I do not think that I am mistaken in regards to the grounds in which an animal can be seized in a cruelty case as I have been led to believe by the BC SPCA that tethering 24/7 is grounds for charges/seizure as it is considered to be psychological abuse. An example of this is the case of “Scarlet” the Rottweiler that the Victoria SPCA seized in 2002 based on psychological abuse from being tethered with no social interaction. In addition, the SPCA refers to “psychological abuse from tethering” in the Animal Sense fall/winter 2002 online edition...

….."New animal-care guidelines, introduced by the BC SPCA in January, direct the Society's special provincial constables to take action against those who cause serious distress to animals by withholding the companionship and interaction they need for their emotional well-being. The guidelines define neglect with more precision and recognize that animals are sentient beings with emotions such as fear, anxiety, loneliness and stress, as well as strong social needs.

As a result, SPCA constables are citing psychological abuse and neglect with more frequency as factors in the seizure of animals. "We are the first humane organization in Canada to officially recognize through our guidelines that causing animals emotional pain and distress is a punishable crime. To deprive an animal of its psychological needs, including social contact, can be as cruel as withholding food."

The article goes on to give specific examples of dogs (Bach, Lady, Scarlet) that were seized on the basis of psychological abuse from being tethered.

The SPCA clearly states that depriving an animal of its psychological needs is considered by the BC SPCA to be grounds for seizure, and the BC SPCA has collected donations based on donors’ assumptions that the BC SPCA will act on the statements they make (such the ones above) to protect animals in the WHOLE province of British Columbia.

I am asking, once again, that the BC SPCA live up to it's own "Animal Care Guidelines", including the "Five Freedoms"

Jo-Anne Chambers,
Victoria