AS 17 - SpringSummer 2007

B C S P C A
www.spca.bc.ca
SPRING/SUMMER 2007 $2.95
S P E A K I N G
F O R
A N I M A L S
2006 ANNUAL
REPORT
EXOTICS AT RISK
BY THE NUMBERS:
A LOOK AT SHELTER
STATISTICS
JUSTICE
FOR
ANIMALS
KIDS CLUB HEROES: THE NEW WAVE OF SAVIOURS
PM 40065475
A New Generation of Advocates
When you are working in the humane movement, it is
easy to become overwhelmed by the seemingly endless
work that still needs to be done to improve the lives of
animals. Pet overpopulation, animal cruelty, puppy mill
breeding, animals exploited for amusement, and farm
animals living in intensive factory-like conditions are all
issues that demand continual attention.
Yet, hope and motivation are instantly rekindled when
you learn of the actions of some of B.C.’s youth. In this
issue of AnimalSense we introduce you to a few of the
BC SPCA’s Kids Club members, who, at a young age
embody the mission of the BC SPCA. You’ll meet 11year-old Justice Janveaux-Huolt, who not only became
the top pledge collector for the Campbell River branch’s
contents
S P R I N G / S U M M E R
2006 Paws for a Cause . . . Walk for the Animals, but who is
also a passionate animal advocate in her community.
The enthusiasm, courage and dedication of young
people like Justice and other Kids Club members who are
speaking and acting for animals is an inspiration to us all.
Craig Daniell
CEO
BC SPCA
2 0 0 7
departments features
3 NEWS BRIEFS 6 Youth Ambassadors
Pet-friendly hotels; BC SPCA Kids Club heroes go the extra
bunny adoptions; mile – and one heads straight to the
against toxic legislature – to protect animals.
antifreeze; animal
rights and the U.N. 9 Exotic Exposure
Small or large, wild animals don’t belong in
19 LEDGER captivity.
ON BEHAVIOUR
Balancing a new 12 Biscuit Fund
baby and the A black Persian cat survives a terrifying
family pet. drop from the clutches of a bird of prey.
21 CATSENSE 13 BC SPCA Annual
Beauty sleep and Report 2006
nocturnal felines. A message from the CEO; the year in
review – highlights from 2006; and financial
22 APPLIED statements.
KNOWLEDGE
David Fraser 10 Happy Endings
on fair treatment Fairytale ending for a princely horse.
for female pigs.
19 By the Numbers
21 DOGSENSE A look at which animals are surrendered to
Stanley Coren on B.C. shelters and why.
teaching dogs to read.
on the cover
Kids Club member Justice Janveaux-Huolt and her
dog Maggie campaign for pet-safe antifreeze at the
B.C. legislature.
Cover photo and above by Nick Westover.
ANIMALSENSE • BC SPCA SPEAKING FOR ANIMALS SPRING/SUMMER 2007 / VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Jennifer Patterson / ART DIRECTOR Laurel MacLean / BC SPCA EDITORS Lorie Chortyk, Craig Naherniak
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Stanley Coren, Dr. David Fraser, Nadine Gourkow, Dr. Rebecca Ledger
COVER PHOTO ©Nick Westover 2007/ ELECTRONIC IMAGING Debbie Lynn Craig, Bernhard Holzmann
PRODUCTION MANAGER Suzy Williamson
AnimalSense is published for the BC SPCA by Canada Wide Media Limited, 4th Floor-4180 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby, B.C., V5C 6A7.
Telephone 604-299-7311. We welcome your comments on AnimalSense magazine. Please write to us: BC SPCA, 1245 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V5T 1R1, or email:
info@spca.bc.ca website: www.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.
Send change-of-address notices and covers of undeliverable copies to: AnimalSense, BC SPCA, 1245 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V5T 1R1. To receive a copy of AnimalSense, call
604-681-7271. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 40065475 / ©BC SPCA. Printed on recycled paper.
REC
Y
E •
• PL
SE
CL
E
A
BC SPCA
briefs
SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC CELEBRATES
5,000TH OPERATION
WHEN THE BC SPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic in Prince George opened in
October 2005, the region was struggling with an overwhelming pet overpopulation crisis. That problem is well on its way to being addressed, thanks to the
15 to 25 operations per day being performed at the clinic on local pets and on
homeless animals rescued by the BC SPCA North Cariboo branch. In April
the clinic celebrated its 5,000th operation, and Dr. Kim Yuill, who oversees
the facility, says the phone is still ringing off the hook with people making
appointments for their pets. “Now that the people of Prince George have
greater access to low-cost spay/neuter services they are really stepping up to
address the problem,” she says. Through the clinic, the BC SPCA hopes to
reduce euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals in Prince George to zero by
2010. If you’d like to make a donation to help the clinic, please visit
www.spca.bc.ca or call 1-800-665-1868.
BUCKLE UP –
SAVE YOUR
PET’S LIFE
Dr. Kim Yuill of the BC SPCA
Spay/Neuter Clinic.
EVERY YEAR HUNDREDS OF
pets are killed or injured in B.C.
because they were not properly
restrained while travelling in
vehicles. To help reduce the
number of pet fatalities and injuries,
the BC SPCA teamed up with the
RCMP and ICBC for a media
campaign to raise awareness about
the proper way to transport animals
in vehicles and to ensure that
Section 72 of the Motor Vehicle
Act, which makes it illegal to
transport an unsecured pet in the
back of a truck, is more strictly
enforced. “So many accidents are
caused by guardians who let their
dogs ride unrestrained in the back
of a pickup truck,” says Lorie
Chortyk, general manager of community relations for the BC SPCA.
“Dogs are thrown from the truck or
are strangled when they fall over
the side of the vehicle. It’s particularly heartbreaking because these
deaths are completely preventable.”
The Pet Safety campaign was
launched in Prince George and is
being rolled out in Kamloops,
Kelowna and the Kootenays this
May and to other parts of the
province later in 2007. For more
information on how to safely transport your pet, visit www.spca.bc.ca.
HOP TO ADOPT!
THE BC SPCA AND PETCETERA STORES HAVE LAUNCHED A NEW PARTNERSHIP
to reduce the number of homeless and abandoned rabbits in B.C.
Petcetera has agreed to no longer sell rabbits, but
instead will serve as a satellite adoption centre for
rabbits rescued by the BC SPCA. The program began
in all Lower Mainland Petcetera stores in April and will
be in place in Petcetera locations across B.C. by
September. The BC SPCA rescues more than 1,700
rabbits every year.
