One of the major problems facing the BC SPCA is the continuous flood of animals into its shelters. Every summer there are urgent pleas to the public to adopt because all its shelters are overflowing with kittens. Excessive numbers of animals mean crowded conditions in cages, outbreaks and continuous transmission of viruses, and a system that just keeps recycling animals through its doors.
There is a solution to this situation. The SPCA needs to attack the root of the overpopulation problem. Shut down backyard breeders. Require business licences for commercial breeders and set health care regulations for anyone advertising animals for sale. Spay/neuter every animal before it leaves an SPCA shelter. Implement a feral cat assistance program which would substantially reduce the horrendous numbers of kittens born each year. Reduce the numbers flowing into the shelters and more money will then be available for medical care, rehabilitation programs, hiring more constables to enforce the PCA Act and low cost spaying. An SPCA Feral Cat Assistance program has been running in San Francisco since 1993. It has had enormous success compassionately reducing the feral cat overpopulation - www.sfspca.org/feral/index.shtml. There is much our BC SPCA can and should do to reform.