Unlimited surrender is the most despicable of all BC SPCA policies. It accounts for most of the killing it does, and it is based on the greatest lie of all: that it is more noble to take every animal dragged or lugged through its doors and kill most or many of them, than it is to turn any away. Animal lovers and the gullible media have bought that spin for decades.

The truth is that unlimited surrender creates a culture of easy, guilt-free pet dumping, at the same time it supplies thousands of free animals every year for the SPCA's used pets business. Like all the big players in the billion dollar North American pet disposal industry, any animals that don't sell quickly are killed because they cost nothing, and more free, perhaps more sellable, product arrives every day to replace the dead ones.

Under unrelenting pressure from AAS and its web site, the SPCA has at last started to practice limited surrender. No one has seen any statement to this effect of course. If the SPCA were to explain openly that it was changing to limited surrender, the question of why it practiced unlimited surrender for so long might raise its ugly head.

If the SPCA is actually going to change its policy to limited surrender, then it will at last be able to adopt other real animal welfare policies too.

In this investigation, we asked about four different surrender possibilities and we asked (when we had the chance) for spay/neuter assistance instead of surrender.

100 Mile House: 250-395-5303: No shelter or staff. Difficult to reach. No information
2yr. old unspayed Golden Retriever:
8 yr.old neutered Shep. RottieX: Not good with kids:
8 week old kittens and mother cat:
9 yr. old neutered black cat:

Abbotsford: 604-850-1584: Almost never answers the phone. Incomplete information
2yr. old unspayed Golden Retriever: They will take her.
8 yr.old neutered Shep. RottieX: Not good with kids. They will put down if aggressive with other dogs. Asked for donation.
8 week old kittens and mother cat:
9 yr. old neutered black cat:

Burnaby: 604-291-7201
2 yr. old unspayed Golden Retriever: They are full. Will take her as a last resort. $100. surrender fee.
8 yr.old neutered Shep. RottieX: Not good with kids. Full. Try next week. $100. donation required.

8 week old kittens and mother cat: Full. Won't accept. No spay/neuter assistance for mother cat.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Full. Won't accept.

Campbell River: 250--286-6131
2 yr. old unspayed Golden Retriever: They are full. Will take her as a last resort. $100. surrender fee.
8 yr.old neutered Shep. RottieX. Not good with kids: Full. Try next week. $100. donation required.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Full. Won't accept. No spay/neuter assistance for mother cat.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: blue] Full. Won't accept.

Chilliwack: 604-823-6612:
2 yr. old unspayed Golden Retriever: Use SPCA as a last resort. Animals have to go through an assessment. Surrender fee$50.
8 yr.old neutered Shep. RottieX. Not good with kids:
8 week old kittens and mother cat: They have had a virus at the shelter, so use as a last resort.No spay/neuter assistance for the mother cat.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: No room. "We try to help people in the community as a last resort"

Courtenay (Comox Valley and District): 250-339-7722
2 yr. old, unspayed, Golden Retriever: They will take her. They will spay her.
8 yr. old neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: Will take him as a last resort.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Will take them. If I want the mom spayed, I MUST surrender her, then pay $88. to adopt her. ($88. is their cost for spaying). No other financial subsidy is available.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: As a last resort, they will take him. They have 300 cats. They will euthanize sick or feral cats.

Coquitlam: 604-942-4510
2 yr. old, unspayed, Golden Retriever: They are full and will not take her, but they gave phone numbers s and e-mails of 4 Golden Retriever rescue groups.
8 yr. old neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: Full. Try again in a few weeks.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Full, and have had upper respiratory problems. Recommended the Vancouver SPCA clinic for spaying the mom, but no financial assistance available.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Won't take

Cranbrook (East Kootenay): 250-426-6751
2yr. old unspayed Golden Retriever: They will take her.
8 yr. old neutered, Shep./RottieX: Not good with kids: They will take him. No questions asked.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: They will take kittens. No spay/neuter assistance for mother cat.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Will take him.

Dawson Creek (South Peace): 250-782-2444
2 yr. old, unspayed,Golden Retriever: They are full. Put me on a waiting list.
8 yr. old, neutered Shep/RottieX.Not good with kids: Will take him.Use SPCA as a last resort. Dog may become depressed or aggressive because of shelter environment, and then they will euthanize.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Yes, will take kittens. No spay/neuter assistance for the mother cat.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Will take him, but don't want to, as there is "a good possibility he will be euthanized."

Delta: 604-946-7848
2 yr. old unspayed Golden Retriever: They will take her as a last resort.
8 yr. old neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: They will take him as a last resort.
8 week old kittens and mother cat:
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Won't take.

Duncan (Cowichan and District): 250-746-4646
2 yr. old unspayed Wheaton terrier: Would love to take her, but currently have parvo outbreak. Try Victoria branch.
8 yr. old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: Will take the dog as a last resort.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: They will take the kittens. Come tomorrow, as they are full today. Bring in income tax form to see if eligible for financial assistance with spaying the mother cat.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Cannot take cat as there is a distemper outbreak. Try Salt Spring branch.

