AS Spring Summer 2016

Plus: The BC SPCA's Annual Report
AnimalSense
spca.bc.ca Spring/Summer 2016 $2.95
Puppy
Mills
Shutting Down the
Business of Cruelty
Inside:
How spousal abusers turn
animals into hostages
BC Pet Registry:
making happy endings
possible
Protecting and enhancing the quality of life for domestic, farm and wild animals in British Columbia
You can always be
there for them.
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2016*
REGISTER TODAY AT
SPCA.BC.CA/WALK
*Walk dates vary by community
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Contents
Spring/Summer 2016
features
8 Living in Fear
Many domestic abusers turn
pets into hostages to keep
their spouse from leaving . . .
but there is a way out.
13
on the cover BC SPCA staff member
Louise Lathey with one
of 66 dogs rescued from
a Langley puppy mill.
Photo: Viktoria Haack
12 Saving Our Shelters
With the help of government
and community donors, the
SPCA is revitalizing aging
facilities, ensuring animals
in need always have a place
to go.
22 Lost & Found
6
departments
5 News Briefs
The BC SPCA hits one million adoptions; B.C. government takes a
stand against puppy mills; College of Veterinarians of British Columbia
issues ban on cosmetic ear cropping; check out Vancouver’s first-ever
“Catfe”; 104-year-old donor Mary Colman celebrates “a century of speaking for animals.”
The newly launched BC Pet
Registry is creating happy
endings for pet guardians and
their missing companions.
24 The Business of Cruelty
Pet mills across B.C. subject
dogs and cats to unspeakable
conditions. Learn how to
spot and avoid them.
13 BC SPCA 2015 Annual Report
A
special message from the CEO and president; a comprehensive overview of the BC SPCA’s work in 2015; a big thank-you to our volunteers and supporters; financial statements.
26 Happy Endings
P
layful kitty Charlie brings joy back to his chronically ill guardian’s life; a community rallies behind badly starved German shepherd pup Aslan; a close call with a car engine leads eight-year-old cat Midnight to her forever home; a broken jaw leads to a tricky but successful recovery for one lucky raccoon.
28 Ask the SPCA
We answer your questions on companion, farm and wild animal behaviour.
31 The Experts
D
r. David Fraser asks why British Columbia is lagging behind other provinces in adopting science-based welfare standards for animals.
28
The BC SPCA is a not-forprofit reliant on support from
animal lovers like you.
To explore ways to show you
care, visit spca.bc.ca.
Thank you!
Spring/Summer 2016 • AnimalSense
3
AnimalSense
BC SPCA SPEAKING FOR ANIMALS
Spring/Summer 2016
VOLUME 17, NUMBER 1
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Matt Currie
ART DIRECTORs
Scott Laurie, Edwin Pabellon, Rick Thibert
BC SPCA EDITORs
Lorie Chortyk
Craig Naherniak
Ontributing writers
C
Meghann Cant
David Fraser
Tricia Leslie
contributing PHOTOgraphers
Diane Arendt, Bigstock, Viktoria Haack,
iStock, Linda Mackie, Linda Mah, Caitlyn
Milward, Shawnna Taylor
electronic imaging
Bernhard Holzmann
Mandy Lau
Dear Friends,
print PRODUCTION MANAGER
Kirsty Senior (on mat leave)
Charitable Tax # BN 11881 9036 RR0001
AnimalSense is published for
The British Columbia Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
by Canada Wide Media Limited.
230, 4321 Still Creek Drive
Burnaby BC V5C 6S7
Telephone: 604-299-7311
A
SE
REC
Y
CL
E •
• PL
E
We welcome your comments on
AnimalSense magazine. Please write to
us: BC SPCA, 1245 East 7th Avenue,
Vancouver, BC V5T 1R1, or email:
info@spca.bc.ca
Website: spca.bc.ca
Telephone: 604-681-7271
Fax: 604-681-7022
No part of this magazine may be
reproduced without written permission
of the publisher.
To receive a copy of AnimalSense, call
604-681-7271. Canadian Publications
Mail Product Sales Agreement
No. 40065475 / ©BC SPCA.
Printed on recycled paper.
In this edition of AnimalSense, we explore the link between
animal cruelty and domestic violence. We know from
research that more than half of women delay fleeing
their abusive situation out of a fear of what will happen to
their animal if it remains behind. Programs such as our
compassionate boarding initiative, offered at our animal
centres across the province, provide temporary housing for
such animals, thereby helping to break the cycle of violence.
It’s just one component of the BC SPCA’s commitment
to stamp out abuse, in all its forms.
Our spring edition also includes our Annual Report
for 2015, as well as an update on progress made with our
Facilities Development and Services Plan. Thanks to your
incredible support, we continue to expand our services and
make great strides in all areas of animal welfare, not just in
the province we live in, but all across Canada. In what is now
my 14th year at the BC SPCA, I feel blessed and honoured
to see how far we have come in improving the welfare of
domestic, farm and wild animals. Although we still have
much work ahead of us, I take great comfort in knowing
that British Columbia is a province of animal lovers and
animal lovers can achieve the impossible.
With warmest regards,
Craig Daniell
Chief Executive Officer
BC SPCA
BCSPCA briefs
Registration now open
for BC SPCA summer camps
“Our camps are popular because kids
are naturally drawn to animals,” says Paula
Neuman, BC SPCA humane education
manager. Campers spend a week learning
all about companion, farm and wild animals
through fun but informative activities, games,
crafts, skits and guest speakers.
As the school year winds down, the BC SPCA is
gearing up for another exciting youth summer camp
season. The camps continue to grow in popularity each
year, with a record 1,400 kids in attendance in 2015.
The highlight, though, is always time spent
with the animals themselves. Throughout the
week, campers have the opportunity to interact
with specially selected shelter animals such
as kittens, guinea pigs and rabbits. “Our camps
not only reinforce their love of animals, they
also build their confidence in treating animals
with compassion and respect,” says Neuman.
“This ability to make meaningful connections
with animals is a lesson – and a memory – that
will last a lifetime.”
Camps are planned for 20 locations around the
province, and registration for a number of them is already
open. Visit spca.bc.ca/camp for details.
BC SPCA adopts millionth animal
A
ll animals adopted from
BC SPCA shelters are one in a
million, but for an 11-week-old
little kitten named Meetsa,
that phrase took on a much more literal
meaning. On Nov. 25, 2015, the female grey
tabby became the millionth animal adopted
from the BC SPCA. Found abandoned in
Cranbrook, young Meetsa was rescued
by SPCA officers and transferred through
the BC SPCA’s Drive for Lives program
to the Richmond Education & Adoption
Centre, where she caught the eye of her
new guardian, Arlene Stakic. To mark the
milestone, Meetsa received a BC SPCA gift
basket, one year of free pet health insurance
donated by Petsecure and one year of free
food donated by Hill’s® Science Diet®.
Salud! Toast to the Animals
The BC SPCA West Vancouver Branch is thrilled to once again host
Salud! Toast to the Animals. Join fellow animal lovers on Sunday, June 5,
at Hollyburn Country Club for an evening of signature cocktails and gourmet
hors d’oeuvres, an exciting auction and premier live entertainment.
“The event is now in its fifth year and it’s really exciting to see so many
community members coming out to celebrate and support the animals,”
says Charlotte Ellice, manager of the West Vancouver Branch.
All funds raised support abused, injured and homeless animals cared for at
the BC SPCA West Vancouver Branch. For more information, or to purchase
tickets, please contact the branch at wvan@spca.bc.ca or call 604.922.4622.
Spring/Summer 2016 • AnimalSense
5
BCSPCA briefs
Mary Colman: A century of speaking for animals
This year, the BC SPCA is
celebrating 40 PAW Plan monthly
donors who have been giving for
the past 30 years. These generous
supporters, including 104-year-old
Mary Colman, continue to transform
the lives of animals throughout B.C.
Colman’s commitment to
animals has always been strong and
unwavering – she has been giving to
the BC SPCA for nearly a hundred
years, and for the past 30 years, she’s
been a monthly donor.
When asked why she has
continued to give for so long, Colman
says, “Animals have always made me
happy and I want to give those who
have no family that same chance at
happiness.” In thanks for Colman’s
hundred years of generosity and
BC SPCA earns top
rating for third
consecutive year
The BC SPCA is one of only 18 Canadian
charities to earn an A+, the highest overall rating,
in MoneySense magazine’s 2016 survey that rates
100 Canadian charities for overall efficiency,
transparency and donor stewardship.
The magazine created Canada’s first charity
rating system to determine which charities score
highest in categories such as overall charity
efficiency, fundraising efficiency, governance
and reserves. The BC SPCA received an A- rating
in fundraising efficiency, with 76 per cent of all
donations going towards its programs and services
and a cost of only $14.98 to raise $100. The society
also received A+ or A ratings in every other category.