Spring/Summer 2007 • AnimalSense
3
briefs
PENTICTON
ANIMAL CENTRE
OPENS
THE BEAUTIFUL NEW BC SPCA
Community Animal Centre in
Penticton is now open and attracting
a record number of local adopters and
volunteers. “Having the new building
has definitely made a big difference,
not only for the animals, but in
attracting members of the community
PUBLIC SUPPORTS ANTI-CRUELTY
LAWS
A PUBLIC OPINION POLL CONDUCTED THIS SPRING SHOWS THE
majority of British Columbians want the provincial government to significantly
increase its funding for cruelty investigations and enact stronger legislation to
protect animals from abuse and neglect.
According to the survey, 87 per cent of survey respondents said the government should increase its support for cruelty investigations, from its current
funding of less than five per cent of total BC SPCA investigation costs to an
average of 44 per cent. Respondents also said the government’s stance on animal
cruelty would affect their voting behaviour, with 84 per cent stating it would
influence whom they supported in an upcoming election.
British Columbians are also strongly behind the BC SPCA’s campaign to
change animal cruelty laws in B.C., according to the poll. Ninety-two per cent
of respondents were supportive of legislation to allow the BC SPCA to inspect
boarding, breeding and training kennels, and other establishments where animals are kept for sale, hire or exhibit. Eighty-seven per cent were in favour of
the BC SPCA being able to seize an animal without having to seek court permission and 84 per cent were supportive of regulations to allow the BC SPCA
to inspect slaughterhouses and vehicles for freighting livestock. “British
Columbians are clearly behind our efforts to increase protection for abused and
neglected animals,” said Craig Daniell, CEO of the BC SPCA. “We hope the
government will work with us to make these changes a reality.” To add your
voice to the End Animal Cruelty campaign, go to www.EndAnimalCruelty.com.
TAKING ACTION TO BAN DEADLY
ANTIFREEZE
to participate in our activities,” says
Tracy Westmoreland, manager of the
BC SPCA South Okanagan
Similkameen branch. While the official opening of the facility was celebrated on May 24, the centre has
been operating since late 2006. The
new 5,500-square-foot (540-squaremetre) facility incorporates modern
animal welfare designs, including
shared “apartments” for dogs to
increase socialization, communal
indoor-outdoor areas for cats, designated behaviour assessment areas, a
state-of-the-art ventilation system to
reduce the spread of air-borne disease
and a large multi-purpose room that
can be used for training, education
and other community use.
Don’t risk
this puppy’s life!
ARMED WITH HUNDREDS OF BC SPCA PETITIONS, MLA SCOTT FRASER INTRODUCED A PRIVATE
member’s bill into the legislature March 7 calling for legislation to ban deadly ethylene glycolbased antifreeze – the first proposed legislation of its kind in North America. The
reasoning is straightforward, says Fraser: “Why continue to allow the sale of ethylene glycol
antifreeze that is a deadly poison to pets, wildlife and children when a less toxic alternative –
propylene glycol-based antifreeze – is available?”
More information, including a sample letter to send to Premier Gordon Campbell and petition
sheets, is available at www.spca.bc.ca/antifreeze.
4
AnimalSense • Spring/Summer 2007
Regular ethylene
glycol antifreeze
is so toxic
a mere tablespoon
will kill
a cat or dog.
Ask for pet-friendly,
propylene glycol
antifreeze at your
service centre or
automotive retailer.
Switch to
pet-friendly
antifreeze.
www.spca.bc.ca/antifreeze
BC SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
COAST HOTELS
WELCOME FOURLEGGED GUESTS WALK FOR THE ANIMALS
MORE AND MORE PET LOVERS
BC SPCA’S SIGNATURE EVENT – PAWS FOR A CAUSE is B.C.’s largest
are including their furry friends in
travel plans these days and Coast
Hotels are rolling out the welcome
mat for their four-legged guests. In
the early ’90s, Coast Hotels and
Resorts Inc., the official hotel chain
of the BC SPCA, became a pioneer of
pet-friendly accommodation. “We
understand that animals are an
important part of people’s lives and
we didn’t want any member of the
family to be left behind,” says Sherry
Baumgardner, Coast Hotels director
of marketing. She says the animals
help create a friendly atmosphere in
their hotels. “People are more likely
to strike up a conversation in the elevator or lobby when they see someone with a pet. The animals just seem
to put a smile on people’s faces.” As
an official BC SPCA sponsor, Coast
Hotels donates the venue, appetizers
and refreshments for the VIP launch
of the Paws for a Cause campaign, the
society’s major annual fundraiser, and
provides a five-night stay for two at
the Coast Maui in Kihei for the top
provincial Paws for a Cause pledge
collector.
campaign in support of animals, with 10,000 people and more than 200
volunteers taking part province-wide. In 2007 our goal is to raise $750,000 – a
15 per cent increase over 2006. The provincial campaign starts on June 1 and
builds up to Sept. 9, the day most of the community walks will be held. Visit
www.spca.bc.ca/walk for details about the 2007 prizes, the fun, the teams, and
why it’s important to join us. Funds raised through Paws for a Cause stay in the
local communities to help animals in need.
GET ON BOARD –
FOR FARM
ANIMALS
THE BC SPCA SUBMITTED
a detailed report of recommendations
for regulatory amendments that would
better protect farm animals in transport. The Canadian Food Inspection
Agency is considering the recommendations, along with submissions made
from other stakeholders, including
farm animal industry associations.
THE BC SPCA HAS JOINED A
FERAL CAT
CLINIC HELD
STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AT THE
BC SPCA Animal Hospital in Vancouver held
a feral cat clinic on March 25 to help wild
and abandoned cats in the community.
Rescue groups caring for the feral colonies
brought the cats to the hospital, where
they received spay/neuter operations,
identification, health checks and treatment.
All services for the 75 cats treated during
the clinic were provided free of charge.
CAMPAIGN
SEEKS U.N.
SUPPORT
Now we need you to “Get on
Board” and demonstrate to the federal
minister of agriculture that strong
public support for these changes
exists. Visit www.spca.bc.ca/farminfo for
more information, and to sign a letter
of support. You can also subscribe to
the SPCA’s farm animal welfare enewsletter, FarmSense.
coalition of leading animal welfare
organizations that are pressing for
animal welfare to be formally recognized by the United Nations.
The Animals Matter to Me
campaign aims to achieve a U.N.
Universal Declaration on Animal
Welfare that would recognize animals as living, sentient beings and
would acknowledge animal welfare
as an important aspect of social
development. The coalition is seeking 10 million signatures in support
of the declaration. To learn more
and to sign the petition, please visit
www.animalsmatter.org.
Spring/Summer 2007 • AnimalSense
5
Kids Club
heroes
do the right
thing
hen MLA Scott Fraser introduced a private member’s bill
into parliament earlier this
year calling for a ban on the sale of
toxic antifreeze, he faced the parliamentary press with an important
campaign ally at his side.