Fort St. John (North Peace): 250-785-7722
2yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever:
8 yr. old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: They will take him but don't want to. Said that other shelters just take their puppies.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Volunteer said that they were full 2 wks. ago, and volunteers were taking kittens home. She wouldn't comment on spay/neuter assistance.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Full.

Grand Forks (Boundary): 250-442-5858
2yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: Will accept.
8 yr. old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: They'll take him and keep him until he's adopted, or they'll transfer him to Trail, Nelson, or Kelowna.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: They will take kittens. No spay neuter assistance for mom cat.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: They will take him. They will transfer him to another shelter if they don't find him a home.

Kamloops : 250-376-7722
2yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: Full. Put me on waiting list. Asked me to get her spayed before bringing her in.
8 yr. old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: Full. Put me on waiting list.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Full. Can apply under Pal Program for spay/neuter assistance. Pal is a spay/neuter assistance partially funded by the SPCA and partially by the local veterinarians.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Full. As a last resort, she will try, but they have 300 cats now. Usually have 75.

Kelowna: 250-861-7722
2 yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: There has been kennel cough, so they told me to get dog vaccinated first, then call back to see if they have room.
8 yr. old Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: Kennels are closed. Monitoring something right now.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Full. Will put me on waiting list, or call back in a few weeks. If earning under $25,000 annually, can bring in income tax form and apply for assistance with spaying the mother cat, under the SNIF(Spay Neuter Initiative Fund) program.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Full. Will put on waiting list. Minimum $25. donation to pay for his keep.

Kitimat: 250-632-7373
2 yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: Full. Can't take her.
8 yr. old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: Full. Can't take him.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Will take them. As far as this worker knows, there is no spay/neuter assistance, but her boss might be able to give me names of some other organizations that might help.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: They will take him.

Maple Ridge: 604-463-9511
2yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: Referred me to Golden Retriever Rescue and Golden Retriever Club. They will take her as a last resort.
8 yr.old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: They will take him as a last resort.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Will not take. Full. No financial assistance with spaying the mother cat
9 yr. old neutered black cat:Will not take: Full.

Nanaimo: 250-758-8444
2 yr. old, unspayed Wheaton terrier: Would put on waiting list. Dog would probably be adopted directly from waiting list.
8 yr.old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: Would put on waiting list, or take him to another shelter, because they are full.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Full, but try tomorrow. They will spay mother cat for free.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Full.

Nelson: 250-352-7178: No shelter, no staff , incomplete information
2yr. old unspayed Golden Retriever:
8 yr.old neutered Shep. RottieX: Not good with kids.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Will take kittens
9 yr. old neutered black cat:

Parksville/Qualicum: 250-248-3811
2 yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: They will take her.
8 yr. old, neutered Shep. RottieX. Not good with kids: Dog would probably be euthanized if he has shown any aggression.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Full. Foster homes are also full. They do have a spay/neuter assistance program, but did not give details.do pediatric sterilization at 8 weeks.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Discouraged bringing in older cat. Said cat would stay in shelter too long. Suggested Cowichan Cat Rescue, although they "might just work with ferals." Gave incorrect (out of date) number for Cowichan Cat Rescue.

Penticton (Okanagan/Similkameen): 250-493-0136
2 yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: They will take her. Asked for a donation.
8 yr. old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: They will take him as a last resort.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: They will take kittens. Asked for a donation to help with feeding them.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Will take him as a last resort and keep him until he gets adopted or becomes sick.

Port Alberni: 250-723-5269
2yr. old, unspayed Wheaton terrier: They will take her.
8 yr. old, neutered Shep/RottieX: They would do a temperament assessment. They would probably not take the dog. Better to place him with a friend.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Hold on to kittens until they are each 2.2 pounds, then they will take them. They have no spay/neuter assistance available for the mother cat.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: They have 75 cats now, and no more room. Suggested I call Parksville or Victoria.

Powell River 604-483-3506: foster homes only
2yr. old unspayed Golden Retriever: They will take her.
8 yr.old neutered Shep. RottieX: Not good with kids: Will take if a foster home can be found. Seemed very concerned.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Will try to get a foster home for the kittens.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: Can't take.They only have foster homes, and they are full.

Prince George (North Cariboo): 250-562-5511
2 yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: They will take her. $30 surrender fee.
8 yr. old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: They will take him, and keep him as long as he is "healthy and behaviourally sound. If not adopted in a month, they will ship him to Quesnel. $24 surrender fee.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: They will not take them, they are full. Pretty much always full. No spay/neuter assistance for the mom. Used to have assistance, but it has been cut.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: "Bring him in anytime." $20. surrender fee.

Prince Rupert: 250-624-2859
2yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: They will take her. They will put her through an evaluation.
8yr.old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: They will take him. He must go through an evaluation
8 week old kittens and mother cat: They will take them. There is no spay/neuter assistance for the mother cat anymore.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: They will take him.

Queen Charlottes: 250-559-8439 This is someone's home
9 yr. old, neutered, black cat: She advised me to take him where I was moving, and try to get him into a larger shelter.
Kittens: She will try to find a foster home for kittens. Animals are only accepted if a foster home is available for them. Foster homes are harder to find for large dogs or old cats.