“We are honoured to be among the handful of
Canadian charities to earn a top rating again this
year,” says Craig Daniell, CEO of the BC SPCA.
“Everyone in our organization – from our
volunteers to our shelter and program staff to our
volunteer Board of Directors – puts their heart and
soul into our services for B.C.’s most vulnerable
animals. As an organization that is reliant on
community support to fund all of our programs
and services, we
take the stewardship
of our donor
contributions very
seriously and it is
extremely rewarding
to see these efforts
recognized in the
MoneySense survey.”
6
AnimalSense • Spring/Summer 2016
kindness to animals, BC SPCA staff
dropped by with a special feline
friend who wanted to thank her
personally for making sure he found
his forever home.
We offer our heartfelt gratitude
to all those who are celebrating 30
generous years of PAW Plan giving.
To find out how you can make a
difference, visit spca.bc.ca/pawplan.
Photo contest
celebrates B.C. wildlife
T
he BC SPCA’s 2015 Wildlife-In-Focus contest drew
hundreds of stunning images of wildlife from across the
province in wild and backyard settings. All funds raised
through the entries support orphaned and injured wildlife
treated at the BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in
Metchosin on Vancouver Island. First-place winners were: “Red
Squirrel” taken by Elizabeth King of Kamloops (backyard settings)
and “Common Merganser” by Colin King of Victoria (wild settings).
View more contest images at spca.bc.ca/wildlife-in-focus.
SPCA applauds
ear cropping ban
Become a Champion for Animals
The BC SPCA was a strong advocate
for a recent decision by the College of
Veterinarians of British Columbia (CVBC)
that cosmetic ear cropping procedures
on dogs will no longer be considered an
acceptable practice for its members. “For
nearly two decades the BC SPCA has been
on record opposing procedures such as tail
docking, ear cropping, devocalization and
declawing that impact an animal’s ability
to experience good welfare and to express
natural behaviours,” says Craig Daniell, chief
executive officer for the BC SPCA. “This
decision by the CVBC to make cosmetic ear
cropping an unethical practice of veterinary
medicine is a significant step forward in
the humane treatment of animals in our
province and we are extremely pleased to
support and endorse this change.”
From car rallies to pumpkin painting, animal lovers participating in the
BC SPCA’s Champions for Animals program are turning activities they love
into fundraisers for animals in need. Champions for Animals is the BC SPCA’s
third-party fundraising initiative that supports individuals or groups who
want to use their unique skills, passions and ideas to help save animal lives.
One particularly creative event was the Okanagan Dive Club’s Santa Scuba
Dive. Planned in association with Kelowna Divers, MAB Construction and
Innerspace Watersports, the event attracted 34 divers from across B.C. By
adding an online fundraising page to their event in 2015 they increased their
fundraising to $5,000, up from $700 in the previous year.
Champions are often inspired by their personal connection to a special
animal. Becky Butt, co-organizer of the Santa Scuba Dive event, explains: “Many
of our divers have dogs, and they can often be found at our events waiting patiently
for their guardians to return from the depths. They are part of our community
and it was not much of a step for us to think about helping their friends in
need.” To start your own unique fundraiser today, visit spca.bc.ca/champions.
New protection against puppy mills
The fight against puppy mills in B.C. got a boost on Feb. 13 with an
announcement by the provincial government that it has begun a consultation
on new licensing and inspection rules for dog and cat breeders in B.C. “We
have been in conversation with government on this issue and we are very
pleased with their commitment to move forward quickly to prevent puppy mill
operators and other unscrupulous breeders from continuing to inflict animal
suffering,” says Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer
for the BC SPCA. Moriarty notes that the BC SPCA would ideally like to see a
system that not only requires licensing but also includes a proactive inspection
process to ensure that standards of animal welfare are upheld. “We’re excited
that Premier Christy Clark and her government are taking a stand on this issue
and we look forward to further consultation and discussion.”
Introducing Vancouver’s first “Catfe”
The BC SPCA is pleased to be partnering with
Vancouver’s first “Catfe”, a unique cafe for cat
lovers. Catfe customers are encouraged to mingle
with feline residents while tasting cat-themed
treats and shopping for meowchandise. The Catfe
is the brainchild of Michelle Furbacher, a former
BC SPCA volunteer who decided to combine a
career transition with her lifelong love of cats.
“I based the Vancouver Catfe on similar cafes
in Europe and on the West Coast of the United
States,” says Furbacher. “The concept has
been very successful elsewhere and I wanted to
bring it to Vancouver.” Select SPCA shelter cats
awaiting adoption are brought to the cafe, and
quickly find new homes.
“We are grateful to Michelle and her team
for providing another venue for homeless cats to
interact with potential adopters,” says Lorie Chortyk,
general manager of community relations for the
BC SPCA. “It’s a wonderful way to showcase the
animals, and even if people aren’t able to adopt at
this time, the Catfe is a fantastic way for cat lovers
to enjoy the company of feline friends.” To make
reservations or for more information, visit catfe.ca. n
Spring/Summer 2016 • AnimalSense
7
Living in
Fear
Many domestic abusers turn pets
into hostages to keep their spouse from
leaving . . . but there is a way out
the violence link
A
nne Taylor recalls, as a
child, the constant fear
and anxiety of living
in a household with
a physically abusive
father. She remembers
trying desperately to shield their
family pets – particularly,
a beloved Labrador retriever –
from his violence and threats.
Often, the dog was trying to
protect her, her siblings and her
mother from her father’s abuse.
“You don’t know what goes on
behind closed doors – abusers
rarely look like the monsters
they are,” says Taylor, executive
director of Haven Society on
Vancouver Island. “There’s a huge
link between domestic violence
and cruelty to animals. If you
can be violent or aggressive with
a human being, it’s not that big a
leap to expect you might be the
same towards animals.”
Research conducted across
North America shows that there is
a clear link between animal abuse
and other forms of family violence,
also known as the Violence Link:
the connection between animal
cruelty and interpersonal violence.
Inspired by her personal
experience, Taylor started her
career as a social worker before
becoming executive director of
Haven Society, an anti-violence
organization based in Nanaimo
that offers 24/7 shelter, counselling
and a long list of services to women
and children who are fleeing
abusive relationships.
“My mother never did get out [of
the abusive relationship],” Taylor
says. “I think I knew very early – at
least, I believed – that there was a
better way to live.”
Abusers will often use animals
against the humans in their
life, Taylor notes, something
she experienced firsthand and
that is backed up by research. A
2012 study commissioned by the
Alberta SPCA shows that 59 per
cent of women delayed leaving
an abusive relationship out of
concern for their pets or farm
animals, and that more than a
third of respondents cited their
animals were subject to threats
or actual harm by the abuser.
Eighty-five per cent of abusers
who threatened to harm animals
carried out those threats, and of
respondents who had animals
who had actually been threatened
or harmed, more than 74 per cent
delayed leaving the relationship.
“I can remember, at times,
actually trying to protect my dog,
who was trying to protect us,”
Taylor says. “It’s a huge intimidation factor, a manipulation
tool – he might say something
like, ‘I’ll give that dog something
to be concerned about.’ It wasn’t
unusual for the dog to be kicked or
locked in a room, especially when
she’d try to jump in and get in the
way if he was threatening my
mom or us kids.”
Women, with or without
children, face numerous
emotional, financial and logistical
barriers to safely leaving an
abusive situation, Taylor says.
“A lot of times women don’t
know or can’t find what services
are out there – a huge factor is
that there’s no place for pets in
the places that offer the services
they need,” she notes.
That’s why Haven Transition
House in Nanaimo and the
Nanaimo SPCA have a longstanding partnership that allows
Haven Society clients to board
their pets with the BC SPCA
as they go through tough life
transitions, such as leaving a
violent, abusive relationship to
start a brand-new life.
Leon Davis, manager of the
Nanaimo BC SPCA Branch, says
the compassionate boarding
partnership is a natural one
that also allows the women and
children who are seeking help
to come and visit their beloved
animals during a stressful time.
“The statistics say that
women tend to stay in abusive
relationships seven times longer
because they fear for their animals
or have no place to go with their
pets,” Davis says. “That’s seven
times too long.”
Spring/Summer 2016 • AnimalSense
9
The women aren’t charged for
the compassionate boarding of
their animals, and while the initial
stay is usually two weeks, it will
often stretch to a longer period of
time. And that’s fine, Davis says.
“People in that position need to
be able to feel safe, to focus on their
recovery and their family’s health,
and they can’t do that when they’re
worried about their animal,” he
says. “They need to know they’re
not as alone as they feel, and that
there is help and support and light
at the end of the tunnel.”
a dangerous place,” Sirett says. “I
wanted to raise awareness about
violence against women, but also
about the services that are available to them.”
In 2015, BC SPCA branches
across the province offered
compassionate boarding to
302 animals.