Eleven-year-old Justice JanveauxHuolt, a BC SPCA Kids Club member from Campbell River, took the
day off school to present the MLA
with hundreds of petitions she had
personally collected in support of the
ban on ethylene glycol-based
antifreeze, which kills thousands of
domestic and wild animals every year.
“It’s a bit surreal to see your child
on the steps of the legislature, calmly
fielding questions in a media scrum,”
admits Justice’s mom, Nicole. “She’s
normally quite shy, but she is determined to help animals.”
With 14 rescued pets at home, it’s
no wonder Justice has an affinity for
animals. “We’ve fostered or adopted
more than a hundred abandoned and
injured animals over the years so pets
have always been part of Justice’s
life,” says Nicole. The family also
volunteers at the BC SPCA’s
Campbell River branch, where
Justice lavishes care and attention on
animals in need.
“I think it’s wrong that people
treat animals badly,” says Justice, in a
quiet but assured voice. “Some of the
animals I play with at the shelter are
really scared of people, but I try to
show them that people are nice and
they shouldn’t be afraid.” During last
year’s BC SPCA Paws for a Cause
walk, Justice became the highest
pledge collector in Campbell River,
raising $2,125 for animals at her local
shelter. “I went door-to-door asking
for donations,” says Justice. “A couple of people just slammed the door
in my face, but lots of people said
W
Justice Janveaux-Huolt fields questions from the media outside the B.C. legislature.
they would sponsor me.”
When she heard about the
antifreeze campaign through the BC
SPCA Kids Club, she knew it was
another way she could make a difference for the animals. “I talked about
it with my mom and dad and we
decided on a goal of collecting 1,000
petitions.” Together, Justice and her
family canvassed neighbourhoods
collecting signatures, and went to pet
stores, gas stations and other retail
outlets throughout Campbell River
asking if they could leave a petition at
the front counter. Justice also took
her campaign efforts to school, where
she made a presentation on the
dangers of ethylene glycol antifreeze
to her class and put up posters and
other campaign materials to raise
awareness about the issue.
Nicole says her daughter was
inspired by her trip to Victoria in
March to see the antifreeze bill introduced. “It was empowering for her to
see that she could make a difference
and I think she is more determined
than ever to be an advocate. On the
way home she commented to us that
‘good things happen when you do
good things for others,’ which is a
wonderful lesson for children to learn.”
Inspiring children to make positive changes is what the BC SPCA
Kids Club and other programs
offered by the BC SPCA’s Humane
Education Department are all about.
“Our goal is to help kids develop
compassion and respect for all living
things, including people, animals and
nature,” says Craig Naherniak, gen-
eral manager of humane education
for the BC SPCA. “It’s important that
we reach kids between the ages of
eight to 12, which is a key developmental stage for learning empathy.”
BC SPCA Kids Club members
receive four Bark! magazines a year
plus regular e-newsletters with information about action campaigns,
responsible pet care and news about
other kids making a difference. “I
think its important for young people
who care about animals to see that
there are like-minded kids out there
so they know that they are part of a
bigger movement,” says Naherniak.
Since the BC SPCA Kids Club
launched in 2004, members have
taken part in action campaigns focusing on spay/neuter initiatives, pet
Justice and her dog Kona.
Spring/Summer 2007 • AnimalSense
7
Laura Bonner’s Grade 5 class at Arrowview Elementary School in Parksville.
identification, making humane food
choices, speaking out against animals
in captivity and, most recently, promoting pet-safe antifreeze.
“We are constantly amazed at the
kids who are out there making pre-
sentations, writing to their local government, raising money and taking
animal welfare to a whole new level in
their communities,” says Naherniak.
“All it takes is a few kids leading by
example to really make a difference.”
Kids Making a Difference
West Point Grey Academy Grade 8 students
Natascha Wimmer, Kyle Sia-Chan, Sydney
Smith and Sam Tobias, pictured with BC SPCA
constable Ryan Voutilainen, raised $700 to
purchase digital cameras for the Cruelty
Investigations Department. The foursome
worked evenings and weekends at the
school’s concession stand to raise the funds.
Hanna Hughes, 9, Clare Bruce, 10, Riley
Brennan, 9, and Mitchell Schulz, 9, of Prince
George organized a skating marathon to raise
money for homeless animals. They skated
over 84 kilometres and raised $403 for their
local BC SPCA branch.
u
u
Haley Stewart, 14, of Surrey has pledged to
raise $1,000 for animals in need in 2007 by
collecting bottles and cans. She has already
raised $400.
u
Nik Djuric, 16, has volunteered at the BC
SPCA Surrey branch for the past seven years,
caring for small animals, assisting at special
events, serving as a junior summer camp
counsellor and helping to train new youth volunteers, particularly those with special needs.
u
He adds that the BC SPCA encourages Kids Club members to start their
own clubs at school to get other
young people involved in animal
issues. “If we can reach kids at this
age and show them that they have the
ability to change their world for the
better, I believe it will have a lasting
impact on their lives and will help
create the kind of humane communities that we all want to be part of.”
One group of kids who joined
together recently to make a difference was Laura Bonner’s Grade 5
class at Arrowview Elementary
School in Parksville. After hearing of
the plight of homeless and abused
animals in their community, the class
set out to raise funds to help with
food and veterinary costs. In addition
to making fundraising posters to
encourage donations, the class organized a school-wide bake sale and gave
up their lunch hour and recess times
to sell their goodies. “Next they collected juices boxes from all the students in the school for the recycling
deposit,” says Nadine Durante,
branch manager for the BC SPCA
Parksville-Qualicum & District.
“They raised $400 in total for our
animals, which was wonderful. I’m
very impressed that they would step
up and lead the way in helping animals in our community.” Says their
teacher Laura Bonner: “I think they
learned a valuable lesson, which is
that it doesn’t matter if you are
young or old – if you sincerely want
to help, there are things you can do
to make a difference.”
For 11-year-old Justice – Kids
Club member, SPCA volunteer and
future veterinarian – her role as an
advocate for animals is just getting
started. “There is still so much to do.
People who care about animals have
to keep working at it,” she says.
Asked if she feels she is a hero to the
animals, she simply shrugs with a shy
smile and responds, “I’m trying.” ■
For details about the BC SPCA Kids
Club or other BC SPCA programs for
youth, please contact Iris Ting at
iting@spca.bc.ca, call 604-681-7271
or visit www.spca.bc.ca.
8
AnimalSense • Spring/Summer 2007
WHEN A NINE-FOOT
COURTESY THE MAPLE RIDGE-PITT MEADOWS NEWS
albino Burmese python was
reported abandoned in the
back of a store in the heart
of Vancouver’s Commercial
Drive area, it didn’t surprise Eileen Drever,
BC SPCA senior animal
protection officer. “We’re
seeing an increase in the
number of people who get
exotic animals and it is
shocking to see the poor
care they receive,” says
Drever. The python, suffering from dehydration and
poor health, was seized by
the BC SPCA and is recovering in the care of a Lower
Mainland veterinarian.
