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Animal Advocates Watchdog

5. Not providing young animals with sufficient stimuli
In Response To: 1998 letter from Scott and Natasha Baker: Still relevant because not enough has changed ()

5) Not providing young animals with sufficient stimuli

Young animals like human children, require stimuli and interaction to allow them to mature into well adjusted adults. Kittens and puppies must be socialized with humans at a young age if they are to grow up to be good companions. When stray kittens or puppies are found they are locked up making this crucial interaction impossible. At this stage of life even one week can make a drastic difference.

This conflicts with the SPCA Code of Ethics: Point 2) subparagraph 3

Solution: After implementing a training program for volunteers one of the personnel should be given the responsibility of providing interaction with young animals in the stray section and sick room.

Messages In This Thread

1998 letter from Scott and Natasha Baker: Still relevant because not enough has changed
The Vancouver SPCA has completely failed in this regard by: 1. Not providing any form of useful public education
2. Presenting a bad example when dealing with shelter animals
3. Practicing unnecessary euthanasia
A more careful reading of our notes to conversations with Natasha
4. Not providing enough kennels despite the space to do so
5. Not providing young animals with sufficient stimuli
6. Inadequate screening of potential adoptees
7. Being too rigid with respect to enforcing adoption hours
8. Not showing or adopting sick animals
9. No adoption councillor for the dogs
10. The wanton separation of an animal from its personal belongings
11. Insufficient effort to promote the adoption of shelter animals
12. Not suggesting alternatives to the surrender of animals
13. Poor and sometimes cruel displays of animals
14. The complete lack of training of volunteers
15. The complete lack of benefits to the volunteers
16. The complete lack of and adequate job description for volunteers
17. Lack of any hierarchy or chain of command
18. Lack of respect and trust by the staff
19. General lack of manners
20. No attempt to show compassion
21. Lack of a adequate communications channels
22. Lack of follow-up on adoptions
23. Not allowing for the pick-up of a lost cat after visiting hours
24. Misuse of donated funds
25. Inadequate seclusion of “stray” animals
From my time volunteering at the Burnaby SPCA, I came to these conclusions as well
We welcome comment from the SPCA
From the Prince George Free Press
Natasha is just one of hundreds: Brigitta MacMillan also tried to make the SPCA change, with no luck *PIC*
So too did Christine W.
So did Laura Dean
Another letter from Laura Dean
What has changed since November 2001? If I find out that anymore animals have been euthanized, I will go to the media
The organization of as large a scale as the SPCA needs critics and scrutinizing

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