Ivanna Ferris, manager of the
Chilliwack BC SPCA Branch, says
offering compassionate board for
the pets of people going through
such a difficult time fills an
obvious need.
"They need to know they're not as
alone as they feel, and that there is help and
support and light at the end of the tunnel.''
Last year, Kim Sirett, a Vancouver Island resident who runs
a dog hiking/adventure business, raised more than $3,000
for Haven Society by doing the
near-impossible: she got 40 dogs
to pose on a log, all at one time, for
a picture taken by photographer
Shawnna Taylor (see below).
Sirett wanted to support her
local community, and knows it
can be difficult for people to leave
abusive situations, so she chose
Haven Transition House as the
beneficiary of the fundraiser.
“Women need to know that
there are options out there, so
they don’t feel they have to stay in
“A lot of times, we hear that
people have been living out of their
cars or worse because there’s no
pet-friendly place for them anywhere,” she says. “We just want
people leaving a violent or dangerous situation to be able to focus on
their safety and recovery, knowing
their pets are being taken care of.”
Often, the BC SPCA’s cruelty
investigation constables, always
on the front lines of animal abuse,
are the first to see the signs of
the Violence Link.
Tina Heary, the BC SPCA’s
senior animal protection officer,
recalls such a case: “When I
attended, it was clear that the
household was a volatile environment,” Heary says. “The woman
had been assaulted by her live-in
boyfriend… I will always remember the recent bite marks on her
arms, as they actually showed
teeth marks with the bruising.”
She also remembers seeing
startling signs of child neglect
and abuse, and the RCMP and the
Ministry of Children and Family
Development were alerted, as they
often are in such cases.
“Our team routinely works with
other agencies as we cross-report
to police, MCFD, fire departments,
animal control, mental health and
addiction workers, among others,”
Heary says. “We also help arrange
compassionate board for the pets
of those in abusive situations, so
they can flee without having to
worry about leaving their pets with
the person who is abusing them.”
BC SPCA chief executive
officer Craig Daniell experienced
similar situations firsthand,
when he was director of investigations for the Ontario SPCA
from 1999-2002.
“One of the most profound
statements I’d ever heard that
stays with me to this day was a
comment from a woman attempting to leave an abusive relationship,” Daniell says. “She said, ‘My
husband threatened to chop my
cat’s head off if I left, so there
was no way I could leave.’”
Studies and research also show
The Numbers
that access to pet-friendly services
for people trying to leave abusive
situations is either lacking or not
well known, and that shouldn’t
be, Daniell says.
“The BC SPCA offers compassionate board wherever we can,
if there’s space – we will support
wherever, whenever we can,” he
says. “It’s a service we should
provide. If we don’t have the space,
we will help as much as we’re able
to ensure the animals are safe.”
He remembers experiencing
three specific types of violence
when conducting animal cruelty
investigations: child abuse, elder
abuse and domestic (spouse/
partner) abuse.
“It’s pretty shocking how you
see all three of these things when
you’re investigating the potential
abuse of animals,” he says. “I think
what is most important is that the
abuse is reported. Alert the
BC SPCA Call Centre (1-855-6227722) or call 911 if you suspect
abuse is happening at any level.”
For the marginalized and
sometimes “forgotten” members
of society, it can be even harder to
leave an abusive situation and to
get care for a beloved furry family
member, says BC SPCA manager
of animal welfare Kim Monteith,
who dedicates much of her free
time to helping low-income
pet guardians in Vancouver’s
Downtown East Side.
Many of those who come to
59%
of abused women delayed leaving
the relationship out of concern for
their pets or farm animals, per a
2012 Alberta SPCA study.
36%
cited that their animals were
subject to threats or actual harm
by the abuser.
85%
of abusers who threatened to harm
animals carried out those threats.
74%
of women with
animals who had been threatened
or harmed delayed leaving the
relationship.
3x
Children who witness animal
or spousal abuse are three times
more likely to grow up to be
abusers themselves, in what is
called the cycle of violence.
Source:
Inside the Cruelty Connection:
The Role of Animals in Decision-Making
by Domestic Violence Victims in Rural
Alberta, research report to the Alberta
SPCA, July 2012; BC SPCA
the violence link
Charlie’s Food Bank, a once-aweek service for DTES pet guardians, tell Monteith their horror
stories, but are often distrustful
of any agencies or authority.
“Often, they’re battling demons
like addiction or mental illness,
and that can make it harder to get
them access to the services they
need,” she says.
One of the most important
things Monteith and Daniell
highlight is how critical it is for
the woman, or the victim of any
abusive relationship, to obtain
proof of ownership of any pet, and
keep it – or copies – with them.
“Sometimes, in these cases, the
animal gets used as a pawn, or even
a tool for an abuser to regain control,” Daniell notes. “It is extremely
important to make sure you have
information on the animals – if he’s
licensed, get it done in your name.
If there are vet records of vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery or other
medical procedures, get them done
in your name.”
Anything that can help document proof of ownership can help
ensure the animal won’t have to go
back to an abusive environment,
he says.
“Help is there,” Daniell adds,
for anyone considering leaving
an abusive situation. “The more
people are aware of the support
that is available, hopefully, the
more they’ll gain the courage to
leave violent relationships.” n
Spring/Summer 2016 • AnimalSense
11
Saving Our Shelters
With the help of government and community donors, the SPCA is revitalizing
aging facilities across B.C., ensuring animals in need always have a place to go
Above: Construction
has wrapped on a stateof-the-art facility in Nanaimo.
Top right: The grand opening
of the new Kelowna barn.
Right: A new multi-stall barn
for seized horses and farm
animals in Surrey.
E
ach year, nearly 28,000
abandoned, injured and
abused animals find
a haven in BC SPCA
branches. From hamsters to
horses, puppies to pot-bellied pigs,
vulnerable and at-risk animals
receive emergency treatment,
rehabilitation, food, shelter and
love, thanks to generous donors
who fund our programs and
services.
“The BC SPCA operates in 43
locations across the province and
one of our biggest challenges is
that many of our existing shelters
are aging and require urgent
replacement or refurbishment,”
says BC SPCA chief executive
officer Craig Daniell. “Without
facilities that support high levels
of health and welfare for animals
in need, our services could be in
jeopardy in many communities.”
12
AnimalSense • Spring/Summer 2016
In 2014, the society created a
comprehensive Facilities Development and Services Plan, which
identified the need to replace or
enhance 10 facilities – Nanaimo,
West Kootenay, Surrey, Vancouver, Kamloops, Prince George,
Fraser Valley, Kelowna, Peace
region and Shuswap – over the
next seven years. The BC SPCA
committed to raising half of the
$50 million needed for the capital
campaign through additional
donor funding and approached the
provincial government to help
fund the remaining $25 million
of the multi-year, three-phase
campaign.
After a series of meetings and
presentations by BC SPCA officials, the government confirmed
its commitment of $5 million for
the first phase of the campaign
in early 2015. “The provincial
government has been incredibly
supportive and it has allowed us
to make significant progress with
several projects,” says Daniell.
In Nanaimo, construction is
now complete on a 7,500-squarefoot facility on Westwood Road
on the western edge of the city.
The new community animal
centre features 11 dog kennels
with indoor/outdoor space, five
cat rooms, each with
a spacious outdoor
sunroom, dedicated
areas for rabbits and
other small animals,
a 1,200-square-foot
multi-purpose room
for community and
education events,
a dog grooming
area featuring
an automatic dog
wash machine for
public use, office and
volunteer space, and
two large dog parks, which will
be open to the public through a
membership.
In addition, two new multi-stall
barns that provide emergency
shelter for seized horses and
farm animals have been
constructed at the Surrey and
Kelowna SPCA locations, and
initial planning has already begun
in a number of other communities,
including Kamloops, West Kootenay, South Peace and Vancouver.
“This is a very ambitious
undertaking for the BC SPCA but
we are confident that, working
together, we can achieve our
goal,” says Daniell. “Many of the
animals who come into our care
have suffered enormous trauma.
It is so important to provide a safe,
healthy and humane environment
for them as they recover and
start their new life.” n
Dear Friends,
The mission of the BC SPCA is to protect and
enhance the quality of life for domestic, farm
and wild animals in British Columbia. We are
exceptionally proud that for 120 years we have
spoken for all animals and, through our Strategic
Plan, will continue to significantly improve the
welfare of all our province’s most vulnerable animals.
On the pages that follow we have highlighted
just a few of the goals you have helped us reach
this past year, all of which have had a profoundly
positive impact on the lives of homeless, abused
and injured animals in British Columbia and across
Canada. In the past year, new standards for the dairy
cattle industry have become law and the provincial
government has recently announced it will regulate
the breeding of cats and dogs in our province. These
are far-reaching changes that will benefit millions of
animals. The Government of British Columbia also
provided $5 million in funding for the BC SPCA’s
Facilities Development and Services Plan, an
eight-year plan to replace or renovate 10 facilities
across the province. This contribution, together with
your incredible support, has allowed projects to be
completed in Surrey and Kelowna and very soon in
Nanaimo, with others already on the drawing board.