Currently, if you want
to keep a tiger, elephant or
alligator in many B.C.
communities, including the
city of Vancouver, nothing
prevents you from legally
doing so. But keeping
large, dangerous animals is
not the BC SPCA’s only
concern. “There is a high
number of small exotics –
chameleons, bearded dragons, sugar gliders, geckos
and degus – that are being
sold in pet stores and
through the Web. Small
exotics often suffer in the
care of well meaning but
inexperienced guardians,”
says Drever.
The Web is fuelling the
demand and interest in the
trade in exotics. Specialized
chat rooms offer support
and Web classifieds are plastered
with ads from breeders selling
snakes, lizards, hedgehogs, frogs,
monkeys and so on.
Just as the interest in the keeping
of exotics has increased, so have the
numbers of animals surrendered to
the SPCA. “We recently had a corn
snake dropped off in a box at the
front door of the shelter, and we regularly get calls from people wanting
to surrender exotics,” says Mark
Takhar, BC SPCA manager of the
Vancouver and Burnaby shelters.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have
Exotics at Risk
the animals we have seized
in cruelty cases have been
exotics,” says Marcie
Moriarty, the BC SPCA’s
general manager of cruelty
investigations. “When you
consider that there are
hundreds of thousands of
cats and dogs and millions
of farm animals in B.C., to
have an eight per cent figure for exotics is exceedingly disproportionate to
the overall numbers of
animals.”
In a progressive step,
the City of Vancouver
recently proposed a bylaw
to restrict the selling and
keeping of a wide range of
exotics. “We are working
with the City to create an
initiative to support other
municipalities in restricting the keeping of
exotics,” says Craig
Naherniak, general manager of humane education
for the BC SPCA.
“Municipal bylaws are a
start, but ultimately
provincial and federal legislation, plus more education, is needed to ensure
exotic animals don’t suffer
in the hands of people
seeking to keep them as
novelty items.”
Eileen Drever says she
hopes BC SPCA supporters and others will speak
out against the suffering of
exotic and wild animals in
captivity. “One has to
question how keeping a magnificent
snake like an albino python in the
back of a storage closet without
proper temperature and humidity
controls or confining a full-grown
tiger to a tiny cage where he can
barely turn around is humane,” she
says. “These animals should be
living freely in their natural habitats,
not suffering in substandard conditions where their physical and psychological needs are ignored. Sadly,
this suffering will continue unless
individuals and communities take a
stand.” ■
Small or large, animals from faraway lands make
inappropriate pets and are suffering in captivity
facilities to keep them or the
resources to provide the specialized
care they require.”
Sadly, there are few sanctuaries
available for exotics and the ones that
do exist, such as Surrey’s Rainforest
Reptile Refuge and Greyhaven
Exotic Bird Sanctuary, are stretched
to capacity. “It is common for us to
have to transport exotics who have
come into our care to sanctuaries in
Alberta and other provinces, as well
as to the United States,” says Drever.
Cruelty cases are also increasing.
“In recent years, eight per cent of all
Spring/Summer 2007 • AnimalSense
9
HAPPY ENDINGS
PRINCE CHARMING
It was a fairy tale ending for a 13-yearold Percheron horse named Prince
Charming, and 19 other badly neglected horses seized from a property in
Pemberton last August. When local
RCMP and BC SPCA animal protection officers discovered them, the
horses were emaciated, dehydrated,
suffering from lack of shelter from the elements and were badly in need of
grooming and hoof care. BC SPCA officers obtained a warrant to seize the
animals and with the help of the RCMP, local veterinarians and transport
teams, the horses were taken to the Lower Mainland for ongoing veterinary
care and rehabilitation. Wendee Cristante, founder of the celebrated
Canadian Clyde Ride in Langley, adopted Prince Charming and two of the
other seized horses and nursed them back to health over a period of six
months. “Prince Charming was in the worst condition,” she says. “He was
nothing more than a skeleton.” With lots of TLC her fine Prince now
weighs more than a ton and is a featured member of the Canadian Clyde
Ride team. “He definitely steals the show as he is the only black horse,
surrounded by eight bay-colour horses,” says Cristante. “He is a beautiful,
majestic creature who stands six feet tall from the withers. It’s hard to believe
that, without the intervention of the SPCA, he could
Left: An emaciated have died.” The other 19 horses rescued in the seizure
Prince Charming. are also doing well and have been adopted into loving
homes. For information on events featuring Prince
Below: A new life
Charming and the Canadian Clyde Ride, visit
of royalty – as a
www.canadianclyderide.com.
show horse.
CHIQUITA
She’s living proof that it’s the size of your heart, not your
body, that counts. A courageous little chihuahua named
Chiquita survived a six-metre drop from a rooftop patio
after her guardians let her outside on a freezing winter
night in Dawson Creek. Nursing a shattered front leg,
Chiquita dragged herself more than three blocks through
the snow and spent the night in an alleyway in temperatures of –25 C. “It’s just amazing that she managed to
survive,” says Terry Woodcox of the BC SPCA’s South
Peace branch. Chiquita was discovered and taken to a
veterinarian by a good Samaritan around noon the next
day, where it was determined that she would require
immediate surgery to straighten and cast her leg. She also
needed to have a plate inserted into her tiny frame to
ensure proper healing. “Given the cost of the surgery and
the extensive post-surgical care Chiquita would require,
the owners
chose to sign her
over to the
SPCA,” says
Woodcox. x
Small survivor:
Chiquita proves
that courage
sometimes comes
in small packages.
10
AnimalSense • Spring/Summer 2007
Through the BC SPCA’s Biscuit Fund, which provides emergency veterinary
care for SPCA animals, Chiquita received two surgeries and was placed in a
foster home for rehabilitation. Despite the pain, the tiny dog with the big
heart had nothing but love for her caregivers, according to her foster mom,
Jen, who has since adopted her. “Her tail just wagged non-stop, she was so
full of enthusiasm and love.” Chiquita has responded well to the bone graft
and is enjoying a pampered life with her new family.
Skye soars after recovery.
SKYE
BC SPCA officer Shannon Broderick with Bree.
BREE z
A family pet is safely back home after a harrowing fall down a ravine, thanks
to two BC SPCA officers who were called out to rescue the elderly dog from
a cliff ledge. “We got a call from a man who asked us to keep a eye out for his
dog, a senior sheltie named Bree, who had gone missing from their home,”
says Patti Ward, manager of the BC SPCA Sunshine Coast branch. “About a
week later we received a call from a woman who could hear a dog in a wooded area near her home. The dog had been barking for some time and she
became worried that the animal might be trapped or injured.” Ward and
another BC SPCA officer investigated and found the cold and distressed
sheltie clinging to a small dirt ledge, approximately six metres down a cliff.
