THIS ISSUE NEEDS FOLLOW-UP. The BC SPCA should not be allowed to get away with hiring breeders and ear and tail mutilators, and this SPCA employee is a multiple breeder which comes very close to the generally accepted definition of puppy mill. Surgical mutilation is against the SPCA's own stated policy (read at bottom of this post). (Who to write at bottom of post also.)
Posted By: Brenda
Date: Monday, 26 August 2002, at 6:00 p.m.
"The manager of Salmon Arm SPCA breeds Shih Tsus and Dobermans. She also has Doberman's ears cropped if puppy buyers want them done. I have heard from some people that she is practically a shih tsu puppy mill. I don't know if this is true, but I know she advertises her puppies a lot, in a lot of papers. She even advertised shih tsu puppies in a Calgary paper last month, say she would pay for shipping. In the Vernon paper yesterday she is advertising shih tsus, a two year old male, and four females, two to seven years old- it says "kennel reduction-for sale as a package".
I think it is so wrong for the SPCA to hire someone to manage their shelter who breeds dogs and crops ears. I think this kind of thing is a total conflict of interest for an organization that is SUPPOSED to promote spay and neuter and be anti-cruelty."
"AAS is a cooperative of animal lovers and action takers". That's our motto, right on our front page. Lots of animal lovers have flocked to AAS, but we are short on action takers. AAS needs people to step up to the plate, look into a question or issue, write the letter to the BC SPCA or the Mayor and Council, or whoever, and keep posting so that we can all follow the project, jump in and help when asked, etc.
Our web site has all the email address of the BC SPCA and web links to all municipalities now at http://www.animaladvocates.com/contact-them.htm>.
When you write...be sure to cc to AAS! If no one but you knows you wrote the SPCA or your mayor, then nothing need be done by them.
BC SPCA POLICY STATEMENT
The BC SPCA opposes the surgical mutilation of animals, except procedures performed by a licensed veterinarian to alleviate suffering, or for reasons of injury or health. Other unnecessary surgical procedures done purely for cosmetic purposes, or to disguise natural imperfections of any animal, that are painful, distressful, or restrictive of the function of the body part involved cannot be condoned. The latter does not include the neutering of dogs and cats by a veterinarian as a pet population control measure.
Some procedures that are presently utilized in livestock husbandry, such as castration of cattle, swine, sheep and goats; tail docking of swine and sheep; dehorning of cattle and goats should be performed in a humane fashion in the first few weeks of life. The Society is committed to the elimination of painful invasive practices and urges the agricultural community to search for acceptable alternatives. The Society opposes the tail docking of dairy cattle. Such a procedure violates the standard of care which is acceptable in animal management practices.
The declawing of cats and debarking of dogs can only be condoned if done after consultation as to other options with a licensed veterinarian in circumstances when the animal would be denied a home or face euthanasia.
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Surgical mutilation is defined as any procedure on an animal that is not required to remedy an injury or a medical condition.
Animal includes birds and wildlife.
WHO TO WRITE...
#19 - SURGICAL MUTILATION
Board of Directors,
Executive Committee,
BC SPCA
spca@spca.bc.ca