We would like to thank our dedicated staff and
volunteers who give so selflessly of their time and
energy to make this a better world for animals, and
to you, our amazing supporters, for your belief in the
essential work that we do throughout the province
and across Canada.
With sincere appreciation,
Craig Daniell
Marylee Davies
Chief Executive Officer President
BC SPCA
BC SPCA
2015
Annual Report
BC SPCA’s Mission and Vision
Our mission
Our vision
To protect and
enhance the quality
of life for domestic,
farm and wild
animals in B.C.
To inspire and
mobilize society to
create a world in
which all animals
who depend
on humans for
their well-being
experience, as
a minimum, five
essential freedoms:
1
2
3
4
5
Freedom
from hunger
and thirst
Freedom from
pain, injury
and disease
Freedom from
distress
Freedom from
discomfort
Freedom
to express
behaviours
that promote
well-being
Annual Report 2015
Emergency shelter and care
14 2014
With your generous support, the BC SPCA provided emergency
medical care and shelter for nearly 28,000 abused, injured, homeless
and neglected animals last year and helped another 14,000
community animals through pet food banks, free veterinary clinics
and low-cost spay/neuter programs. Staff and volunteers at our 36
branches across B.C. and our wildlife rehabilitation centre (Wild ARC)
in Metchosin work tirelessly to ensure that B.C.’s most vulnerable
animals receive the best emergency treatment, shelter,
rehabilitation and compassionate care possible.
Direct Care for Animals
2015
2014
2013
Total number of animals assisted across B.C. (including
community outreach programs)
43,249
42,244
41,691
Injured, abused, homeless and surrendered animals cared for in
BC SPCA branches
27,187
25,942
24,636
Lost pets reunited with their guardians
3,949
3,829
3,742
Animals adopted into loving homes
15,811
15,335
14,259
Animals transported through BC SPCA Drive for Lives program
4,994
4,739
3,285
Injured and orphaned wildlife rescued at Wild ARC, the BC SPCA
wildlife rehabilitation centre in Metchosin
2,937
2,508
2,298
Annual Report
Thank you for supporting The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
BC Pet Registry
In April 2015, the BC SPCA launched the BC Pet Registry
(bcpetregistry.ca), an innovative centralized database for pets
who receive permanent identification at any BC SPCA shelter,
veterinarian or microchip clinic across the province. Since its
launch, more than 17,000 animals have been registered in the
system, enabling them to be quickly reunited with their
anxious guardians should they become lost.
Humane
education
H
elping youth develop
compassion and
empathy for all living
things is at the heart of the
BC SPCA’s humane education
programs. In 2015, the society
delivered humane education
materials to every elementary
school and library in the province
(2,140), reached thousands of
children through more than
400 school presentations and
school-based animal clubs, offered
summer camps for 1,400 children,
engaged nearly 6,000 youth
through the BC SPCA Kids Club,
provided school holiday workshops
for 450 children and provided
humane education lesson ideas
and resources to 5,129 educators.
The BC SPCA is the only animal welfare organization with the mandate
and authority to respond to complaints of animal cruelty in B.C. Our
special constables work closely with pet guardians to provide information
and guidance on the humane and responsible treatment of animals
and, thankfully, most of the complaints we receive are resolved through
education and support. However, if individuals do not take steps to
immediately relieve the distress of their animals, our special provincial
constables (28 full-time, one part-time, two auxiliary and one branchbased) execute warrants to remove animals from dangerous or neglectful
situations and prepare reports for Crown counsel recommending formal
charges of animal cruelty. All of our cruelty investigations costs are
paid through the generosity of our donors.
The creation of our provincial Call Centre and animal abuse hotline in
March 2013 has led to a significant increase in individuals reporting cases
of suspected animal cruelty and neglect across the province. To report
animal cruelty in your community, please call the hotline at 1-855-6227722 (1-855-6BC-SPCA).
Calls to Provincial Call Centre
2015
2014
25,923
21,746
Reports of animal cruelty
49%
52%
Assistance with wildlife issues
25%
27%
General enquiries
21%
21%
Pet Registry enquiries
5%
N/A
Total calls
Cruelty Investigations Activities
2015
2014
2013
Number of animal cruelty complaints
investigated
10,205
8,848
7,839
1,110
1,276
1,340
Number of warrants executed under the
Criminal Code of Canada, the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals Act or the Offense
Act
148
160
102
Charges of animal cruelty and neglect
submitted to Crown counsel
53
53
23
Animals removed from their owners
2014
Annual Report 2015
Protecting animals from abuse
Annual Report 15
BC SPCA online
The BC SPCA’s online
community grew significantly
in 2015 with thousands of our
supporters connecting with us
through our social media sites
(Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
Pinterest and YouTube), our
website and e-newsletters to
share their animal stories and
to find out the latest news on
SPCA advocacy campaigns,
animals available for adoption,
pet care information and
animal welfare.
Online sites
2015
2014
2013
4,277,286
2,910,409
2,544,235
Facebook fans
59,535
41,211
21,405
Twitter followers
21,287
16,814
12,163
Live Kitty Cam views
49,200
62,000
57,000
Anim@ls e-newsletter
subscribers
88,535
82,928
84,029
Website visitors (spca.bc.ca)
Annual Report 2015
Advocating for companion, farm & wild animals
16 2014
Advocacy is at the heart of the BC SPCA’s
mission. Through our many donor-supported
initiatives to address the root causes of animal
suffering we are a voice for those who “cannot
speak for themselves.” In 2015 the BC SPCA
and community members:
•Worked with municipal and provincial governments
and local community groups to advocate for urban deer
and oppose indiscriminate culls;
•Advocated for municipal bylaw revisions to prohibit exotic
animals as pets and increased provincial regulations;
•Partnered with Port Moody to create a resolution on oiled
wildlife preparedness that was endorsed by the Union of
B.C. Municipalities;
•Advocated for more humane and ethical practices in
the provincial management of wolves, coyotes, bears
and all species in wildlife rehabilitation;
•Participated in international and national conferences,
presenting on topics such as compassionate
conservation, humane wildlife control, the fur industry
and animals in science;
•Helped to found a new national non-profit organization
dedicated to advocacy for animals in science –
Animals in Science Policy Institute;
•Developed six new animal welfare position statements
for the society through an evidence-based process
with broad consultation;
Annual Report
•Provided academic support for 22 senior undergraduate
students in applied animal biology practicums;
•Certified more than 310,000 farm animals and more
than 11.3 million eggs on 19 farms participating in the
SPCA Certified farm certification and food labelling
program;
•Hosted 12 SPCA Certified information booths at local
farmers markets throughout the year.
Thank you for supporting The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Number of animals cared
for at BC SPCA branches
100 Mile House (no shelter)
Abbotsford/Langley
Alberni/Clayoquot
Burnaby
Campbell River
Chilliwack
2015
2014
2013
65
68
90
1,001
965
1,098
643
764
779
1,128
1,131
909
533
191
239
1,078
1,133
1,167
Comox Valley & District
813
720
786
Cowichan & District (Duncan)
758
699
650
East Kootenay (Cranbrook)
832
754
830
76
96
112
1,432
1,098
1,100
Kelowna
1,458
1,747
1,527
Maple Ridge
1,358
971
918
Nanaimo & District
1,103
1,114
1,193
Nelson (storefront)
398
464
476
1,386
1,530
1,613
North Peace (Ft. St. John)
912
936
883
Parksville/Qualicum Beach
435
415
472
Port Coquitlam Education &
Adoption Centre
310
272
288
Powell River & District
494
450
437
Prince Rupert
472
372
286
Quesnel & District
835
948
720
Richmond Education & Adoption
Centre
560
373
333
Haida Gwaii (no shelter)
Kamloops
North Cariboo (Prince George)
Salt Spring Island
145
145
163
Shuswap (Salmon Arm)
957
805
556
South Okanagan/Similkameen
(Penticton)
790
856
898
South Peace (Dawson Creek)
691
543
530
Squamish
225
308
308
Sunshine Coast
443
504
447
Surrey
318
231
7
Trail Regional
580
559
559
2,043
2,011
1,569
Vernon
719
711
624
Victoria
1,608
1,629
1,653
West Vancouver
1,106
957
650
Williams Lake & District
1,186
1,115
983
Vancouver
Reducing pet
overpopulation
A
ddressing the suffering of the
tens of thousands of abandoned
and feral cats in B.C. was a major
focus of the BC SPCA’s activities in 2015.