“Bree must have come to the edge of the ravine and become disoriented or
lost her balance,” said Ward. The two officers carefully crawled down the
ravine to reach the dog, but were not able to retrace their steps because of the
steepness of the cliff. “We managed to make our way down the ravine and
then crossed through the stream, holding Bree above the water, and climbed
up the other side,” says Ward. “We were drenched and covered in mud, but
we were so glad to have found her alive. She was dehydrated and scared, but
thankfully she had no major injuries.” A tired, but unharmed Bree was reunited
with her relieved guardians.
When Skye, an adult female bald
eagle, was brought to Wild ARC,
the BC SPCA’s wildlife rehabilitation
centre in Metchosin, she was
extremely thin and was suffering
from a wing injury and serious
scrapes to her beak and feet. “She
had been observed on Rubly Island,
a privately owned island off Sidney,
and a local naturalist was able to
catch her and bring her to us for
treatment,” says Wild ARC manager
Sara Dubois. The injured eagle
required months of extensive
medical treatment, nutritional care
and supervised exercise in the
facility’s state-of-the-art flight pen to
build up her wing strength. “She had
some soft tissue damage which had
caused a wing sprain,” says Dubois.
Construction blasting may have
been the cause of her injury. After
four months of rehabilitation, the
fully recovered eagle was released
off Rubly Island. “She immediately
flew over to the adjoining island and
began calling out, perhaps for her
mate,” says Dubois. The costs of
Skye’s rehabilitation and care were
paid for through the BC SPCA’s
Biscuit Fund, which provides emergency care for homeless and wild
animals in distress. ■
Skye is returned to Rubly Island for
release.
Spring/Summer 2007 • AnimalSense
11
SPEAKING FOR ANIMALS
Annual Report 2006
Dear Friends:
Thanks to your continued support, the BC SPCA was able to help
more than 49,000 abused, abandoned and injured animals last
year through our 36 branches, two veterinary clinics and provincial office. The pages that follow highlight just some of the programs and services we provided in 2006 – services that would not
have been possible without the generous support of caring people
like you.
In addition to our increased focus on cruelty investigations in
2006, we continued to strengthen our efforts in a number of areas,
including advocacy for more effective anti-cruelty laws, improved
standards for farm animals, increased services to help reduce pet
overpopulation, expanded programming for children and youth,
enhanced shelter welfare for dogs, cats and small animals and
activities to ensure the financial health of the organization.
On behalf of the BC SPCA, I offer heartfelt thanks to each one of
you who has made it possible for us to provide emergency rescue
and care for thousands of B.C.’s most vulnerable animals.
Craig Daniell
Chief Executive Officer
Cruelty Investigations
Each year thousands of innocent
animals become victims of horrifying
abuse and violence at the hands of
humans. The BC SPCA is the only
animal welfare society in the province
entrusted with the mandate and
authority to investigate complaints of
animal cruelty and to enforce provincial and federal laws that protect
SPEAKING FOR ANIMALS
animals. In 2006, the BC SPCA’s 58
Special Constables investigated 5,805
cases of animal cruelty. While most
of these cases were resolved through
education and “orders for action,”
BC SPCA animal cruelty officers
removed 1,513 animals from abusive
or dangerous situations and rescued
an additional 1,801 animals. Special
Constables executed 104 warrants
to seize animals in distress last year –
a 39 per cent increase over 2005 –
and submitted 58 cases to Crown
counsel recommending charges
under the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals Act and the Criminal
Code of Canada. The Cruelty
Department also continued its crackdown on puppy mill operations in
the province in 2006 and dealt with
several large-scale cases involving
horses, livestock and the breeding of
malamute-type dogs for sledding
operations.
2006 annual report
Emergency Rescue,
Sheltering and Adoptions
In 2006 the BC SPCA cared for nearly 50,000
abandoned, injured, lost, neglected and abused
animals. Our 36 branches provided emergency
rescue, sheltering, veterinary care, rehabilitation
and adoptions for animals ranging from cats, dogs
and small animals to many species of livestock
and wildlife. Last year we:
• Provided emergency care and shelter for
49,126 animals in need;
• Reunited 6,058 animals (including 4,764
dogs, 1,191 cats and 16 rabbits) with their
families;
• Found new, loving homes for 22,548
abandoned, surrendered or seized animals;
• Transported 3,827 animals (1,991 cats,
1,662 dogs, 40 rabbits and 134 small animals)
from over-crowded shelters in the north and
Interior of B.C. to the Lower Mainland and
Vancouver Island for adoption. 1,583 of
these animals were transported through the Pet
Express, an animal transport vehicle sponsored
by Petcetera.
• Helped 1,711 injured and orphaned wild
animals (1,201 birds, 500 mammals and 10
reptiles) at Wild ARC, the BC SPCA’s wildlife
rehabilitation centre in Metchosin on Vancouver
Island.
• Implemented Shelter Buddy, an
innovative new system for
managing shelter operations,
in shelters throughout the
province. Shelter Buddy allows
BC SPCA branches to track all
animals in the system and easily generates reports on
current statistics, updates cruelty investigations and administers databases for volunteer
management and donor communications. Other features,
such as an interactive Lost and
Found service, will be activated
in 2007.
Veterinary Care and Spay/Neuter Services
The BC SPCA provides emergency
treatment and veterinary care for sick
and injured homeless animals each
year, helps to reduce pet overpopulation and offers charitable
services for pets of low-income
residents. In 2006, the BC SPCA:
• Provided emergency surgery, spay/
neuter operations and general veterinary care for thousands of homeless
and owned animals through the
BC SPCA Animal Hospital in
Vancouver. As part of its mission work
the hospital treated more than 1,500
homeless sick and injured animals;
• Performed more than 3,000 dis-
• Helped nearly 5,000 low-income
residents care for their animals
through Charlie’s Food Bank, a pet
food bank held every week in
Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
counted spay/neuter operations
and provided free spay/neuter services for 300 animals owned by
low-income residents through a
spay/neuter outreach program in
Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside;
• Provided low-cost spay/neuter
services through the new BC SPCA
Spay/Neuter Clinic in Prince
George to address the overwhelming pet overpopulation problem. The clinic has performed more
than 5,000 operations since it
opened in October 2005.
Found new, loving
homes for 22,548
abandoned, surrendered
or seized animals.
