I am glad you aren't toughened up, and it's people like you who we NEED at the SPCA. Unfortunately, there are those who are de-sensitized to these types of activites. I don't like to generalize, and I'm sure there are many SPCA staff who hate euthanasia, but those that have toughened up over the years, should be weeded out. I believe that it is these same toughened people who can investigate a cruelty/neglect case, and do nothing about it but go through the motions of paperwork. If they weren't hardened, they would be as horrified as the rest of us, and do what the PCA Act allows.
Too many times we've been told by the public that the SPCA sent someone out to look at a neglected/abused animal and the response was "it has food,water, and shelter". Since we have seen more recently animals in this same situation where the SPCA has pressed charges against the owner, and since the PCA Act has not been changed to my knowlege, then they have always had this ability to do so. Only a hardened person could turn a blind eye to this type of situation. In defense of those SPCA staff who may have honestly tried to do something in the past, perhaps it was their manager/boss/executive higher up who took the hard line and did not allow them to pursue it.
So, those people need weeding out too. I don't believe the SPCA can move forward in the positive direction we all want them to go, with this type of employee/executive on board. I also think that as with any workplace, the other staff members all know who these types of people are, and it will be up to them to make formal complaints against them to have them removed. It is probably equally as frustrating to the good employees to have these "toughened" people sabotaging their great efforts. When the public deals with these "toughened" employees, then it tarnished the entire SPCA's image.It is in everyones' best interests to NOT have these people working for the BCSPCA.