Some highlights of our efforts to reduce
pet overpopulation across the province
included:
• Providing free or subsidized spay/
neuter surgeries for 8,988 community
animals through the BC SPCA’s
Vancouver animal hospital, BC SPCA
spay/neuter clinics in Prince George
and Kamloops and through branchadministered spay/neuter funds
across the province;
• Sterilizing 6,703 shelter animals
prior to adoption to meet the society’s
goal of 100 per cent pre-adoption
spay/neuter of dogs, puppies, cats,
kittens and rabbits;
• Accessing funding from PetSmart
Charities® of Canada to conduct
large-scale spay/neuter programs
in Campbell River, Cranbrook, Port
Hardy, Port Alberni and Haida Gwaii.
2014
Annual Report 2015
Location
Annual Report 17
Our supporters & volunteers
Special thanks
The BC SPCA is grateful to the more than 80,000
supporters across British Columbia and beyond
who help us care for and protect animals. We
would like to offer our special thanks to the
following generous supporters whose 2015
contributions were truly exceptional:
Our volunteers
Annual Report 2015
T
he work of the BC SPCA would not
be possible without the skills and
incredible commitment of the nearly
4,000 individuals who volunteer at SPCA
locations across the province. From dog trainers
to fundraisers, shelter volunteers to website
contributors, these compassionate individuals
are an integral part of our organization. In 2015
our volunteers saved thousands of animal lives
by participating in rehabilitation and fostering
programs, adoption counselling, dog walking,
special event coordination, grooming, cat
care, photography, social media promotion,
small animal care, fundraising campaigns,
administration assistance and advocacy
initiatives. Thank you to all those who gave
so generously of their time and skills during
this past year to create a more humane
world for animals.
BC SPCA Board of Directors
The Board of Directors meets throughout the year to
oversee the affairs and business of the society and to
establish policies, rules and regulations to carry out the
obligations and powers of the organization. The hard
work and expertise of this dedicated group of leaders
is essential in developing and guiding the strategic
direction of the BC SPCA. Our very sincere thanks to:
Marylee Davies, President
Lynn Armstrong
Melissa Barcellos
David Budd
Dawn Davies
Jennifer Gore
Peter Havlik
18 2014
Annual Report
Shawn Ireland
Rosolynn Kalb
Ryan Layton
Sabrina Qureshi
Carol Richards
Romany Runnalls
Eric Stebner
Individuals
Employee Giving
1.Don & Lorraine Moore
2.Charlotte Chou
3.David & Bess Wright
4.Susan Bloom
5.Penny Boyd
1.Provincial Employees
Community Service
Fund
2.United Way of the
Lower Mainland
3.Team TELUS Cares
4.Scotiabank
5.BC Housing
Management
Foundations
1.PetSmart Charities® of
Canada
2.Emily Elizabeth
Stoneham Fund through
the Victoria Foundation
3.Elisabeth Thomi
Endowment Fund
through the Shuswap
Community Foundation
4.Vancouver Foundation
5.Eldon & Anne Foote
Fund at Edmonton
Community Foundation
Corporations
1.Hill’s® Pet Nutrition
Canada Inc.
2.BMO Bank of Montreal
3.Petsecure Pet Health
Insurance
4.TELUS
5.Scotiabank
Fundraisers
1.Prince George Motors/
Wood Wheaton GM
2.Glenn Keryluk – Keryluk
Laser Dental
3.Jo Faloona
4.Linda Mah
5.Shawna Willan
Legacy
1.Annie Margaret Costain
2.Rebecca Johnson
Peterson
3.Rachel Oak
4.Jean Ridgway
5.Eleanor Alice Louise
Stiffe
Thank you for supporting The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Creating a better
world for animals
Giving the
gift of hope
Each year the BC SPCA is faced with
overwhelming medical costs for the
tens of thousands of sick and injured
animals who enter our shelters. To
help offset these extraordinary costs
faced by branches, the BC SPCA
Medical Emergency campaign was
created to highlight animals who
need additional support for their
treatment and recovery.
How can I help?
Wayne Deans, co-founder, chairman and CEO
of wealth management firm Deans Knight Capital
Management, has supported the BC SPCA in many
ways over the years. He has been a BC SPCA donor,
sponsor, volunteer fundraiser and a frequent “go-to”
for advice. Currently, he is serving as the advisory
chair of the BC SPCA’s 2016 Offleashed gala in
Vancouver. It’s a position he also held in 2015, at
which point his first order of business was to sign up
as a sponsor himself. He then personally connected
with friends, contacts and colleagues, inspiring them
to join him in supporting the work of the BC SPCA. In
a matter of just a few short weeks, Wayne surpassed
the sponsorship target and had attracted other
volunteers and donations of support. The event raised
more than $266,000 in one night!
Wayne’s love of animals is very close to his heart.
He and Leslie have adopted a rescue dog named
Missie – their sidekick, travel companion and running
partner. Despite his very busy schedule, Wayne makes
himself available to help the BC SPCA and is always
just an e-mail or phone call away. “Just let me know
how I can help!” he often says. Wayne is passionate
and dedicated to making the world a better place for
animals. We are grateful for that, indeed.
Thanks to generous supporters like
you, more than $304,000 was raised in
2015 through the Medical Emergency
program to help save 167 cats, dogs
and horses who required extra care.
“2015 was the first
full year of operation
for the Medical Emergency program and it was
incredibly heartwarming
to have so many people
from across B.C. and
right around the world
rally to make a life-saving
difference for the animals,” says Jane
Talbot, BC SPCA director of regional
operations. “The compassion and
support of our Medical Emergency
donors has meant that animals who
were once suffering
and without hope are
now leading healthy,
happy and crueltyfree lives.”
To help save the
life of an animal in
need, visit spca.bc.ca/
medicalemergency. n
2014
Annual Report 2015
When it comes to inspiring generosity in others,
Linda Mah of BiiG Financial Co. is truly a leader of
the pack. One of the BC SPCA’s top fundraisers last
year, Linda credits her success to forming strategic
alliances with other animal lovers.
Joining with Jim Murray and Brian
Jessel BMW for National Cupcake
Day, their team raised more than
$36,000 in two years. Linda has
continued her efforts as a true
Champion for Animals in 2015,
raising a further $8,500.
Linda attributes her fundraising
success to her varied approaches: she
Linda Mah
makes donations herself, requests
matching donations from businesses
and taps her professional and personal networks for
support. Linda’s biggest piece of advice to fundraisers
is: “Talk to everybody. Everyone supports your cause
when you really believe in it, never be afraid to ask.”
In addition to her incredible commitment to fundraising, Linda has been a PAW
Plan monthly donor for 10
years. Her continued commitment is inspired by her own
dogs: “Looking at how happy
and well cared for Remy and
Scarlett (right) are makes me
want to help other animals
who don’t have that love and
nurturing in their lives. Every
animal deserves that.”
Annual Report 19
BC SPCA on the national stage
National welfare work for animals
The BC SPCA is a leader in advancing animal welfare at the
national level. As a member society of the Canadian Federation of
Humane Societies (CFHS), BC SPCA staff and volunteers regularly
contribute their expertise to advance animal welfare across
the country. These contributions include:
Annual Report 2015
Cruelty
prevention
crusader –
Marcie Moriarty,
chief prevention and
enforcement officer
* Spearheaded the creation of the
National Centre for the Prosecution of Animal Cruelty, a database
of animal cruelty convictions to
aid enforcement officers and
prosecutors in bringing animal
abusers to justice;
* Instrumental in leading national
animal cruelty prosecutor training to
assist prosecutors across Canada in
using the Criminal Code of Canada
to get animal cruelty convictions.
20 2014
Of mice
and men –
Shawn Eccles, senior
manager, cruelty
investigations
* Serves on the
board of the Canadian Council
on Animal Care, the organization
responsible for setting welfare
standards and accrediting facilities
that use animals for research
purposes.
A voice for
farm animals –
Geoff Urton, senior
manager, stakeholder
relations
* Represents CFHS
in the development of improved
federal codes of practice for the
transportation, care and handling
of farm animals including beef,
dairy, veal calves, laying hens, meat
chickens, turkeys and pigs;
* Recruits, coordinates and
mentors additional animal welfare
Annual Report
experts to represent CFHS
at the code development table for
other species including mink, fox,
turkey, sheep, horse, goats, farmed
deer, bison and meat rabbits.
National
leadership –
Craig Daniell, chief
executive officer
* Provides leadership
to CFHS and member
societies as well as other animal
stakeholder organizations across
the country.
Setting
the national
agenda –
Craig Naherniak,
general manager,
humane education
* Serves as vice-president of
CFHS, advancing welfare issues
including national strategies
to reduce cat overpopulation,
higher standards for the welfare of
animals in shelters and advancing
tougher cruelty legislation.
Rabbit whisperers –
Meghann Cant (above left),
animal welfare educator, and
Erika Paul (above right), senior
animal protection officer
* Meghann, an expert in small
animals, is applying her welfare
knowledge for CFHS in the creation
of a national code of practice
for food rabbits.
