H.K wrote her experience with the SPCA at our request. She first phoned us and told us that in her opinion, the whole "We care for animals" P.R. was just a facade, that the SPCA people she dealt with were heartless terrorists, holding animals' lives to ransom who are only afraid of one thing - to be exposed in the media.

From hundreds of accounts from others all over BC, and our own experience, we have to agree and we welcome your stories of the Vancouver SPCA clinic.

SPEAKING FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

The story of Winston, the back alley cat, and my "cat fight" with the BC SPCA

For the last few weeks, I was taking care of a stray cat living in my back alley. We first met when I was walking my dog, Charlie. The cat that I soon named Winston, was beautiful, grey-haired, and very friendly. Charlie took an instant liking to Winston, who did not mind having his face licked by my canine companion. We saw Winston quite a few times and assuming he was homeless, took him home to stay with us.

A few days before Thanksgiving, Winston disappeared. I tracked him down to the SPCA on East 7th Ave in Vancouver. I called to find out the shelter fees for the first day were $25 and $5 for each additional day, coming out to approximately $50.

On October 12, I headed to the SPCA with my carrier and $100 in my jeans. Arriving at the hospital, I found my poor Winston, skinny and forlorn in the back of a deep, dark cage, making me anxious to get him home.

To my astonishment, the cashier presented me with a bill for $433. I did not have this kind of money now, nor would I have in the near future, and told her that. I asked the Veterinarian on duty if he could release my Winston for a $100 payment on account. He disappeared into the back room. He returned to inform me that was not satisfactory. Everything I tried to negotiate was deemed unsatisfactory to the unseen back room "decision maker".

I then offered to provide a foster home for Winston until he might be adopted, which they also refused. As a last resort to deal with these unreasonable, uncaring individuals, I asked if I could be notified if they planned to euthanize him so I could do something to save his poor life. All I asked was denied and was informed I must pay all or he would be killed.

She informed me, in her opinion, a cat of 12 years had no possibility of adoption and I better be prepared to pay $20 a day while I tried to raise his vet bill.

I returned home broken-hearted with my empty carrier. My Winston had been taken hostage by heartless kidnappers and if I didn't come up with the ransom, he would be killed. I couldn't reconcile in my mind these uncaring people with the public persona offered when they seek donations and government handouts with what I was seeing and hearing.

I remembered all those touching stories in the news geared to induce tears and open wallets.

Their attitude caused me to question the amount of the vet bill, so I consulted some vets on my own and was told that his minor ailments would not require hospitalization and the ointment he would require would cost no more than $25.

My next call to the SPCA was like magic. I used the "media" work and all of a sudden they couldn't do enough for me. They were falling all over themselves trying to help me. The receptionist passed my phone call to a woman, who immediately apologized and admitted there was no medical reason to hospitalize Winston. She claimed to only hospitalizing him for his own welfare. She then offered to adjust the bill and apologized for the whole approach the SPCA had taken--she called it a "misunderstanding". I didn't see this as just a "misunderstanding" I saw the total disregard for his life and my feelings by a handful of overpaid employees who pass themselves off as loving, caring people.

I called to offer what I could afford, $100 now and a post-dated cheque for another $100. Two hours later they phoned me to tell me $100 was sufficient and not to worry about the other $100, I could put it toward Winston's future medical bills. Had they treated me this way on my first visit, I would have been very happy, but all their sudden generosity appeared more like "damage control".

The very next day I cancelled my monthly business donation I have been giving and instead transferred my donations to a no-kill shelter I have found, the "SARA SOCIETY". The post-dated cheque destined for the SPCA was also donated to the no-kill shelter, with my blessings.

As Winston sleeps soundly and safely next to me, I'm glad he doesn't have to know how hard I had to fight to have him here. I guess that's what the SPCA meant when they came up with their slogan "Speaking for those who can't speak for themselves"

This would be the end of the this story if it were not for the nagging questions that remain. From my experience with private vets, I know many are willing to arrange a payment schedule in the case of high medical bills and even know of some who even do some work "pro-bono", despite the fact they are "profit-oriented" businesses. I would like to know where the SPCA stands on this issue, as they are entirely funded by public money.

As a long-time supporter of the SPCA, I want to know where the money goes. I would like to know exactly what proportion of public money actually does directly to animal care. I would also like to know what percentage of donations collected by the SPCA goes to the top-heavy upper-management mentioned in the press a few years ago, when public outrage led to major changes. Are those changes still intact or have they gone back to their old ways? Who controls their policies and finances? Is it run as a non-profit society, as it should be, or is it run as a corporation oriented to provide big salaries for the "fat cats" at the top? Why does the word "media" scare them? If they have nothing to hide, maybe it's time to take a look in their closet.

BC SPCA "for love or money", I know I have my answer!

H.K.
Vancouver, BC