According to this report in The VanCity Newsletter Spring 2003, information regarding the following was made available:
"A second grant was also made from the Leo & Francis Longo Fund for Charity to Animals that will support an innovative new program of the BC SPCA to address issues related to child and family violence and animal welfare. Working with transition houses, the Institute Against Family Violence and Victims Services, the SPCA has identified that many women and children may not leave an abusive relationship due to threats to pets and animals in the home. This project will develop options for families and pets while they are in transition that will address this barrier. As well, the project will increase awareness about the links between violence in the home and violence to animals, and the potential to use detection of animal cruelty as an indicator of family violence."

During that year, I submitted my name as a volunteer willing to provide foster care for pets of families fleeing violent situations. As of today,I have not received one call from our local SPCA branch in response to my offer.

As evidence shows that no such program exists, I question both the amount of the grant and how those funds were utilized. Has this money been accounted for by the BC SPCA?

Having assisted more recently in rescuing several animals from the same local SPCA branch, I can no longer recommend that anyone leave pets in their care under any circumstances.

Once again, led by the example of the new Society which has been registered in Delta, I stongly urge other communities to follow suit by forming a new Society to meet the needs identified in the Violence Link Project. The need for protection of animals living in homes where violence is occurring has not decreased since the initial proposal by the BC SPCA was announced. Animals removed from violent situations require rehabilitation as well as a safe place where their basic needs are met.

Chaos has been clearly visable and escalating within the BC SPCA, which in my opinion indicates it is not a suitable candidate for providing service to animals at risk. I believe that service to pets of victims of violence should be provided by an animal-serving, compassionate and knowledgeable group, comprised of members in each community who come forward to offer their help in providing the protection for family pets which is long overdue.