The Animal Advocates Society WatchDog News

Nothing is being done in BC: Unmasking the SPCA's Violence Link Project *LINK*

Posted By: AAS
Date: Monday, 16 August 2004, at 10:43 p.m.

In Response To: Harbour City Star: Animal abusers nearly always end up abusing humans (AAS)

We decided to put the BC SPCA's Violence Link Project to the test. We waited three months from the time of the press release (November 19, 2003), to give the program a chance to get up and running, then we phoned all the organizations included in the list of partners on the project. We did this in February of 2004 and were not surprised to learn that in every case the BC SPCA had no real support in place for victims of violence. There were no foster homes available for the pets of abuse victims. We were consistently told by SPCA Head Office and branches that we checked with that it didn't "have the resources". All the BC SPCA could offer was for the victim to surrender their pet to the SPCA (and an unknown fate), or in some cases, the victim could pay the SPCA to board their pet. When we informed the partners in the project of this, most were shocked and surprised, and some were a little angry.

We generously waited another three months before posting our findings, in the hopes that given six months from the date of the press release, the BC SPCA would have the program up and running, and that victims of violence would by now be able to turn to the Society for the help it claims to give, but alas, the results were the same.

Here are our findings when we telephoned the list of partners...

AAS's Investigation into the SPCA's Violence Link Project

Messages In This Thread

Harbour City Star: Animal abusers nearly always end up abusing humans
AAS -- Monday, 16 August 2004, at 10:39 p.m.

Nothing is being done in BC: Unmasking the SPCA's Violence Link Project *LINK*
AAS -- Monday, 16 August 2004, at 10:43 p.m.

How timely - more SPCA lies about the Violence Link Project just arrived
Gail Moerkerken -- Monday, 16 August 2004, at 10:56 p.m.

Whoever Val McWillims is, she has obviously never checked her "facts" nor has she or anyone she knows, ever had to beg the SPCA for help
AAS -- Monday, 16 August 2004, at 11:00 p.m.

I submitted my name as a volunteer willing to provide foster care for pets of families fleeing violent situations. As of today,I have not received one call
Gail Ferraro -- Tuesday, 17 August 2004, at 2:58 p.m.

Victimized women and children do not deserve to be further victimized by "spin-doctored" propaganda
Carol Sonnex -- Wednesday, 18 August 2004, at 8:05 a.m.

Powell River SPCA fosters pets of violence victims *LINK*
AAS -- Thursday, 19 August 2004, at 2:44 p.m.