Animal Welfare Programs
The Animal Welfare Department provides research and expertise to promote the highest levels of
welfare for animals in the BC SPCA’s care. In 2006, we:
• Continued to implement DogSense, a state-of-the-art dog temperament assessment, welfare
management and adoption matching system in shelters across B.C.;
• Implemented CatSense, the BC SPCA’s cat welfare system, in several SPCA shelters around
the province;
• Provided the keynote address on evidence-based welfare systems in shelters to the international
Animal Welfare Grant Makers Conference held in Vancouver;
• Made improvements to the Society’s Hide, Perch and Go Box – a cardboard box placed
in cages to help reduce cat stress – in preparation for distributing the box to humane organizations across North America;
• Distributed scores of CatSense program kits to humane organizations across the world;
• Delivered volunteer workshops on welfare therapy during dog walking and
dog/guardian matching;
• Continued to collect data on hundreds of assessed dogs and their outcomes
following adoption for ongoing refinement of temperament assessment programs;
• Prepared a number of new animal behaviour fact sheets for the BC SPCA website
and for adopters.
Protecting Farm Animals
While many people think of companion animals when they think of
the BC SPCA, the Society works hard
to protect the welfare of the 100
million farm animals raised in B.C.
each year and lobbies for improved
codes of practice for farm animals
across Canada. In 2006, the BC SPCA:
• Advocated for stricter regulations
to protect the 600 million farm
animals transported throughout
Canada each year. Our comprehensive report to the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency, developed
in partnership with the Canadian
Federation of Humane Societies
and the Ontario SPCA, is making
a strong impact on the regulatory
changes that the federal government
has proposed;
BC SPCA’s high standards of
animal welfare. Last year, the
number of certified farms grew
from 16 to 22 and more than
1.5 million animals have now
been raised according to SPCA
Certified standards. SPCA
Certified products continue to be
available in more than 100 grocery stores across B.C.;
• Continued to reinforce our position
on important farm animal welfare
More than 1.5 million
animals have now
been raised according
to SPCA Certified
standards.
• Maintained steady growth of SPCA
Certified, our farm certification
program that assures consumers
that products bearing our label have
been raised according to the
SPEAKING FOR ANIMALS
issues and participated in government policy consultations on topics
such as avian influenza, farm animal
slaughter, and national farming
codes of practice.
2006 annual report
Humane Education
In 2006, the BC SPCA:
• Held a total of 39 weeks of summer camps throughout the province for
almost 900 campers, up nearly 25 per cent from 2006;
• Distributed e-Teacher, an email newsletter for B.C. educators, to more than
300 teachers in 2006, up from 250 in 2005;
• Continued to provide animal welfare curriculum materials for B.C.
classrooms;
• Attended annual provincial teachers conference to promote humane
education materials;
• Offered hundreds of humane education presentations to schools and
community groups on issues such as dog bite safety, pet overpopulation,
responsible animal care and other aspects of animal welfare;
• Held community workshops to train staff and volunteers in the
Okanagan, Vancouver Island and Northern B.C. on ways to get humane
education messages into their community;
• Grew the BC SPCA Kids Club, now in its third full year, from 1,200 to
2,000 members – a 40 per cent increase;
• Launched three SPCA School Kids Clubs as a pilot project thanks to
funding from Coast Capital Savings. The project is being initiated through
our youth Animal Learning Centre at our Surrey branch, where hundreds
of Surrey youth participate in a diverse range of programming, from hands-on animal care to workshops on topics
such as pet-first aid and stream rehabilitation;
• Initiated a pilot program with the Williams Lake Big
Brothers/Big Sisters Chapter to involve program kids in
the Society’s Kids Club.
Communications and Advocacy
In 2006 the BC SPCA worked hard
to promote animal welfare through
its communications and advocacy
efforts. Last year, we:
• Continued to petition the B.C.
government for more effective anticruelty laws through the End
Animal Cruelty campaign. A joint
government-BC SPCA working
group was established and has completed recommendations to government about urgently needed changes
to the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animal Act. Meetings were also held
to explore increased funding for animal cruelty enforcement work in the
province;
• Launched a Pet Safety Campaign
in partnership with the RCMP and
ICBC to reduce the number of animals injured or killed in vehicles;
• Participated in a Pet-Safe
Antifreeze Campaign, calling for
Website
The BC SPCA website continues to draw a record
number of users seeking information on animals
for adoption, advocacy initiatives, animal care,
training and rehabilitation, and special events and
programs. Last year, the site attracted
244,193,051 hits, a 19 per cent increase over
2005. The BC SPCA’s internal website was
completely designed in 2006, providing a valuable
new resource for BC SPCA staff and volunteers.
a ban on the sale of toxic ethylene
glycol-based antifreeze;
• Spoke out on issues affecting
animals, including pet
overpopulation, exotic animals
in captivity, rodeos, animals in
circuses, and the sale of fireworks;
• Prepared a key report to the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
on improved standards for farm
animals in transport (see
Protecting Farm Animals on
previous page);
• Issued 101 news releases and
handled more than 1,400 media
interviews on a wide variety of
animal welfare issues;
• Distributed print and television
public service announcements on
a range of animal welfare issues;
• Issued a monthly email newsletter,
Anim@ls, to more than 14,000
subscribers.
Volunteer Activities
The nearly 4,000 volunteers who participate in
BC SPCA activities were once again at the forefront
as the Society moved forward to protect animals
across the province. Volunteer Community Councils
assist branches in areas such as animal welfare,
revenue development, humane education,
advocacy, volunteer development and membership.
Activity volunteers also serve in a wide range of
programs, including dog walking and training, cat
wellness, adoption counselling, fostering, “Pet
Squad” mobile adoptions, fundraising and organizing special events. Some of the resources developed to promote volunteer development in 2006
included a Guide to Effective Community Councils
and a new Branch Volunteer Recognition Program.
