Re: The Province, Jan. 28/05

"The problem, says Eccles, is that the laws are so lax, the most a "cocker" can expect is a $2,000 fine or six months in jail." The Province, Jan. 28/05.

For years the BCSPCA has been saying animal cruelty laws aren't tough enough.

When a bill introducing potential changes to the federal laws pertaining to animal cruelty was introduced, the BCSPCA publically encouraged people to support it.

What most people don't understand is that animal abusers can be charged under the federal criminal code and/or the provincial PCA Act.

If the BCSPCA wants tougher laws, why aren't they lobbying the provincial government to also make changes to the provincial PCA Act?

The BCSPCA is a high profile animal welfare organization. If the BCSPCA feels stronger laws and penalities would help better protect animals, then why hasn't the BCSPCA initiated talks with the government to make changes to the provincial PCA Act?

"The SPCA lacks the funds to go underground and investigate the fights, says Eccles."

The SPCA lacks the funds to investigate and yet the number of administrators within the BCSPCA has tripled over the past few years. Something is very wrong with this picture.

"But charges against the other two were dropped when the judge said it was impossible to prove an actual cockfight was happening at the time of the raid."

Are BCSPCA Special Provincial Constables receiving adequate training? Doesn't the provincial government provide the BCSPCA with $70,000+ annually to be used specifically for training BCSPCA Special Provincial Constables? If so, are all SPCs receiving this training?