Editor:
Re: Animal abuse, March 12 letters.
Without a plate or any evidence of the leg-hold traps, what is the BCSPCA Animal Cruelty Division supposed to do?
And don’t try and say fingerprint the trap that has been left outdoors in the wet forest. Can’t get a print off of that.
Does letter-writer Sandy VanDeKinder realize the BCSPCA are a privately funded organization? How many calls do they deal with in a day? How many investigators do they have?
Look into it and you’ll find your answers. In 2014:
• 28 Special Provincial Constables (for all of B.C.);
• Conducted 8,849 new cruelty investigations (10 calls per day that an officer investigated and carried until completion, which could take days or months to complete);
• Removed 1,276 animals from dangerous or neglectful situations through formal investigations;
• Executed 160 warrants under the Criminal Code of Canada, the PCA Act and the Offense Act;
• Submitted 53 charges of animal cruelty and neglect to Crown Counsel.
Can’t wait to see 2015. Brutal.
Yes, they do rely strongly on the public to assist them in passing on information. They depend on it.
When and if this “trapper” is found, guess who will be investigating and putting forth charges on that individual. Not the police; that’s right… the BCSPCA.
The BCSPCA really is the last resort for neglected and abused animals. Unfortunately, the BCSPCA can’t have eyes everywhere and they depend on us, the public, to report any abuse or neglect that we see.
I’m appalled at how the letter-writer so quickly writes off the BCSPCA. Has she not seen the recent high-profile cases? What about the ones she doesn’t see in the media?
I was at a fundraising event and have met some of the investigators. They are very dedicated and must see horrible things and investigate tough cases. They seem to be very dedicated to their jobs and I was amazed at how many calls they receive.
I will continue to support the BCSPCA and I hope anyone who shares VanDeKinder’s opinion of the BCSPCA will look into the organization before drawing an ‘arm-chair’ conclusion.
Milton Grant, Surrey