Raising Funds to Help the
Animals
The BC SPCA is not a governmentfunded agency and relies on donations and grants from individuals,
business and foundations to fund the
wide range of services provided for
homeless, injured and abused animals throughout the province. In
2006, we:
• Received more than $4.6 million
in bequests to help animals in
distress;
• Launched Direct Response
Television Ads (DRTV) featuring
Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan
and Marcie Moriarty, the
BC SPCA’s general manager of
cruelty investigations. The DRTV
spots ran on several television
channels and resulted in 900 new
monthly donors. The monthly
giving program (the PAW plan)
now generates over $2 million in
annual income for the Society;
• Generated approximately
$2 million through our direct
mail and online donations;
• Reached our $1.5-million
fundraising goal for the new
BC SPCA Community Animal
Centre in Penticton;
• Generated more than $670,000
in revenue through Paws for a
Cause, our signature provincewide special event;
• Raised more than $240,000
through the Biscuit Fund for
emergency medical care for homeless and injured animals;
• Raised $250,000 through the
first BC SPCA Lottery for the
Animals. ■
BC SPCA Financial Statements
Bylaw
enforcement
15%
2006 Audited Financial Statements*
Other
7%
2006 REVENUES
2006
$
2005
$
2004
$
Donations and fundraising
Legacy and life insurance
Bylaw enforcement services
Sheltering, medical and clinical services
Lotteries and raffles
Provincial government grants received
Other grants received
Investment income
7,869,274
4,665,849
3,302,276
4,472,145
312,505
446,000
318,358
374,396
6,062,716
5,271,569
3,272,961
4,105,175
51,505
471,550
362,778
161,264
5,275,959
4,571,682
3,669,777
4,050,459
15,007
471,550
241,447
278,521
21,760,803
19,759,518
18,574,402
2006 EXPENDITURES
2006
$
2005
$
2004
$
Sheltering and bylaw enforcement
Veterinary care and spay/neuter
Cruelty investigations
Humane education
Advocacy and volunteer development
Hospital
Animal health and welfare
Administration
Revenue development
Amortization
Other
9,006,786
1,660,478
1,817,296
460,066
466,908
1,972,589
291,686
1,785,679
2,678,150
699,535
280,020
8,800,903
1,575,865
1,425,455
404,096
379,367
1,862,322
236,307
1,554,843
2,150,254
912,335
229,349
9,762,228
1,586,856
1,311,694
429,548
359,008
1,692,316
262,228
1,993,746
1,784,190
1,067,439
152,819
21,119,193
19,531,096
20,402,072
2006
$641,610
2005
$228,422
2004
($1,827,670)
SURPLUS/DEFICIT
* A copy of the full 2006 audited financial statements is available on the
BC SPCA website at www.spca.bc.ca.
SPEAKING FOR ANIMALS
Donations &
fundraising
36%
Sheltering
Legacy & life
& medical
services 21% insurance 21%
2006
Revenues
Revenue
development 13%
Administration
8%
Services & programs
for animals 79%
2006
Expenditures
Ledger on Behaviour
• Leash the dog to prevent unexpected
jumping or lunging at the baby.
• Respond to undesirable behaviour
firmly with your voice or by
putting the dog into another room.
• Use a crib tent to keep pets away
from the crib.
Nurturing the dog-child
relationship
As a precaution, even if your dog
appears to be calm and gentle, never
leave your dog and baby alone in a
room together.
Arrange for someone else to walk
your dog until you are able to do so.
Eventually, go for walks together so
that your dog will not feel displaced.
Teach your child to pet your dog
gently and praise positive interactions
by both dog and child.
After reflecting on these helpful
tips, Coco’s guardian reconsidered her
plan to surrender Coco and she is
now approaching the upcoming birth
in a new way – one that includes Coco
as part of the family. For more
detailed information on this topic visit
www.spca.bc.ca/AnimalBehaviour. ■
Coping with a dog and a
new baby
by Dr. Rebecca Ledger
“IT’S BECAUSE WE’RE HAVING A BABY,” SAYS A WEEPING, EXPECTANT
mother, explaining why she feels forced to give up Coco, her six-year-old
Labrador, to the animal shelter staff.
Her difficult decision is driven by fears that her dog may harm the new
baby, and uncertainty as to how she will cope with the additional demands on
her time and attention once her baby arrives.
While these are important considerations, some prudent planning can
reduce the need for new parents to part with their pets, and allow their children to experience the benefits associated with sharing a life with other beings.
Dr. Rebecca Ledger, BC SPCA animal behaviour
and welfare manager, holds a PhD in companion
animal behaviour, a master’s degree in applied animal behaviour and welfare, and is a full member of
the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.
At a safe distance, let your leashed dog observe small children running and
making noise. If your dog shows aggression, consult a behaviour therapist to
see whether or not the problems can be overcome and consider training your
dog to wear a muzzle.
Gradually introduce your dog to changes that come with new babies. For
example, recordings of baby cries, walking with a stroller and new spatial
restrictions, such as going into the nursery or riding in the back of the vehicle.
Also new walking, feeding and play times prepare the dog to cope better once
baby arrives.
Use positive reinforcement to teach your dog to respond consistently to
commands such as “sit,” “stay,” “down” and “give.”
Meeting baby for the first time
• Allow your dog to smell the baby’s clothing just before the first meeting.
• Fuss with your dog when you come home whilst someone else holds the baby.
20
18
AnimalSense • Spring/Summer 2007
PHOTO: TERRY GUSCOTT/ATN VISUALS
Pre-birth steps
AnimalSense • Spring 2003
catSense
dogSense
Is your cat interfering with
your sleep?
See Spot read
by Nadine Gourkow
Stevie Mercer, eight years old, was
standing next to his teacher, Evelyn
Scott, who asked him, “Would you
like to help Jake learn how to read?”
What made it odd was the fact that
Jake was a five-year-old black
Labrador retriever.
Stevie nodded, and Evelyn asked
him to sit on the floor and gave him a
book. After she positioned Jake so
that he was lying comfortably next to
the boy and could look over his arm
and see the page, she gave some
instructions.
“Now here is the way that you do
it. You have to read out loud, so that
Jake can hear the words and see the
page. If you find any hard words, just
sound them out so that Jake can learn
how to do that the way you do. If you
really get stuck you can call me to
help, but since you are the teacher I
won’t be sitting here, but will be over
at my desk.”
As she moved across the room,
Evelyn could hear Stevie starting the
lesson. “OK, Jake,” he said, “look at
the words and I’ll tell you what they
mean. This is the story of Arthur the
Turtle’s baseball game. ‘It was Sunday. Arthur was going to play baseball
that af..ter..noon. But where was the
ball? You can’t play baseball without a
ball…’” She could hear the rhythm
of the reading become steadier with
each new sentence.
As you might have guessed,
although Stevie was supposed to be
teaching Jake how to read, the dog
was actually there to assist the boy in
his own attempts to learn how to
read. The use of dogs to improve
reading in children is built on a
rather simple concept. It is that reading out loud significantly improves a
child’s ability to read in general, and
having a dog to read to helps
continued on page 22
LIKE THEIR WILD COUNTERparts, house cats are usually most
active at dawn and dusk. However,
cats who are under-stimulated during the day may become nocturnal
and become most active when you
desperately need to sleep. If your
cat is responsible for those dark
circles under your eyes, do not
despair! You can reprogram his
internal clock. Two things need to
change – kitty’s daytime activities
and your response to his activities
at night.
Changing daytime activity is
easy if you are home but creative
thinking is needed when your cat is
left alone all day. To keep kitty
active, you have to make life a little
more challenging for him: Your cat
must eat smaller meals more often,
be woken up several times during
the day, have more visual and
auditory stimulation when you are
away and have more play sessions
with you when you are home. Put
simply, you cannot let him sleep
all day long.
Daytime activity ideas
Provide your cat with stimulating
toys, rubbed with catnip every
morning. Try putting your TV on a
timer set to go on and off several
times during the day. Place a bird
feeder by the (closed) window near
your cat’s perch. Ask a neighbour or
child to play with your cat for half
an hour during the transition period.
