Aside from our telephone investigations revealing that none of the SPCA branches we called (including Vancouver head office) were willing to actually take in and foster pets belonging to women fleeing violent situations, we have also heard of incidents where real victims have been denied help for their pets by the SPCA.
Following is an email communication between AAS volunteer Jeri-Lyn Ratzlaff and BC SPCA General Manager of Community Relations, Lorie Chortyk:
From Lorie Chortyk's email to Jeri-Lyn Dec. 17th 2003:
"We also work very closely with transition houses across the province to temporarily shelter animals so that women with pets can leave abusive situations, we have initiated cross-training workshops with groups involved in violence prevention, and we cross-report with police and victim services organizations while conducting animal cruelty complaints
if we suspect the potential of family violence."
From Jeri-Lyn's email to Lorie Chortyk Dec. 17th 2003:
Hi Lorie
I recently heard through a local Victoria paper the story of a woman leaving an abusive relationship and asked the local SPCA branch to assist with her two cats because she was going to a transition house. She was told by this branch that they couldn't help relocate her cats and that her cats would be put to sleep if she brought them in. Subsequently, a local vet heard the story and offered to board the cats without charge. This vet was quite
upset with the SPCA's response and posted her comments on the AAS message board.
If the work that you talk about is truly being done, that is great. I look forward to the day when our society takes responsibility for its citizens and its animals that rely on us for food, shelter, and comfort.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Jeri-Lyn
From Lorie Chortyk's email to Jeri-Lyn Dec. 18, 2003
Dear Jeri-Lyn,
I will need more details in order to check on the Victoria case you mention, but it sounds very suspicious to me. In situations like that we have special foster homes available and the animals would never be euthanized in any case, so there is no way she would have been told that the animals would be put to sleep -- it just doesn't happen. If you have more details, I can follow up for you.
Lorie
From Jeri-Lyn Ratzlaff to Lorie Chortyk, December 19, 2003
Hi Lorie
Thanks for the information you provided. Below is the story concerning the Victoria SPCA as you requested posted on the AAS message board. I don't know any other details about the
situation.
Good to hear you will follow up with this.
Sincerely,
Jeri-Lyn
Letter from Veterinarian, Dr Ellen Guttormson
In regard to this subject there has just been a very interesting situation at the Victoria SPCA. I was contacted by Carol Sonnex of Greater Victoria Animal Crusaders. She had just dealt with a situation whereby a woman going into a shelter for abused women needed immediate placement for her 2 cats. She contacted the Victoria SPCA and was told that they were full, could not take the cats, and the only assistance they could offer would be to put the cats to sleep. She managed to get in touch with GVAC and they made arrangements to pay for the vaccine upgrades and the cats are being boarded at the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital at no charge. So much for all of the brochures and hoopla re caring for animals in potentially abusive situations. I forwarded the information from Carol to Craig Daniell over a week ago and have had no reply. I told him that this was one of the final straws and that I will be resigning from the CAC of the Victoria SPCA.
Ellen Guttormson