On December 7, 2024 the CBC printed an article about the BC SPCA's view on stray cats which had the title, "Feeding stray cats may do more harm than good, B.C. SPCA says." Apparently the BC SPCA had just seized about twenty-four cats that were fed by well-meaning residents of Kamloops.
The article continues with the BC SPCA's staff pointing out the deficiences of stray cats such as their prolific breeding beginning at an early age, the parasites and illnesses feral cats may pick up and the difficulties in sheltering a stray cat at the BC SPCA facility due to the psychological nature of the cats and getting them used to human beings. The BC SPCA had already euthanized two cats and were intending to pick up more cats.
Daria Evans, manager of the B.C. SPCA's animal centre in Kamloops was quoted as saying that it is more humane to put the cats down than feed them daily medication. She also seemed to complain that the stray cats were a "logistical" challenge and a lot of work for the staff.
The stray or feral cats should be left to starve or brought to the BC SPCA who considers them a lot of work and euthanizes cats rather than administer daily medication to enable the animals to continue living. It is ironic that the BC SPCA is running a surplus of over $100 million according to the audited 2023 financial statements donated by the public to be used for the care of animals and they profess to be "speaking for animals". There was no suggestion in the article that the feral cats could be socialized and may in fact already be accustomed to the kindness of human beings who try to help them to survive.
Animals whether feral, strays or domesticated, including human beings, more often than not choose to prolong life rather than end it.
Elisabeth Parker knows first-hand what happens if you are caught helping stray cats. Elizabeth opened up a shed on her property to provide approximately eighteen stray and feral cats shelter, blankets and food during the winter months when the cats risked freezing to death otherwise.
Elizabeth provided as much veterinary care for the cats as she could afford and her neighbour also assisted.
In May, 2013 the BC SPCA entered Elizabeth's property and issued orders for the care of the 20 – 30 cats and two horses that were on the property. Although the cats were not legally Elizabeth's cats the BC SPCA ordered her to pay for veterinary care that they deemed was needed.
Elisabeth was told to keep the shed door open although she closed it at night so that the cats could keep each other warm. She had also installed a heat lamp to help with the freezing temperatures coming from outside.
Elizabeth surrendered four of the cats who appeared to be sick to the BC SPCA and a cat rescue who attended with them. The BC SPCA expected Elisabeth to foot the costs for all of the cats although she had already provided her property, a shed to house them from the freezing cold and spent a substantial amount on vet bills in an effort to help the cats survive.
In 2016 the BC SPCA showed up again and found the eighteen cats still using the shed which Elizabeth continued to make available for them to come and go as they pleased. The BC SPCA complained that there were no litter boxes for the cats and seized six cats whom they deemed needed veterinary attention despite a veterinarian's observations who attended the property in July 2016 and reported that the cats were of acceptable body weight. Some of the cats had acquired skin infections, fleas or dermatitis and some needed dentals but not immediately.
In January, 2017 the BC SPCA seized the eighteen cats and Elisabeth's two horses. Elisabeth appealed to the BCFIRB and she submitted supporting documents from people, vet bills, other miscellaneous documents totalling 97 pages and a witness list. At the hearing Elisabeth complained about the conduct of the BC SPCA's animal police officer. Complaints of this nature are often brought up at the hearings and are of little to no consequence.
It was obvious that Elisabeth (the 'accused') was treated like an animal abuser rather than a kind-hearted individual who was trying with her own meager income to help feral and stray cats to survive particularly in the below freezing weather in the winters.
While the BC SPCA could have assisted with the veterinary care requirements and kept the cats on the property where Elisabeth was agreeable to providing them with shelter, food and water, Elisabeth was instead found guilty of the stray and feral cats conditions and health by BCFIRB who awarded the BC SPCA $32,889.76 in costs.
In telephone conversations with Elisabeth after the ordeal with the BC SPCA it became obvious to our volunteer staff that she is someone whose entire life had been with animals and that she cared for and loved animals. This was also the conclusion by the adjudicator at the hearing, "It is obvious to me that the Appellant sincerely loves her animals, all 18 cats and both horses. It is equally obvious to me that the Appellant feels she has expertise in animal care and has done everything possible for her cats and horses and has provided the best care she can."
Why the BC SPCA refuses to help those that help animals
The BC SPCA is the richest animal charity in British Columbia and possibly in Canada with a huge financial surplus of donations from a generous public that believes that their donations, which are kept in reserves that have grown to the many millions of dollars, will be used for the care of animals. BCFIRB hearings and trials at the courts continuously show that the animal guardians that the BC SPCA ruin financially, affect horrifically psyhologically (by permanently removing wanted and loved animals) and charge with animal cruelty are often people like Elisabeth who has many years of animal care experience, loves animals and tries to help them. While the BC SPCA could step in with their enormous financial reserves or other resources such as food banks or veterinary clinics, the BC SPCA funnels the public donations into funding reserves, charges the animal guardians and recover their costs.
The BC SPCA 2023 audited financial statements show a surplus of over $100 million dollars. The statements the prior year had a surplus of over $86 million.
information from Canada Revenue Agency and Charity Intelligence Canada
Elisabeth Parker told us that the BC SPCA put a lien on her property. Elizabeth misses her two horses whom she considered her family and lives with heartbreak and grief on a daily basis longing for the animals that she will never be with again.
Animal Guardians Have No Protections and No Rights
BCFIRB enforces the PCA Act as the second tier of policing for the BC SPCA. The public are gravely misled believing there will be a fair appeal when the tribunal does not have any legislation that applies to animal guardians protections and rights to rely or refer to. The tribunal must enforce the PCA Act which is written to police animal guardians and their pets and only protects the actions and conduct of the BC SPCA police.
With no legislated protection or rights for animal guardians and their pets animal care givers like Elisabeth have been financially burdened with the huge costs of the BC SPCA's conduct and actions. The guardians must live with the years of grief, depression and devastation of loosing their beloved animals forever. The people who fight to have their animals returned are rarely people who do the unthinkable to animals or run animal mills. Ordinary citizens have animals apprehended and quickly realize that there are no protections or rights for themselves or their animals.
"Distress" as defined in the Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals Act (PCA Act) is very loosely worded and could easily be distorted or twisted by a BC SPCA veterinarian or the BC SPCA animal police to include the majority of animals in the care of animal guardians in British Columbia:
(a) Deprived of adequate food, water, shelter, ventilation, light, space, exercise, care or veterinary treatment,
(a.1) Kept in conditions that are unsanitary,
(a.2) Not protected from excessive heat or cold,
(b) Injured, sick, in pain or suffering, or
(c) Abused or neglected.
The trauma inflicted on the innocent animals and their guardian(s) cannot be undermined in BC SPCA animal seizures. Individuals and their animals permanently carry scars for life that could have been prevented had the BC SPCA been a charity helping the wanted animals stay with those who love them.
BCFIRB ordered that the BC SPCA is permitted at its discretion to destroy, sell or otherwise dispose of all of the cats and the two horses.
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