* Likewise, Erika is applying her
expertise to ensure the new code is
enforceable to animal cruelty laws.
Speaking
for wildlife –
Dr. Sara Dubois, chief
scientific officer
* Spearheading
national humane
wildlife control standards to ensure
enforceable welfare standards
within the wildlife control industry.
Raising farm
standards –
Brandy Street,
manager, SPCA
Certified
* Oversees the
national expansion of SPCA
Certified, a program certifying farms
meeting high welfare standards
set by the BC SPCA;
* Serves on the national organic
standards body lobbying for
higher welfare requirements
for farm animals within the
organic standards.
Aiding
the humane
movement –
John Andrew,
chief financial officer
* Serves as board
treasurer of the Animal Welfare
Foundation of Canada, which
provides grants to humane
organizations across Canada.
Presidential
skills –
Cindy Soules,
former BC SPCA
president
* After nine years
advancing the animal welfare
agenda for the BC SPCA, Cindy
now serves as a volunteer board
member for CFHS. n
21
Annual Report 2015
Lost & Found
The newly established BC Pet Registry is creating happy
endings for pet guardians and their missing companions
W
hen their beloved
pet cat Darcey
disappeared
without a trace
on a September RV camping trip
in Burnaby, a heartbroken Glenn
and Pat Armstrong were ultimately
forced to return to their Brookdale,
California, home without her.
But, several weeks later, a Good
Samaritan found the friendly blackand-white feline, and surrendered
her to the BC SPCA’s Burnaby
Branch, where staff were able to
trace Darcey’s guardians to their
U.S. home thanks to her
identification microchip. The
Armstrongs were ecstatic to hear
their furry family member had been
found, hitting the road as soon as
they got the news to be reunited with
Darcey at the Burnaby SPCA.
22
AnimalSense • Spring/Summer 2016
“They were so excited to hear from
us. They drove up as soon as they
heard we had her,” recalls Burnaby
SPCA Branch manager Ryan
Voutilainen. “It was an amazing
happy ending for this cat, but sadly,
so many never get reunited.”
It is stories like this that highlight
the importance of permanent pet
identification and the need for a
centralized database for pets who
receive permanent ID, which is why
the BC SPCA launched the BC Pet
Registry in April 2015.
Since its launch, more than 17,000
animals have been registered after
receiving permanent identification
at a BC SPCA shelter, veterinarian
or microchip clinic across the
province. The registry is endorsed
by the College of Veterinarians of
British Columbia and supported
by the American Animal Hospital
Association, which has featured
the registry on its website. This
means pet ID microchips registered
in the BC Pet Registry are even
more traceable through the AAHA
microchip lookup feature – great
news for pet guardians who travel
to or from the U.S. a lot.
“We are so pleased with the
registry’s success so far, and we
want to keep the momentum going,”
says BC SPCA chief executive officer
Craig Daniell.
Every animal adopted through the
BC SPCA is automatically entered
into the provincial system, which
focuses on microchip technology
but also records permanent
identification information from
any pet ID tattoo or license. The
microchip, a small electronic chip
BC Pet Registry
A pet ID microchip ensures
your furry friend is never too
far from home to be found,
as Darcey and her relieved
guardians Glenn and Pat
Armstrong (pictured right)
discovered.
about the size of a grain of rice, is
planted under the skin of the animal
near the shoulder blades. When
activated by a scanner, the chip
transmits a unique number that
traces the pet to their guardian’s
contact information.
Prior to the provincial registry,
if a pet was lost and turned in as a
stray, shelters and veterinarians
had to call multiple registries to
track down contact info for that pet’s
guardians, and even when guardians
were identified, the contact
details would often be
missing or out of date.
The BC SPCA now
requires all adopters to
register their animals,
for either a $12 annual
fee or a one-time fee of
$45 for the lifetime of the
animal. The fee covers
the cost of the microchip
and administering the
provincial registry. All
information provided by
pet guardians is secure
and confidential, and can
be easily updated online
at bcpetregistry.ca.
Pet guardians using the services
of any veterinarian or animal
clinic across the province, or those
whose pets already have permanent
identification, can join the registry
simply by going online to create an
account, and entering their animal’s
microchip number and their contact
details, Daniell notes.
Even if your pet is an indoor pet, it
is still important to ensure they have
permanent ID of some sort, he adds.
“Any pet can easily escape if a
door or window accidentally gets left
open, and we receive thousands of
stray pets every year at our shelters,”
Daniell says.
As few as 16 per cent of stray cats
and 76 per cent of stray dogs are able
to be returned to their guardians
each year because they have no
form of pet ID. More importantly,
approximately 95 per cent of animals
with identification are reunited
with their guardians.
“We’re off to a great start with the
registry and we’d like to build on that
by continuing to engage with even
more pet guardians, veterinarians
and animal control agencies across
B.C.,” says Daniell. “Our goal is to
ensure that every lost pet is safely
and happily reunited with his or
her family, and we believe having
a centralized registry is key to
making this a reality.” ■
Spring/Summer 2016 • AnimalSense
23
The Business of
Cruelty
W
hen BC SPCA animal protection officers
executed a warrant on a suspected puppy
mill in Langley on Feb. 4, they encountered
a devastating scene. Sick and neglected dogs
and puppies were crammed together – some in small cages,
others in dark, unheated outbuildings – suffering from a
wide range of injuries and medical issues. “The animals
were in severe physical and psychological distress, including
broken limbs, missing eyes, infections and abscesses,
malnourishment, dental disease, and fur matted and caked
in dried feces,” says Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and
enforcement officer for the BC SPCA. “There were also
dangerous levels of ammonia from accumulated urine.” In
total, 66 dogs and puppies, including Old English sheepdogs,
Bernese mountain dogs, Portuguese water dogs, miniature
and standard poodles and soft-coated wheaten terriers,
were taken into BC SPCA care, where staff and volunteers
worked around the clock to provide for their needs.
Less than two weeks later, the same officers carried
out a cruelty investigation at a breeding/boarding facility
in Surrey, where 82 animals in distress – 67 Persian
and short-haired exotic cats, 12 dogs and three puppies
– were seized. In both investigations, ringworm had
spread amongst the animals, requiring the Vancouver
and Surrey facilities to close to the public for nearly two
months so that staff could contain and treat the highly
infectious disease. “It was really phenomenal how our
24
AnimalSense • Spring/Summer 20165
Pet mills across B.C.
subject dogs and cats to
unspeakable conditions. Learn
how to spot and avoid them.
staff, volunteers and supporters came together to ensure
that these animals had everything they needed to survive
and recover,” says Moriarty. “It was a huge effort, but it
was so wonderful to see them improve each day and to
blossom under the love and care they received.”
In addition to providing a safe and happy new life
for the 148 animals, the two large-scale seizures drew
attention to the suffering inflicted upon animals by puppy
mills and unscrupulous breeders, says Moriarty. On Feb.
13 the provincial government announced it is consulting
with stakeholders on new licensing and inspection rules
for dog and cat breeders in B.C. “Having a system to
license, monitor and uphold animal welfare standards
for B.C. breeders is a critical step, and one that we have
been advocating for some time,” says Moriarty. But she
adds that it is equally important to ensure that those
seeking to purchase puppies or kittens are well-educated
about the difference between a good breeder and one
who is breeding for profit without regard for the health
and welfare of the animals in their care. “If we can stop
people from inadvertently supporting this industry, it
will go a long way to shutting down substandard breeding
facilities in our province,” she says. “We urge people to
visit our website (spca.bc.ca) for information on how
to spot an unscrupulous breeder and to call our animal
cruelty hotline (1-855-622-7722) if you see anything
that seems suspicious to you.” ■
A Reputable Breeder
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Badly neglected and forced to live
in overly cramped or unsheltered
quarters, the dogs seized by the
BC SPCA's animal protection
officers were suffering from
ailments like broken limbs, missing
eyes, abscesses, malnourishment,
dental disease and intense
psychological trauma.
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Handles no more than two or three breeds.
Has a clean and spacious home or facility with the
opportunity for the animals to receive regular exercise
outside of their kennels/cages.
Gladly shows you their entire home or facility where
animals are kept and introduces you to all their animals
– both adults and offspring, including the mother of
the pet you are considering purchasing.
Is able to provide veterinary records which show that
the animals are healthy.
Openly discusses positive and negative aspects of
the animal/breed.
Does not breed females who are too young or too old.
Generally, dogs and cats should not be bred at less
than 18 months and should only be bred once in every
two heat cycles. The maximum breeding age for
female dogs ranges from five years in giant breed dogs
to 10 years in toy breeds. Breeders should be attentive
to the overall well-being of the breeding female and
not just to her ability to breed.
Makes sure puppies or kittens are raised indoors (not
in barns or outbuildings), where they are exposed to
various household noises, are handled gently by many
different people and are kept clean, warm and well fed.