Try investing in a timed feeder.
Separate daily food rations into six
portions – five go in the feeder and
give the biggest portion before bedtime. Place the feeder near where
your cat normally sleeps.
PHOTO: TERRY GUSCOTT/ATN VISUALS
Changing your nighttime
response
This will be toughest part but you
must at all costs ignore your cat at
night – whether he is meowing, running around or scratching at the
bedroom door. Do not throw anything at the cat, shout or spray him
with water. This can damage your
relationship and it will only result in
a temporarily stop to the behaviour.
Cats are smart and any reaction
from you, positive or negative, will
actually reinforce the behaviour. If it
wakes you up, it worked!
Be patient! Your cat will try harder to get a response. Keep the bedroom door closed. Put a pillow over
your head or use ear plugs and warn
your neighbours, but resist engaging
your cat at night. If you do the daytime stimulation, your cat’s clock
will change and you will once again
get your beauty sleep! ■
Nadine Gourkow is manager of animal welfare
for the BC SPCA with expertise in both cat and
dog behaviour.
by Dr. Stanley Coren
IT WAS A TRULY ODD SCENE.
Spring/Summer 2007 •
AnimalSense
21
dogSense
PHOTO: LIONEL TRUDEL
continued from page 21
motivate the child. The dog sits quietly, providing companionship and
listening to the child read. The child
does not need to
worry about the
dog trying to
correct him or
hurry him
along.
The dog will never criticize or
ridicule him if he slows down, or has
to sound out words by letters or
syllables. The dog is just quietly there
to support and encourage him.
The first formal program to train
Reading Education Assistance Dogs
(R.E.A.D.) was begun by the Intermountain Therapy Animal Program
in Salt Lake City, but now there are
several other programs, and
reading assistance dogs are
used in hundreds of
schools around North
America. It works
because children are
fond of dogs, and they
try to read the best that
they can so the dog will learn to
read, or at least appreciate the story.
Can dogs actually learn how to
read? Well Bonnie Bergin of the
Assistance Dog Institute in
California is teaching them to do so.
She teaches guide dogs how to read
the words which allow the dogs to
guide their blind partners to exits,
or allow them to identify the men’s
or women’s washrooms. However
she does not anticipate that any
of her students will require a
library card of their own in the near
future. ■
Dr. Stanley Coren is professor of psychology at the
University of British Columbia and author of How
Dogs Think and Why Does My Dog Act That
Way?
appliedKnowledge
No more stalling for sows
by Dr. David Fraser
IF YOU NEED EVIDENCE THAT ANIMAL WELFARE HAS BECOME ONE
of the issues of the 2000s, how about this: Earlier this year the largest pig production companies in the United States (Smithfield Foods) and Canada
(Maple Leaf Foods) announced that they would voluntarily phase out gestation stalls for sows throughout the many farms that they own.
The gestation stall has long been one of the most controversial technologies in animal production. Sows are moved into the stalls once they are confirmed pregnant, and they stay there until a week before giving birth. This
means roughly three months when the animals cannot walk or turn around.
The gestation stall did serve a purpose. Pregnant sows can be competitive
and aggressive. Penning them individually protects the more timid animals
from bullying, and it allows them to be fed individually without having to
compete for their food.
But whatever problems it solved, the gestation stall put the
industry in an indefensible position. Nowhere else – not in
zoos, laboratories, stables or back yards – would people be
allowed to keep animals confined to such a degree. In today’s
world, pig producers will never be able to convince the
public that they care about animal welfare while using
this technology.
Phasing out the stalls is a first step, but now we
have a challenge. The alternative to stalls is some
form of group housing system. I have seen group
housing units that are well designed and a pleasure
to visit; others are disasters. It will now take
22
AnimalSense • Fall/Winter 2006
research, development and sharing
of ideas among producers so that
stalls are replaced with genuinely
positive alternative systems. ■
Dr. David Fraser heads the Animal Welfare
Program at UBC. This program, initiated by the
BC SPCA in 1997, identifies solutions to
animal-welfare problems and encourages the
application of the most up-to-date techniques for
humane treatment of farm, wild and companion
animals.
Join the Friends of
the BC SPCA monthly
PAW* Plan today!
A convenient way to support animals in need...
There is nothing as special as the unconditional love we receive from our pets. But sadly, thousands of innocent
animals in BC know only fear and suffering at the hands of humans. You can help us change the life of an abused
animal today. If you are a new donor or a regular contributor to the BC SPCA, please consider joining our monthly
giving plan today. As a Friend of the BC SPCA, your monthly gift is convenient, automatic and cost-effective.
Monthly giving is easy to activate and more convenient than writing and mailing a cheque.
Other benefits include:
• You will no longer receive renewal reminders from the BC SPCA, which will reduce paper consumption and
postage costs
• You will receive AnimalSense magazine and a BC SPCA wall calendar
• You will receive one tax receipt a year
• You can spread your donation out over the year, so that you hardly notice the regular deductions
• The BC SPCA’s administrative costs are greatly reduced, which means more funds go directly to helping
animals in need of your support
How to Join the Paw Plan
To join, you simply pre-authorize a monthly deduction from your bank account or credit card.
Sign-up online at www.spca.bc.ca/help/PAW.asp . For more information call us at 604-681-7271 or
toll free 1-800-665-1868.
Charitable Registration Number BN 11881 9036 RR0001
*Pre-Authorized Withdrawal
100 Mile House
Abbotsford
Boundary/Grand Forks
Campbell River
Castlegar
Chilliwack
Comox Valley/Courtenay
Coquitlam/Maple Ridge
Cowichan/Duncan
East Kootenay/Cranbrook & Invermere
Kamloops
Kelowna
Nanaimo
Nelson
North Cariboo/Prince George
North Peace/Fort St. John
Parksville
Powell River
Port Alberni
Prince Rupert
Queen Charlotte Islands
Quesnel
Salt Spring Island
Shuswap/Salmon Arm
South Okanagan/Penticton
South Peace /Dawson Creek
Squamish
Sunshine Coast/Sechelt
Surrey
Trail
Vancouver (Burnaby & Richmond)*
Vernon
Victoria
West Vancouver
Williams Lake
Wild ARC
September 9 th, 2007 in 37 communities across British Columbia**
SPEAKING FOR ANIMALS
Help us raise $750,000 for animals in BC!
Did you find your community above?
Join us! This is your chance to be part of the largest campaign in support of animals in BC!
Can’t find your community?
Join one of our provincial teams and virtual locations online!
The campaign starts on June 1st - visit www.spca.bc.ca/walk for details today!
*Burnaby and Richmond residents are invited to the Vancouver event in Vanier Park, Kitsilano.
**Dates may vary in a few communities.