THE DAILY NEWS, KAMLOOPS, Wednesday,September 8/04

SPCA faces lawsuit
By Cam Fortems

Daily News Staff Reporter

"The SPCA acted unfairly and without explanation when it raided a Barriere-area dog breeder’s property in July and seized 35 animals, a Kamloops lawyer charged Friday.

Lawyer John Drayton said he intends to file papers Monday morning seeking a judicial review of the SPCA’s adopting out of 29 English mastiffs, a pug dog and five cats taken from award-winning breeder Bill Pieper under provisions in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) seized the animals July 27. Drayton said the only correspondence from the society to Pieper came three days later. It provided notice the animals were seized that they were to be disposed of within 14 days.

The SPCA left Pieper with 20 English mastiffs and no explanation about why some animals were seized and other left. SPCA officials told reporters the dogs were taken because they were living in extremely filthy and hazardous conditions. They provided no detail.

"The focus of the lawsuit is in the deficiencies of the statue and the broad powers the SPCA holds. It doesn’t have to afford due process of natural justice," Drayton said.

Drayton also said there are questions about whether a B.C. SPCA veterinarian on site during the seizure agreed with the action.

Pieper clams he asked the veterinarian twice, in the presence of witnesses that included an RCMP member, whether he agreed with the action.

"It would appear he didn’t support the seizure," Drayton said."

One of the healthy dogs the SPCA seized.....