Robert Matas, Globe & Mail
Dear Sir,
I understand that you may be interested in writing about the BCSPCA writ against Animal Advocates Society here in British Columbia.
My major concern with this is the fact that the BCSPCA is spending large sums of money on legal fees etc., when the money was donated by people to go towards helping animals!
I am sorry to say that this is yet another indication that the BCSPCA is becoming less democratic and less accountable with each passing month. This is the continuation of a process that started with the centralization of the Society into a Vancouver based Head Office, and all local input and responsibilities and authority were removed.
Another example of the same mind-set has been the introduction of a Temperament Assessment program (DTA4) for the dogs. This is supposed to be a scientifically based method to determine whether a dog has aggressive tendencies which make it unsuitable for adoption. Those of us who have seen the actual test and have wide experience with dogs in shelters know that the test is unscientific and has major flaws. This has been brought to the attention of the BCSPCA, at all levels, alternatives suggested and discussions requested without any change. A meeting took place in Victoria between concerned people and the BCSPCA staff person in charge of the program, and the discussions were unproductive. At the following meeting of the Community Advisory Committee I challenged the basis of the program. Subsequent to this I was told that I could no longer volunteer at the shelter.
As background my wife and I had volunteered with the BCSPCA for twenty years and given many hours and some thousands of dollars in donations over this time.
If I can provide further information or clarification about the above please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Regards
Mike Stephen