I am horrified to hear that the Manager of the Salmon Arm SPCA is not only an animal breeder, but breeds a number of different kinds of dogs and sells them as far and wide as Alberta! This person is nothing short of a puppymiller!! I believe that she also crops the ears and tails of her dobermans! This type of mutilation should not be condoned, especially by one employed by the BC SPCA which clearly speaks against this!!

Please see my petition to ban the sale of puppies and kittens in petstores at www.petitiononline.com/AdoptOut/ to get an idea about the horror of puppymills. In Canada alone this year approximately three million animals will be killed because not enough good homes are available for those awaiting adoption in shelters. This does not account for those killed in private pounds. The figure would likely exceed ten million animals.

The manager of the Salmon Arm SPCA must be dismissed immediately. Her practice of producing puppies and mutiliting them goes directly against mandate that SPCA's hold dear!

I expect a response to my letter.

Vera van Diepen, 57 Grandin Village, St. Albert, Alberta, T8N 1R9

BC SPCA POLICY STATEMENT
#19 - SURGICAL MUTILATION

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.