A good samaritan found Monty, a 12lb maltipoo, running at large. She spent over an hour trying to capture him, but finally called the SPCA for help, as the little dog was snapping at her when cornered and she was unable to get a hold of him.

The SPCA took him into custody. The good samaritan phoned daily to see if he had been claimed - the little dog had no tattoo or tags, so it was up to whoever owned him to come looking for him.

In the meantime, the SPCA put the dog through its assessment test, and subsequently labelled him a "9/10 on the aggression scale". It told the good samaritan that if the "little bugger" wasn't claimed, it would very likely kill him rather than put him him up for adoption. This was unacceptable to the good samaritan, who had naively trusted that the SPCA would care for the lost little dog, and do everything in its power to act in the best interest of the animal, as it tells the public over and over it does.

Although a volunteer trainer had been working with Monty, and had reported that he was making progress, it was reported by SPCA staff that he wasn't making progress fast enough. After a week's grace to wait for the appearance of Monty's owner (who never showed) the SPCA told the person who had found Monty that Monty was to go see the vet, in preparation for him being neutered. (We praise the SPCA for at least starting to do pre-adoption spay/neuter at some branches). BUT - the SPCA also reported that if Monty tried to bite the vet, he would not be neutered, he would be killed.

Horrified, the person who found Monty begged to be able to foster him. Luckily, the SPCA finally relented, and Monty has now been officially adopted to his two-time saviour. She saved him from the traffic first, and then had to save him FROM the SPCA.

Why??

Why did Monty only receive one week's remediation? He was making progress, but it was demanded that he make progress faster, or he be killed. This is not animal welfare. This is moving product. Sell or kill, sell or kill - no time to hang about waiting for damaged goods to improve. More are coming every day, and the space is needed for dogs that are easier to sell. Kill the orange to make way for the green. The SPCA's own assessment manual says this.

But the SPCA will argue that Monty was a known biter. Nine out of ten on the aggression scale!!! All I can say to that is:

HE WEIGHS TWELVE POUNDS!!!! WHAT'S HE GOING TO DO - NIBBLE SOMEONE TO DEATH BEFORE HELP ARRIVES????

If Monty were a 50lb dog scoring nine out of ten on an aggression scale, I could see the point. Big dogs who bite are potentially very dangerous, and sometimes lead miserable lives of isolation because of the danger they pose. But Monty is ankle high and totally manageable. Of course he should not be around children, but he is doing wonderfully in his new home, no thanks to the SPCA who called him a "little bugger" on more than one occasion, and would rather have seen him dead.

But size issues aside, the point is twofold:

1. Monty did not receive the level of remediation the SPCA claims to give. He was not given nearly enough time. Many dogs take months, some even years, to recover. The SPCA however, chose to put a deadline on his recovery, and thus a death sentence on his life. He was not given the time he needed because the SPCA needs to keep making space for more product. This is not animal welfare.

2. The SPCA grossly ignores its mandate when it kills dogs like Monty while claiming they are a danger to the public. As ex-BC SPCA President Rick Sargent so astutely pointed out not long ago: the SPCA's mandate is to protect animals from humans, not to protect humans from animals.

Lucky little Monty is enjoying life in his new home - he is now neutered and tattooed, has had his teeth cleaned, and been groomed, and is feeling MUCH better. He sleeps on the couch, goes for car rides, and lots of big off leash runs. He is leading a normal happy life, and no one has had their throat torn out either.

The SPCA was paid $145 by the person who found Monty so that she could take him away from impending death. The SPCA got $145 and Monty got his life. Lucky boy Monty, they almost killed you.