Brigitta, Today's North Shore News headlines the story of Millie, the hit-by-car dog surrendered to the North Van District shelter whose vet bills are going to total $3700.

Do you believe that if it was still the SPCA in North Van that Millie would still be alive? Do you believe that even if animal-lovers wanted to donate to a fund especially for Millie that the SPCA would have allowed that? - and I mean SPCA employees, who were management at the North Van SPCA. If the SPCA had taken money for Millie, where do you think it some would have ended up? In their pockets perhaps?

Every penny of the money raised for Millie will pay her bills and if any is left over, will pay the bills of other needy animals in North Van District. Shelter staff are paid by the District, not with donations, as was done in the "good old SPCA days". The first step to transparency: separating the fund-raising from the pound expenses.

You are worried about surrender fees. Why? Surrender fees can be used to house and help other animals; surrender fees are the first step to educating the public that it is not a cakewalk to dump your pet. That is one of the things you say you want. And besides, your point is lost in the fact that some SPCAs are asking for surrender fees.

We urge you again to get to the North Van District shelter and see for yourself what a municipal pound can be, and then think again about what you are defending and supporting.