According to media reports, a pit bull named Sheba attacked and seriously injured a horse, bit a child on the hand, and chased another child on a bicycle, all on the same day. There were multiple witnesses to the attacks. The SPCA took custody of Sheba, and the witnesses provided statements.
Alarmingly, the SPCA then returned Sheba to her owner.
The SPCA picked up Sheba 3 days later, again running at large, this time wearing a muzzle. Again, they returned her to her owner.
The SPCA twice released a dog back into the community who had bitten both a child and another animal.
Sheba has proven herself to be a threat to public safety, yet the SPCA sees fit to release her into the community.
Cheech was a 10 month old pup who had NEVER bitten anyone, yet the SPCA was determined to euthanize him, as it considered him a threat to the community if he was released from the SPCA. Here are some of the things the SPCA said about puppy Cheech:
The Province
June 18/04
"The SPCA's primary concern is that Cheech poses a threat to the public" Chortyk said, adding that the Society has a moral and legal duty to protect the public from harmful animals.
CTV News at 6pm
June 19/04
Bob Busch, BC SPCA Regional Manager: "We must not let an animal that has a chance to be dangerous out in public. We would be irresponsible as the SPCA if we did that, and I think the public expects more of us."
The Delta Optimist
June 23/04
Chortyk said she empathizes with Cheech's supporters, but said the SPCA would be derelict in its duty to let a dog with "the highest likelihood of mauling someone" go free.
Global Noon News
June 19/04
Nadine Gourkow, BC SPCA Animal Welfare Manager:
"The feeling was with Cheech that the rehabilitation he might need had very, very low chances of success, but even the success that might have happened wouldn't have been so he is actually healed. But that perhaps it could be managed, but that would be to a point where he would have to have a lot of restrictions such as being muzzled, being leashed, being things that really would have reduced his welfare."
So let me get this straight: The SPCA is concerned that Cheech's "welfare" would suffer by having to be muzzled, but it's not concerned that the pit bull's "welfare" is suffering by having to be muzzled.
And the SPCA believes that the dog with the "highest likelihood of mauling someone" should be euthanized, while the dog who has actually attacked and bitten multiple times should be released into the community.
And while it would be "irresponsible" to let a frightened puppy, who has never bitten, out into the public, it is perfectly okay to release a dog who has attacked more than once.
Lorie Chortyk is correct to say that the SPCA "has a moral and legal duty to protect the public from harmful animals". It seems the SPCA's problem lies in its horrendously frightening inability to identify what dog is a real danger and what dog is just a scared pup begging for a little more love and guidance.
But wait... the SPCA has a special test to help it decide which dog is dangerous and which isn't...that's right, I remember it now. Lorie Chortyk called this test the "best in the world"... it's called DTA4, isn't it Lorie, and the SPCA has spent a lot of time and money promoting it...
For its own sake, the SPCA would be wise to curb its doublespeak, or it will make the judge and lawyers crazy the day we go to court.