Won’t let puppies go to new homes before eight
weeks of age and not less than 10 weeks for kittens.
Asks you many questions about your lifestyle and
experience with animals to ensure you are a good
match for one of their puppies or kittens.
Is knowledgeable about heritable disorders in the breed
and will discuss how they breed to avoid such disorders.
Provides, at no extra charge, valid paperwork for
registration and vaccine certificates for the puppy
or kitten you are purchasing.
Never sells puppies or kittens to a companion animal
dealer or pet store.
Has a contract for you to sign that lists your
responsibilities to the animal you are purchasing as
well as their responsibilities, and outlines their health
guarantee for the animal. The guarantee should
offer more than simply a replacement animal.
Will often require you to spay or neuter the puppy
or kitten.
Will require you to return the puppy or kitten to them if
things do not work out.
If a breeder requests to meet you in a shopping mall,
parking lot or somewhere else away from their breeding
facility to get your new pet, DO NOT purchase from this
person. This is a clear indication you are dealing with
a disreputable source.
An Unscrupulous Breeder
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Agrees to sell you a puppy or a kitten without
meeting you (e.g. over the phone).
Doesn’t allow you to come and meet them and/or
their animals before purchase.
Sells their animals to pet stores or brokers.
Does not ask you questions about your lifestyle
and experience with animals.
Has run-down or crowded facilities.
Is reluctant to show you their facilities.
Has dirty, unhealthy and/or unsocialized animals.
For dogs kept in cages, is unable to show you
their outdoor exercise area in use.
Sells animals without vaccinations, veterinary checks
or guarantees against health problems including
genetic defects.
Charges extra for kennel club registration and/or pedigree.
Will not take the animal back should a problem arise or
will try to simply offer you another animal should the
first one get sick, rather than helping with your vet bills.
Happyendings
Donors rally to
save starving pup
Charlie’s
angels
O
riginally found as a stray in the East Kootenays, Charlie was transferred to
the Lower Mainland and found his forever home at the BC SPCA Richmond
Education & Adoption Centre with Amanda Daunais and her boyfriend.
“I initially went in to look at his sister, but the second we walked in,
Charlie was trying to get my boyfriend to play with him, and when I sat down in a chair,
he immediately crawled up on me and fell asleep,” Daunais says. “It was love at
first sight! We applied for adoption and got to take him home right away.”
Daunais prefers to think that Charlie rescued her, rather than the other way around.
“I am sick with multiple chronic illnesses that have really reduced my quality of life.
I felt like my life had no meaning, and very little joy,” she says.
But Charlie changed all that. “He brought me back from a very dark time in my life
and I have never visited there again,” she explains. “All it takes is a look at his sweet
face to wash away my worries.”
Daunais says Charlie loves car rides and music – often meowing until she sings
to him. “He will fall right asleep and stay asleep as long as I don’t stop singing.” He also
plays fetch, returning the toy to be thrown again, and loves sleeping in his window perch
or behind Daunais’s head on his very own memory foam pillow. If her boyfriend sleeps
in past his alarms, Charlie will start batting at his feet to wake him up.
He can even detect when she’s about to get a migraine, Daunais notes.
“Charlie indicates it by putting his paw over my eye. I first discovered this when
I woke up from a nap with him across my face. About an hour later, I had a debilitating
migraine. I didn’t think much of it until it happened again about a week later. And again
a few days after that. Thanks to him, I am able to take my medication before
the symptoms appear,” she says.
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do for him. He is a ray of sunshine to everyone who is
blessed to meet him. I cannot thank the world enough for bringing him into my life,”
says Daunais. “He is my everything.”
26
AnimalSense • Spring/Summer 2016
Aslan has come a long way since
he was rescued by the BC SPCA
last year. When the one-year-old
German shepherd was brought
to the Cowichan & District SPCA
Branch in Duncan after being
found by a Good Samaritan, he
was so weak staff didn’t know
if he would make it.
“He was 50 pounds underweight – starving – as well as
incredibly weak, anemic, unable
to stand and unable to maintain
body temperature,” says Cowichan
SPCA manager Sandi Trent. “He
was fighting for his life from the
start, yet even in his weakest state,
he was such a kind and gentle soul
who would struggle to wag his
tail just to greet us.”
Aslan started on his long
road to recovery at the Central
Cowichan Animal Hospital, and
then in foster care, where he began
gaining weight and strength and
his personality started to shine.
His foster guardian eventually
adopted him, and still sends photos
of Aslan with his fur-siblings on
hikes or laying cozily by the fire.
“Aslan is doing incredibly
well,” Trent says, noting the
community donated more than
$7,000 to help the lovable canine.
“He’s blossoming into a playful,
happy boy as each day passes,
and we couldn’t be happier or
more grateful to the generous
supporters who made his
recovery possible.”
Injured raccoon gets
helping hand
Midnight special
It took more than a year, but it was worth the wait for Midnight.
The eight-year-old cat, who was in the care of the Campbell
River SPCA for a year, was brought in by a Good Samaritan in
January 2015, suffering from horrible wounds caused by a car
engine, something that can happen when outdoor cats try to
stay warm in cold weather.
“She had a large, infected wound on her side that covered about
a quarter of her body, and it was determined at the vet that she
had a thermal burn that, unfortunately, damaged a good portion of
her flesh on her left side,” says BC SPCA Campbell River Branch
manager Stephanie Arkwright, noting Midnight also had a burn
on her rear left paw.
“After emergency surgery to remove dying tissue, and
continued treatments, rehabilitation, and recovery at the veterinary
clinic and in a foster home, she was finally ready for her new home,”
Arkwright says.
Finding the right match was key, as it is with every animal
adopted through the BC SPCA, to ensure the animals and humans
suit each other’s lifestyle and personality.
The perfect match showed up in February 2016, when Francis
and Kim Hickey came to the SPCA asking whether Midnight was
still available for adoption. She was.
“Francis’s daughter in England had seen the original story
on Facebook, and tagged her dad in it, but, having just lost their
16-year-old cat, they weren’t quite ready,” Arkwright says. “When
he came to see Midnight and spent some time with her, he
and Kim decided to adopt her and give her the loving home she
deserves, especially after she’s been through so much.”
Midnight is settling nicely into her new home, Arkwright says,
and is extremely affectionate with her new guardians,
even sleeping with them at night.
“We couldn’t be happier for this sweet girl and her new
family! Even though it took a year, she went from tragedy to
triumph so graciously.”
Midnight’s story serves as a reminder to drivers to “think
and thump” before they start their engines when temperatures
drop outside, Arkwright notes.
In late 2015, a young raccoon arrived at Wild ARC,
the BC SPCA’s wildlife rehabilitation centre in
Metchosin, in need of help. A baby from the previous
summer season, he was now old enough to be on
his own and was experiencing his first winter in
the wild. Wildlife in urban areas have to navigate
a variety of challenges as a result of their human
neighbours, and for raccoons, cars zooming along
the roadways that intersect with their foraging
routes pose a particular danger. It is likely that this
young raccoon was struck by a car as he was making
his way home in the early morning, given that he
was found injured on the side of the road.
The raccoon didn’t have any visible wounds or
broken limbs, but was obviously hurt and in shock.
Wild ARC’s rehabilitation team examined him
further, and an x-ray revealed that he had a fractured
lower jaw, right at the front of his chin. Pain control
was administered immediately, but the injury needed
time and supportive care to heal. The raccoon spent
the next few weeks in one of the indoor recovery
wards of Wild ARC’s newly expanded raccoon
facility, and a diet of soft but tempting foods made
sure that he received enough nutrition without
placing additional strain on his injured jaw.
As the bones began to heal, and the raccoon
started feeling better, Wild ARC’s rehabilitators
moved him into a larger outdoor enclosure so that
he could begin to build up
his strength and fitness,
and acclimatize back to
outside temperatures, in
preparation for his release.
A second set of x-rays
confirmed that the jaw
was healing well, so harder
foods were incorporated
into his diet to make sure
he was able to crunch and
munch the variety of meals
he would be eating once back in his wild home.
Finally, after nearly three months in care, the
young raccoon was fully recovered and ready for
release. Our rehabilitation team brought him to a
secluded forest area adjacent to where he had been
found, an ideal place for him to take the first steps
back into his native environment. Dusk had fallen,
so it was the beginning of the day for this nocturnal
critter. He made his way confidently from the
transport kennel into the grove of trees, and quickly
climbed up a sturdy trunk to gain a bird’s-eye view
of his surroundings; he seemed to know exactly
where he was and appeared very happy to be home. n
Spring/Summer 2016 • AnimalSense
27
Ask the SPCA
We answer your questions about companion, farm and
wild animal behaviour
M
y indoor cat seems
bored. How can I
make my home more
cat-friendly without
it looking like a cat jungle gym?
