Recommendation on viability of the transfer of animal and guardian policing to the Provincial Government as in Ontario.

Little eight year old Mandy who is on the spectrum, lost her trusted friend and family member, her dog Maple, to a BC SPCA police seizure and Maple was then sold to a stranger leaving Mandy severely depressed and distraught.

Rachel Sinclair lost her beloved wanted cat of many years to the BC SPCA sale of the cat. “I’ve had Simba since the day he was born, literally the day he was born,” said Simba’s original owner, Rachel Sinclair. “He’s our dog’s siblings, he’s my best friend, he’s our family member.”

Felicia Allen had her therapy pony raised by her for eleven years seized and euthanized while under veterinary care. "Their complete lack of empathy is appalling," said Felicia while grieving her loss.

Currently, the BC SPCA police operate with significant authority, often acting as investigator, prosecutor, and even adjudicator in cases involving alleged animal neglect or cruelty. This concentration of power, without robust independent oversight, raises critical questions about potential biases, procedural fairness, and the impact on the lives of ordinary citizens and their companions.



BC SPGA advocates for the establishment of a provincial, independent special task force. This task force would be empowered to:

• Review Existing SPCA Policing Practices:
  Conduct a thorough audit of the BC SPCA's investigation protocols, evidence gathering, and decision-making processes.
  
  
• Investigate Guardian Complaints:
  Provide a neutral avenue for guardians who believe they have been unfairly targeted, mistreated, or whose animals have been wrongfully seized.
  
  
• Examine Animal Welfare Legislation:
  Assess the effectiveness and equity of current laws and regulations pertaining to animal welfare enforcement.
  
  
• Recommend Reforms:
  Propose concrete changes to ensure a more balanced, transparent, and just system for all parties involved – animals, guardians, and the public.

This initiative is crucial for fostering public trust and ensuring that the pursuit of animal welfare is conducted with the highest standards of integrity and respect for individual rights.

We urge all concerned citizens, animal guardians, and stakeholders to support the formation of this vital task force.

Campaign For BC Pet-friendly Tenancies Legislation

End pet and animal discrimination in BC.

Why should many thousands of innocent dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles and birds die because there is no place for them?

Many British Columbians would have an animal family member if they could find affordable pet-friendly housing.

Denying people with pets rental housing leads to housing insecurity, mental health impacts, immeasurable suffering and traumatic grief for children when pets are surrendered, and homelessness for some with pets, and negatively impacting vulnerable populations including seniors, low income families and people with disabilities.

We need your support to remind Premier Eby to make true his re-election promise to enact a policy that aims to ensure that landlords cannot deny housing to tenants with pets. The Premier promised to end pet discrimination in housing rentals.

Surrendered animals should have a fair chance to live with loving families and individuals.

Join Us to permanently end pet owner and animal discrimination in our province.

Unleash your inner animal activist! 🐾✊

Email the BC Premier & Housing Minister

Vancouver-Point Grey residents, email MLA (BC Premier) Eby or send pre-written email

Vancouver-Little Mountain residents, email MLA (BC Housing Minister) Boyle or send pre-written email

Find your MLA with your postal code

UNITE TO HELP ANIMALS

Campaign for Animal Policing Reform

The reality is that people with pets in BC are subjected to an overwhelming level of scrutiny and policing at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars to tax payers.

In 2023, British Columbia recorded a total of 393,928 Criminal Code offenses. Of these, only 21 offenses were related to animal cruelty. That’s just 0.005% of all offenses and over half of the population have pets and animals! It raises an important question: Why is the Province paying hundreds of millions for over-policing people with pets?

People with pets are policed by the Province's 161 municipalities, the RCMP, the Surrey Police Services (SPS), the BC SPCA, the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, the BC Agricultural Ministry, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), with the 2nd tier of policing administered by a Tribunal and the Courts.

The overlap and duplication of animal enforcement by the authorities result in a financial burden to the taxpayer costing many hundreds of millions.

The Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act released their findings in 2022 "Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia", a report which recommends that the Province transition to a provincially managed police service in British Columbia. The report addresses overlapping in police services and the potential savings from transitioning to a provincially managed police service.

The call for reform is not just about financial efficiency; it’s about fairness for people with pets in British Columbia.

The cost to the public for animal enforcement should be minimal with maximum efficiency.

British Columbians pay for animal enforcement let's have responsible and transparent change that is centralized and managed by the Province in co-operation with over 160 existing municipalities policing..

UNITE TO HELP ANIMALS

Email the Premier, Solicitor General & Finance Minister

Vancouver-South Granville residents, email MLA (BC Finance Minister) Bailey or send pre-written email

Victoria-Swan Lake residents, email MLA (BC Solicitor General) Krieger or send pre-written email

Vancouver-Point Grey residents, email MLA (BC Premier) Eby or send pre-written email

Find your MLA with your postal code

Campaign For A B.C. Pet Bonus and provincial Pet Tax Credits

For British Columbians who love their pets

Many people with pets in British Columbia are drowning in debt with high vet care bills, pet care emergencies, taxed pet food, 25% to 37% tariffs on the horizon, a critical lack of pet-friendly rental housing and the continuing rising costs of caring for our furry family members.

That’s why BC SPGA is championing our provincial government for a BC Pet Bonus and a province-wide pet expense tax credit: so every family and individual who shares their home with a pet can finally get some relief.

Surveys show that 95% of Canadians regard their pets as family. Here in B.C., we still face a province that offers no financial support for day-to-day pet care and no tax relief for those who open their hearts and homes.

Unleash your inner animal activist! 🐾✊ Join the Campaign for the BC PET BONUS and that purr-fect provincial Pet Tax Credit! 💰🐶

BC PET BONUS More Info

BC PET TAX Break, More Info

TAKE CAMPAIGN ACTION!

Vancouver-South Granville residents, email MLA (BC Finance Minister) Bailey or send pre-written email

Vancouver-Point Grey residents, email MLA (BC Premier) Eby or send pre-written email

Find your MLA with your postal code

Campaign For Justice For Animals And People With Pets In Veterinary Care

End the persecution and prosecution of people with pets in veterinary care in BC.

Animals are being seized while in the care and treatment of a licensed veterinarian and the pet owners are prosecuted in the Courts and Tribunal.

The Attorney General Niki Sharma, who is also the Deputy Premier, oversees the administration of the justice system in the province of British Columbia.

People should not have to fear animal enforcement for seeking veterinary care for their pets.

Tell B.C. Attorney General and Deputy Premier, Niki Sharma that it is unfair to prosecute people who seek or have veterinary care for their pets and to make the laws fair.

Campaign update: A volunteer with the BC SPGA has undertaken to file a petition in the BC Supreme Court under the Canadian Charter Of Rights and Freedoms, section 7, for an order that seizing animals from pet owners while in the care and treatment of a licensed veterinarian, where a complaint has not been made by the treating veterinarian, is unfair and unjust; and that people be compensated on a case-by-case basis.

Don't wait until this happens to you

Sentencing is stiff for people with animals in the care of a licensed veterinarian and can include imprisonment. Tell the B.C. Attorney General to make the laws fair for people who seek a veterinarian for their animals care.

Veterinary care is expensive and necessary to maintain and treat our animals. People with pets should not be prosecuted for having an animal treated by a veterinarian who has not filed a complaint about the animal or the person with the pet to the animal enforcement authorities.

Email the BC Attorney General Niki Sharma
send a pre-written email

More Information - Justice For Bentley

Is Niki Sharma your MLA? People with pets in the electoral district of Vancouver-Hastings can email the MLA directly with your concerns or email our sample email.