do not get returned to the SPCA but spend their days neglected, or chained? We have no way of gathering these statistics but as long as the BC SPCA has an " Open Surrender" policy which encourages people to "dump" their "treasured companions" for any reason these "sales" will continue.
From p.57 of the BC SPCA's Companion Animal Management Program (C.A.M.P.), " Over the last 15 years, the social context in which we do our mission work has evolved. The "No-Kill" philosophy championed by many humane organizations has led the way towards fostering responsible care of animals. However, the question remains 'Why are there animals that need to be euthanised in the first place?' The BC SPCA does not aim to simply stop the killing but aims to understand and address all the factors that lead to euthanasia, poor welfare, and hinder status."
All the pontificating is not helping the animals. The BC SPCA needs to look inward. The BC SPCA needs to put itself under the microscope and look at the message it sends the general public.
The BC SPCA's Open Surrender Policy itself accepts and condones poor welfare and hinders status. The Open Surrender Policy also causes an undetermined but very large number of euthanasias each year.
Until the BC SPCA becomes honest and actually starts addressing the known factors that lead to euthanasia and poor welfare nothing, absolutely nothing will change.
Louise Englund