Quesnel: 250-992-7722
2yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: $24. surrender fee.They are full and put me on a waiting list.
8yr. old, neutered Shep/Rottie X: They are full and put me on a waiting list.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: They will not take them, they are full. Pretty much always full. No spay/neuter assistance for the mother cat. Used to have assistance, but it has been cut.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: "Bring him in anytime." $20. surrender fee.

Richmond: 604-277-6212
2 yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: Bring her in as a last resort.
8 yr. old, neutered Shep./Rottie X. Not good with kids: Adoption rate for that kind of animal is low. Bring him in as a last resort.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Won't accept.
9yr. old neutered black cat: Won't accept

Salmon Arm (Shuswap): 250-832-7376
2yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever:
8yr. old, neutered Shep/Rottie X:
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Won't accept. Are full, and have upper respiratory infections among the cats. They have no financial assistance for spaying the mother cat. Can apply to Okanagan Humane Society for financial assistance.
9 yr. old neutered black cat: See above.

Salt Spring Island: 250-537-1442: Takes cats and rabbits only. Phone not answered; phone calls not returned
2yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever:
8yr. old, neutered Shep/Rottie X:
8 week old kittens:
9 yr. old neutered black cat:

Sechelt (Sunshine Coast): 604-740-0301
2yr. old unspayed Golden Retriever: They will take her.
8 yr.old neutered Shep/RottieX: Not good with kids. Won't take if aggressive. A risk that he could sit in the SPCA for a long time and since he is not good with dogs or kids, he can't be transferred to another SPCA. It might be best not to put him through that and to have him put to sleep at the vet's by the one he loves.
8 week old kittens and mother cat:
9yr. old neutered black cat: They will take him, and put him in a communal area if he gets along with other cats.

Squamish Valley: 604-898-9890
2 yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: They only have one foster home, and it is full, so they can't take the dog.
8 yr. old, neutered, Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: They only have one foster home, and it is full, so they can't take him.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: They will take them. They sometimes do spay/neuter assistance. Fill out form.
9yr. old neutered black cat: Said they won't take him, but will call a cat rescue woman who might be able to help

Surrey: 604-597-5655
2 yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: Full. 2-3 dogs to a pen. Try Golden Rescue.
8yr.old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: Full. Try again next week.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: Will take kittens as a last resort. No spay/neuter assistance for mother cat.
9 yr. old, neutered black cat: Full. Try again next week.

Trail: 250-368-5910
2 yr.old, unspayed Golden Retriever: Can bring her in. They will spay her and give her her shots.
8yr.old, neutered Shep/RottieX Not good with kids: Will accept him. Small surrender fee. Will keep him until he finds a home, or they will transfer him to another shelter.
8 week old kittens and mother cat: They will take the kittens next week. They have no spay/neuter assistance for mother cat.
9 yr. old, neutered black cat: They can take him next week, after they move some cats to another shelter.

Vancouver: 604-879-7721 (Up to 45 mins on hold regularly at this branch)
2yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: They will take her if they have room. $100. surrender fee.
8 week old kittens: Told me to keep them until they are at least 3 months old, then they will do spay/neuter. They said the kittens would just get sick and die if I brought them in before 3 months. I asked about spay/neuter assistance, and she said she would pass my name and number along to another group.

Vernon: 250-549-7297
2 yr. old, unspayed Golden Retriever: Bring her in. I will have to fill out an assessment form and a donation is expected.
8 yr. old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: Bring him in. If he makes it through their assessment test, they will keep him.
Kittens: Full, but are transferring animals to Vancouver, so call back. No spay/neuter assistance available for mother cat cat.
9 yr. old, neutered black cat:They will take him, and if adoptable, may transfer him to another shelter.

Victoria: 250-388-7722
2 yr. old, unspayed Wheaton terrier: They will take her.
8 yr. old, neutered Shep/ RottieX: Offered suggestions re: rehoming the dog, but said they would take him if there was no other alternative.
9 yr. old, neutered black cat: Won't accept
Kittens: They don't have room for the kittens, but call daily. Have to talk to Penny re: spay/neuter, but she was not in.

West Vancouver: 604-922-4622
2yr. old unspayed Golden Retriever: They will take her if they have room. $100. surrender fee.
8yr.old, neutered Shep/RottieX. Not good with kids: They will take him. Volunteer not certain of surrender fee.
8 week old kittens: Told me to keep them until they are at least 3 months old, then they will do spay/neuter. They said the kittens would just get sick and die if I brought them in before 3 months. I asked about spay/neuter assistance, and she said she would pass my name and number along to somebody, but I did not hear back.
9 yr. old, neutered black cat: They will take

Williams Lake: 250-392-2179
2yr.old, unspayed Golden Retriever: No room. They will give my name and number to people looking for a golden retriever.
8 yr. old neutered Shep/RottieX: No room. They will put me on waiting list.
Kittens: No room. They might have room in a week or so, as they are flying some kittens to the coast. No spay/neuter assistance for the mom.
9 yr. old, neutered black cat: They are full. They would put me on a waiting list, or they might have room after they send some animals to Vancouver.