Posted By: Connie Mahoney <cmahoney@silk.net>
Date: Wednesday, 4 September 2002, at 7:31 a.m.
In Response To: #6 - SPCA salaries - way out of line? (AAS)
Posted By: Connie Mahoney <cmahoney@silk.net>
Date: Tuesday, 3 September 2002, at 9:19 p.m.
These letters were sent almost 6 months ago and I still haven't received a reply.
Connie mahoney
----- Original Message -----
Wrom: OTWFAOBUZXUWLSZ
To: csoules@spca.bc.ca
Cc: cnaherniak@spca.bc.ca
Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2002 9:00 AM
Subject: SPCA exploitation
re: Springvalley Middle School Career Day
It was so very disappointing to see the Kelowna SPCA's educational presentation at the above school on March 8, 2002.
The presentation consisted of: a rabbit in a cage, a kitten in a cage, and three fund raising items (an SPCA Calendar, an old newsletter and a form requesting Zellers and Canadian Tire points and please donate to us).
The table displaying the "cute" animals was continuously mobbed by dozens of students anxious to see the animals, sticking fingers into their cages. This caused great stress to the animals. In particular the rabbit was screaming (a high pitched sound) in distress with no relief from the unwanted attention for over an hour and a half.
Not only was a wonderful opportunity missed to teach these students anything meaningful about animals, but it was an obvious exploitation of their "cuteness" just to further the SPCA's image. There was absolutely no educational material, nothing dealing with spay/neuter and unwanted animals. This bunny and kitten were a direct result of pet over-population and ultimately most of them are euthanized by the SPCA's and again, no mention of this. The presentation was irresponsible and thoughtless. It was actually demeaning to the many students who are so eager to learn about animal issues and humane education, which should include ALL animals. Knowing that the Kelowna SPCA actually has paid full time staff to present humane education in the schools actually makes this worse. They commented that the large turnout at their table made them so popular, and they felt their presentation was therefore successful.
The SPCA is supposed to be raising the bar to improve their standards. I've never seen the bar so low!!
Could you please let me know if the SPCA has a policy on exhibiting animals in public (a very stressful situation for the animals). The time has come to stop treating these animals as merchandise to be peddled. Secondly, are there any standards relating to humane education presentations? I would appreciate your response.
Sincerely,
Connie Mahoney.
This is a follow up letter sent on March 20, and I still haven't received a reply.
March 20, 2002
Mr. Doug Brimacombe,
BC SPCA,
322-470 Granville Street,
Vancouver, BC, V6C 1V5
Dear Mr. Brimacombe,
I am addressing this to you because of the serious allegations your manager Russ Forand has made against me. I refer you to my e-mail letter sent to Cindy Soules on Sunday March 17, 2002 where I expressed my disappointment with the SPCA's presentation at Springvalley's Career Day on Friday March 8, 2002.
The next day, Monday March 18, Russ Forand (Kelowna SPCA Manager) phoned the Vice President of TRACS (The Responsible Animal Care Society) to accuse the TRACS volunteer at the same school Career Day of upsetting the SPCA volunteers and destroying SPCA material. On Tuesday March 19 Russ Forand called me at my house to accuse me of the same things.
I can only assume Russ Forand has responded on your behalf to my letter of concerns to you.
During that conversation, Russ Forand accused me of shouting at the volunteers and messing up papers on their SPCA table. None of this happened. I did speak with the volunteers manning the table and their reply was to ignore me, because I was "only from that other group". If I had upset them I'm sure Kay Hartman and Larry (SPCA Staff) would have handled the situation on the spot. I only heard about this from Russ Forand eleven days later, after you received my letter.
At Springvalley School my humane education display included information on many animal issues, the CFHS video "Plight of Performing Animals" was shown and handouts were provided from various well respected animal welfare/protection organizations.
I also included information from the UBC Animal Welfare Program which is partly sponsored by the BC SPCA.
Russ Forand informed me that he had filed a complaint with the Kelowna RCMP accusing me of mischief, which could lead to criminal charges and a criminal record. I was shocked and upset by his accusation. I felt he was using his position as an ex RCMP officer to threaten and intimidate me. Russ Forand also said he had phoned Springvalley School to inform them and he said they were surprised to hear about this. He did all this before he even asked me if it had indeed happened. TRACS has always been invited back to Springvalley Career Day.
These unfounded allegations are very serious. This is the third time Russ Forand has threatened and intimidated me after I have voiced some concerns. In 1999, after I submitted to the BC SPCA head office a report of my observations of the mistreatment of the animals in the Shriner's Circus in Kelowna, he asked the Kelowna SPCA Board of Directors to expel me from the Board on the grounds of undermining his work. (This was at the very same time I received the BC SPCA Humane Education Award for the public awareness campaign I conducted on the inherent cruelty to animals in the circus. The end result was Kelowna adopting it's "Wild and Exotic Animal Prohibition Bylaw")
In February 2001 I expressed my concerns about safety issues at the shelter and the poor sanitary conditions of the dog kennels. (refer to my letter of March 2, 2001, which you still haven't replied to.) For this I was banned from the shelter.
Russ Forand's behaviour towards me this week continues his pattern of threats and intimidation. I know he has also threatened and treated others in very much the same way. Is this how the SPCA handles people who voice concerns? In all of these situations I have either written or copied head office and I have never received a reply.
I know these are difficult times for the BC SPCA. There has been a significant loss of public trust and a great deal of criticism (some of it from me) over how the Society has operated in the past. My original intention in writing to you about the SPCA's presentation at Springvalley's Career Day was to hopefully achieve a positive change on how the SPCA presents itself in public. Russ Forand's response to me did nothing to address these concerns, so I have to write to you again.
Due to the seriousness of this matter it is incumbent upon you to respond not only to my original concerns about the career day but also to the manner to which Russ Forand confronted me.
Sincerely,
Connie Mahoney
e-mail: cmahoney@silk.net
cc. Cindy Soules
cc. Craig Naherniak