I am pleased that SPCA Constables Hugh Coghill and the Chief Animal Protection Officer Shawn Eccles have decided not to pursue the investigation of Walker’s Animal Rescue Centre. Eccles came all the way from Vancouver for this “visit” to Stephanie Walker. Both Shawn Eccles and his wife Eileen Drever were involved in the “raid” on Forgotten Felines in Richmond. (see: http://www.animaladvocates.com/Watchdog/ForgottenFelines.htm).

One wonders why the local Special Constable, Carolyn Solsbury, was not used for this work. The Nanaimo SPCA office is 15 minutes away from Walker’s office. This trip cost SPCA donors a lot of money and it also gave Stephanie Walker a lot of grief. Fortunately Stephanie has a wonderful lawyer, John Jordan, who has given a lot of time and effort to this case.

Once again the BC SPCA has to be really careful about complaints made by people who do not want their names made public. An “anonymous” complaint led to the Forgotten Felines "raid".

Kelly and Patty Berry (Nanaimo Feral Cat Rescue) and their husbands have also received a letter from the Regional District of Nanaimo. They rent part of their acreage to Stephanie Walker. Their letter from the Regional District accuses them of letting Walkers operate from their property. For that reason, it appears this wonderful family will be taken to court. As Stephanie is a renter, it is likely that the Berry family will feel that they have to evict Stephanie if they want to avoid getting tied up with heavy legal expenses in an extended case with the regional district.

Nanaimo Feral Cat Rescue is on the SPCA’s approved list of shelters. It has taken in many feral cats from the local SPCA. It also does a great job with cats infected with ringworm or with other serious health problems, which has saved many lives. Ringworm is a highly contagious, but treatable, skin disease. Just to name two examples among many, the Nanaimo Feral Cat Rescue Society took in a litter of ringworm kittens from the SPCA in September 2002, and a litter of brain-damaged kittens, also from the SPCA, in April 2003. Both the litters did well subsequently. Many cats were put to sleep at the Nanaimo SPCA until the Berry sisters volunteered to treat them at their place.

If either of these groups disappears from the local scene it will be a sad day for Regional District of Nanaimo cats, particularly as many of cats are feral. The cats' future at the SPCA would be uncertain.

Both the Nanaimo SPCA and the other local groups are desperately needed. There are just so many dogs and cats in need.

Lantzville, BC