I have just started reading this message board after someone reffered me to it a few weeks ago. I am a bit confused to say the least, and sad as well. It seems all that you do is complain about the SPCA, and how terrible they are. I volunteer at the Williams Lake SPCA, and I was shocked to see that you are so against having a fenced yard as a requirement for dogs. You started complaining about the Williams Lake Website saying that potential adoptees needed to be able to handle the dogs social, physical, and emotional needs, and the requirement, having a fenced yard. You then turned it around by saying that the Williams Lake Shelter defined the social, physical and emotional needs as having a fenced yard. That is not what they meant, but I do agree that with the way it was worded, it could come across like this. I confronted one of the employees about this as soon as I read it, and she was hurt, because that was not the message that they were trying to get across. I asked her if anyone from AAS had contacted her to let her know how it was coming across to some people and she said no!! No one had contacted her. So my question is, if you have a problem with something, why don't you deal with it, instead of just ridiculing people on this website. If you actually contact them, I am sure that they would take your criticism openly, and thank you for letting them know about it.

This leads me into this whole not having your dogs outside alone in a fenced yard. Why not?? If you have to go to work, and it's hot, they would be comfortable outside, so long as there is shade and lots of water for them. I don't agree with leaving dogs ouside all the time, as I think dogs are family members and deserve to be with you inside. Unfortunately, not every family has someone home all day, and I don't really see anything wrong with having a dog outside. I could see if it was the middle of winter and freezing cold, them leave it in the house, or if your yard has no shade and it can't get out of the sun, but I think dogs would be more comfortable outside. I don't know, it's just my opinion. It just seems that there is a lot of conflict in your points of view on here. First you say the SPCA doesn't give people time to comply with the orders given on seizures. Then in the next posting, it says the SPCA left animals in poor conditions after giving orders and left them time to fix the problem instead of seizing them right away! You say that you don't want the SPCA to be destroyed(all the time might I add. You repeat yourselves over and over)yet you won't even compliment the SPCA when they do something right, because they've done too many things "wrong." No one is perfect, and I just think you should try to be a little more understanding of all the good things that the SPCA does. It isn't easy for them, and they are so dedicated to what they do. I don't know what the SPCA are like down there, but in Williams Lake the Staff work there butts off. I can assure you, every animal is given the best chance possible, and no one enjoys having to put an animal down, even if it is highly agressive. This reminds me of you guys critisizing an employee for whistling as she brought animals into the euth roon. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe the only way she can get through those kinds of things is to try to be cheery. Trying not to think too hard about it, otherwise it sucks the life out of you. Maybe whistling is her way of trying to tune out of the horrible thing that had to happen. Do you think SPCA employees enjoy doing the dirty deed? If so, you're wrong. They don't however, try to put dangerous dogs back into the public. At least by having these tests that you hate so much, there are some king of guidelines for making decisions on who needs to be euthanised. There are a hell of a lot more dogs out there than homes for them all. I would like your input on what should be done about that. What should be done at the end of the day when only 2 animals are adopted, and 5 have come in. When there is no room, and no one is looking for animals, what do you do?? We have been transfering to other shelter as much as possible, but there are only so many places to go before it is just hopeless. There is no way the SPCA could not put anything down. They just don't have the space for all the animals. If you are into constructive criticism then I aplaud you, because EVERY shelter can use it to make themselves a little bit better. So here's some constructive criticism for you....why don't you put some of the SPCA's good stories on here too if you really are trying to help the SPCA instead just having someone to gossip about. You remind me of the old men who sit around in the coffee shop in all the small towns around here, just gossiping all day about what every one else is doing, instead of going out and doing something themselves!

Jo Durkson