----- Original Message -----
From: Animal Advocates
To: BC SPCA Stephen Huddart, Director of Community Relations
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2001 7:25 AM
Subject: for the record: I did not choose this course

From your email of June 28, 2001

"...I'm sorry you have chosen to take the course you have"

Stephen,

For the record, I did not choose the course (of criticizing from outside the SPCA). I asked repeatedly to be included (in the SPCA's meetings with the City of Vancouver held as a result of our Chained Dogs in Vancouver Report). It was you who told me that I would not be allowed to participate at a meaningful level until I altered the AAS web site. But in fact, I can't alter the web site until I have proof that its allegations are no longer true. So you have boxed me out.

This isn't about my ego - who cares at this point in my life? It is about needing to look you all in the face and say things that you don't want me to say publicly. It's about my facts needing to be heard, not about me needing to be heard. When I ask for public credit, it's not for me - it's for the research and the truth it has exposed, or else it will never be used to help the animals whose suffering makes me unhappy. And it's about respect for me which reflects respect for the research, which if denied, also means that the truth will never be used to help these animals. The SPCA has defamed me when it tells the public that I am only a "radical", and by doing so it has prevented the public from knowing that there is a great deal more that could be done for animals in this province, except that the SPCA has been making sure that it isn't done.

That Ms Soules only extended an invitation to me to attend the next "by invitation only" meeting after my email to Ms Soules of July 19th, in which I say I will have to resume putting information in the AAS web mag, is not reassuring to me that you intend any honest change. You seem to be still in butt-covering mode. If you can break out of that, you will make huge strides forward. You're encumbered by the mass of dissembling you have to drag around like an anchor.

Judy Stone