----- Original Message -----
From: Lisa Hutcheon
To: Cc: Annie Swift ; for-keeps@shaw.ca
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 2:37 PM
Subject: FW: Xmas at the Burnaby shelter

This email was sent by Burnaby SPCA volunteer Lisa Hutcheon to BC SPCA CEO, Craig Daniell, and other Head Office employees:

This is just to inform you all of some of the things we had seen in Burnaby over the holidays. These are only a few examples.

The first is a terrier cross who came in on Dec 23rd. I was there and he was brought in as a stray. The man was carrying him into the shelter because he was unable to walk well or stand for long periods of time. The dog was literally a skeleton covered with fur. I took the dog from the man, got a blanket and some food and water for it while it was in the front office being processed. I had to hold it’s hips up so that it could stand to eat. I also immediately offered to run the dog down to the clinic but was told there was no rush for him to be sent to the clinic. The dog was then lead off to be put into a kennel. It couldn’t walk so I suggested that maybe the staff could carry it. At this point I had to leave as I couldn’t watch.

2 days later, on Xmas day, the dog was unable to stand and was found lying it it’s own feces. We immediately took it into the AEC. The only instructions left regarding the dog were to give it canned food and TLC. Staff on the 24th considered taking it to the clinic but had decided against it since they said it stood up to eat.

At the AEC, it was immediately put onto sub-Q fluids and it was assessed by the vet. Later that night, they had to H/D the dog as it was in critical distress, rating a 3/3 on the suffering scale.

Please see enclosed photos.

Thank you very much for your time.

Lisa Hutcheon

Taken to the vet by angry animal-lovers...too late...