While dogs are content to live at ground
level with their social group, cats use
space differently. To meet a house cat’s
needs in our homes requires us to think
like the ancestral cat.
Cats evolved as independentminded forest hunters, designed
to leap, balance on thin ledges and
branches, and right themselves in a fall.
As daring, agile predators, they used
28
AnimalSense • Spring/Summer 2016
surprise and quickness to capture their
quarry. Trees were used for safety, rest
and observation.
Today’s house cats retain their
agility and climbing instincts, yet we
expect them to adapt to our groundlevel way of life. This despite the many
times we are compelled to rescue
them, as they balance precariously
on the tops of bookcases, kitchen
cupboards or staircase banisters.
If your cat is bored, try adding
stimulating and challenging vertical
places for her to explore. The trick is to
maintain a stylish home while allowing
your “cats to be cats.” No one does
this better
than cat
behaviourist
Jackson Galaxy.
Galaxy and co-author Kate
Benjamin have two books – Catification and Catify to Satisfy – packed
with creative solutions for crafting a
visually appealing, cat-friendly home.
If you are handy, the books have
examples of decorative do-it-yourself
shelves, poles and walkways that
provide a means for your cat to move
around your home along the walls.
Creating shelves (even some a little
Diane Arendt
the experts
If your cat is bored, try adding stimulating and challenging
vertical places for her to explore. The trick is to maintain
a stylish home while allowing your “cats to be cats.”
wobbly), nooks and walkways instantly
doubles the enrichment value for your
cat. If you aren’t handy, the books
have design ideas using store-bought
shelves, bureaus and even couches
with cat tunnels.
Don’t stop with just adding vertical
spaces. Satisfy your cat’s primal
hunting instinct by splitting up food
rations and hiding small amounts
around the house. Put treats in a
cardboard container with paw holes
to provide a new challenge. Introduce
new objects such as cat toys, a tree
branch or cat grass to stimulate smell
and touch. There are so many products
at pet supply stores that can bring the
curiosity back out in your cat.
M
attachment process between people.
You especially see this in the bond
between a mother and her infant. Our
response to those doe-eyed puppies
or kittens – practically all neonatal
animals we go “aww” over – is also the
result of oxytocin chemically causing
us to attach and care for them. But
the oxytocin flows both ways! New
research reveals dogs also produce
this hormone when they feel trust
and a bond with people. The oxytocin
production is stimulated when we
make eye contact, but not when we
stare. A stare is interpreted as a threat
in the dog world, but gazing into the
eyes of your dog makes a connection
that builds trust.
If your dog is a rescue, there is
a high probability she has some trust
issues with people. There is a lot
you need to do to create a trusting
environment but try adding eye gazing.
Then progress with gentle touches
and strokes to help further stimulate
oxytocin release. Be patient. It may
take weeks or months to build the
emotional and chemical bond
between you.
Left: Books like Catification offer
tips to keep your cat stimulated via
special shelves, poles and walkways.
Below: Dogs from puppy mills often take
time to bond with new guardians, but a
little eye contact can go a long way.
y new rescue dog
seems to only care
about me when I have
food in my hand. How
can I get her to love me?
Many rescue dogs, dogs from puppy
mills and dogs with poor socialization
during puppyhood have bonding
issues with people. They will often
see their guardians, especially in the
first few weeks, as merely a resource
to get what they need – food, water,
protection, bathroom breaks and
maybe play time – but otherwise
may not derive any real pleasure from
humans. This can be very frustrating
and disappointing. Fortunately, there
are some things you can do to help
speed up a connection with your dog,
through stimulating the production
of the “love drug,” or, more accurately,
the hormone oxytocin we naturally
produce.
When you fall in love, your body
produces high levels of oxytocin.
Oxytocin is a “feel-good” hormone
that stimulates the bonding and
Spring/Summer 2016 • AnimalSense
29
the experts
Here are just
a few quick tips
on attracting
wildlife to your
yard:
Q Nothing but natives
Native plants are adapted to local
climates and can provide food to
wildlife year-round. They also attract
native insects which, in turn, attracts
the wild animals who eat them.
Q Just a litter bit
Piles of leaf litter can provide a place
for insects, birds and amphibians to find
food, hide, nest and overwinter in. They
also serve as a natural mulch to fertilize
the soil.
Q To mow or not to mow
Let a part of your lawn grow long.
Long grass retains moisture better
(less watering!) and provides a great
habitat for insects, which draws in
insect-eating wildlife too.
I
just moved into a house
with a large yard, and I’d like
to attract some wildlife.
What can I do?
Practically everywhere, wild animals
are facing increased pressure from
urban development. Creating wildlifefriendly green spaces, therefore, is
an excellent way to help relieve at
least some of this pressure. “Humane
backyards” offer wild animals natural
sources of food, water and shelter, a
place to care for their young, and even
a corridor they can use to travel safely
through the city.
More important than the planning
and implementation, perhaps, is the
shift in perspective that a humane
backyard requires. In urban areas
especially, we are used to tidiness;
neatly planted flowers, manicured
bushes and trimmed lawns have
become the norm. A yard that attracts
wildlife, in contrast, usually looks a little
“wild” itself. But the reward of giving
safe haven to wildlife is well worth
the effort – and the “mess”! n
Right: Let your yard get a little
“wild” via native plants, uncut grass,
leaf litter, and brush and rock piles.
Q Brush up
Brush piles made from logs, branches,
flower stalks, leaves and twigs can give
dense cover to small mammals, birds,
reptiles and amphibians. As the piles
slowly decay, they attract more insects,
providing additional food for birds.
Q Rock it
Rock piles, especially when positioned
near water and on sunny south-facing
slopes, can provide great habitat for
frogs and snakes.
30
AnimalSense • Spring/Summer 2016
(butterfly) Caitlyn Milward, istock
the experts
appliedknowledge
by Dr. David Fraser
Science-based animalwelfare standards: why
not adopt them in B.C.?
A
nimal welfare science
forms the basis of many
officially recognized
standards and regulations for animal care, but getting
these standards adopted by the
provincial government in British
Columbia has not been easy.
In 2010, B.C. residents were
shocked by the inhumane killing
of sled dogs after the tourism boom
of the Olympics. In response to
the ensuing public outrage, the
B.C. government hastily created
a committee (including two of
our Animal Welfare Program
graduates) to draft sled dog welfare
standards, which then became a
regulation under the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals Act.
Then in 2014 we saw undercover
video of horrible abuse of animals
on a Chilliwack dairy farm. The
provincial government responded
by adopting Canada’s “Code of
Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle” – a progressive standard originally drafted in
2009 with the close cooperation of
UBC and the BC SPCA. The Code
sets out many practices to improve
cattle welfare and specifically
prohibits the kind of abuse seen
in Chilliwack.
This year we have seen another
animal welfare disaster – the
seizure of animals from badly run
dog-breeding facilities – and the
premier is now promising that
regulations will be developed for
dog breeders.
Do you see the pattern? In order
for animal welfare standards to
be recognized by the government
of British Columbia, we need a
disaster first.
There is a different way. Since
the 1970s, Canada has been creating science-based standards for
animal care, but few of these are
recognized under British Columbia law. The first standards were
for laboratory animals. Then came
a long series of standards developed for each of the farm animals
in a process led initially by the
Canadian Federation of Humane
Societies and now by the National
Farm Animal Care Council with
input from scientists, the humane
movement, and the veterinary profession as well as farmers. We also
have standards for dog kennels
and catteries developed by the
Canadian Veterinary Medical
Association and guidelines
on animal euthanasia.
Some standards are
not all that we might
like – some need to be
revised in light of new research,
and some were drafted with too
minimal an approach, but they are
far better than nothing.
And many of the standards
have been adopted by other
provinces. Manitoba, for example,
cites all the national standards
for farm animals; it recognizes
the Canadian Veterinary Medical
Association’s standards for kennels and catteries; it references the
many guidelines developed by the
Canadian Council for Animal Care
for animals in research; it cites
various standards for humane
euthanasia of animals; and it even
had some standards for the protection of sled dogs well before the
incident in British Columbia.
Yet B.C., apart from having
regulations for fur farming, gives
official recognition only to the
Dairy Code and the province’s
homegrown sled dog regulations.
The failure to proactively adopt
standards that are already accepted by SPCAs, animal industry
and a host of other stakeholders is
puzzling. With the heavy lifting
already done, what’s holding
government back from acting
now to adopt these standards and
bring B.C. into line with the more
progressive provinces? n
The opinions herein expressed are those of
the columnist and do not necessarily reflect
the views of the BC SPCA. Dr. David Fraser
is a professor in the UBC Animal Welfare
Program. The program, initiated in 1997
by the BC SPCA and other partners, works
to improve the lives of all animals through
research, education and
public outreach.
Fall/Winter 2015 • AnimalSense
31