The recent raids conducted by the BC SPCA on various rescues and sanctuaries in British Columbia has left a trail of devastation, impacting both the animals and the non-profit societies dedicated to their care. These actions have not only caused emotional turmoil for the staff and volunteers but have also raised questions about the motivations behind such raids.

BC rescues, shelters and sanctuaries are over-crowded and some have incurred deep debt with raids by the BC SPCA and the resulting animal seizures. Shelters and animal welfare organizations in B.C. say they are seeing a huge surge in the number of cats, dogs and other animals given up for adoption.

Many reputable rescues and sanctuaries, known for their commitment to animal welfare, are now grappling with the aftermath of these raids which have caused significant financial strain and even closure.

A spokesperson for the BC SPGA said, "The exorbitant amounts that the rescues or santuaries have to pay the BC SPCA as a result of the raids should have been used for the animals in their care. Instead the funds are pure profit to the BC SPCA whose costs are already fully publicly funded as well as replemishing their animal stock in their shelters. Some of the animals that don't meet the BC SPCA's standards for re-sale in its pro-kill shelters end up dead. That's unacceptable for the richest private animal charity in the country.

As these organizations already face significant financial strain in the aftermath of Covid, the rising cost of veterinary and pet care, the burden of debt caused by the BC SPCA raids has forced some to close and others to barely survive.

Dogway Dog Rescue

The Dogway Dog Rescue located in Mission on five acres was raided by the BC SPCA who took 63 dogs. Dogway has rescued upwards of 4,000 dogs in its 15 years of operation. The non-profit society is in debt to the BC SPCA for over $75,000 and was not able to recuperate any of the seized dogs. The Rescue has 8.8K likes and 9.4K followers on Facebook.

“We have five staff and some of them have been here for 10 years,” Cherry LaTour, a director of the Dogway Dog rescue society said. “These people are exquisite dog lovers, and they’re not going to stand by while dogs are not treated well.”

Epona Stable and Farms

Felicia Allen of Epona Stable and Farms, established in 1975 in North Vancouver on a property that her parents owned finally had to close the doors to her farm animal rescue. The BC SPCA seized her therapy horses. The BC Supreme courts have ordered the seized animals returned on two occasions which has never happened in the Courts before. Felicia is the founder of the Standardbred Horse Fan Club, rescue and rehabilitation for off track race horses which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024 and is the originator and founder of non-riding therapy, which has now become a recognized therapy practised by many non-profit societies in North America and Europe under the broader umbrella of Animal Therapy. Felicia's opinion of the BC SPCA enforcement unit is that "the three people who run it have become a terrorist, profit driven, private charity who routinely misuse their power and exploit animals and people. Marcie Moriarity, the Chief of the BC SPCA animal policing department, has been implicated in allegations that she assisted veterinarian Dr. Gilliland with a vet report that is supposed to be "independent" evidence filed in the Court which no RCMP Chief would get away with and Eileen Drever, who works there with her husband overseeing the BC SPCA constables is at the forefront as well of destroying rescues, sanctuaries, famillies and individuals with pets - we're just about all animal abusers in British Columbia with these three at the helm."

BC's rescues and sanctuaries are being crushed by the BC SPCA animal raids instead of being helped by the multi-million dollar private charity to keep the animals in their care.

Reptile Guy Rescue and Education Centre

The B.C. SPCA seized a total of sixty animals consisting of reptiles and rats from the Reptile Guy Rescue and Education Centre in Mission, B.C.

Like other raided rescues have pointed out, Owner Mike Hopcraft of the Rescue Centre said that, "They don't get better overnight in our facility. It takes time to recover — but I don't get that time." The actions of the BC SPCA have forced Mike Hopcraft to take "some time in the next few weeks to really figure out the future and direction of our facility."

Suzaku Sanctuary Society

Warren Brundage fared no better when the BC SPCA raided his Suzaku Sanctuary Society of many years. The BC SPCA seized 162 rabbits, 10 pigeons, two guinea pigs, a rooster and a chicken. Warren echoed what many others who help animals have experience with, “At the time the SPCA seized our animals, there were no animals that fit what people would consider to be distress, but that doesn’t necessarily matter to the SPCA. They define ‘distress’ on the spot, and they do it entirely subjectively.”

Warren Peace Bunny Sanctuary

Warren Peace Bunny Sanctuary was established in 2005 and is owned and operated by Antoinette Monod. Throughout its 20 years of operation, the sanctuary has provided a home to a range of neglected and mistreated animals. Due to a BC SPCA raid the sanctuary must pay $75,000 and has closed its doors to the public. The BC SPCA euthanized several animals. The Sanctuary had many supporters who vouched for the care provided to the animals by the Sanctuary to no avail. The Sanctuary has 7.2K likes and 11K followers on Facebook.

A spokesperson for the BC SPGA said that "Many people are afraid to speak out or come forward because of the risk that they might loose their animals as retaliation by the BC SPCA. Pet owners and guardians here in British Columbia should never have to live with that kind of fear. It's time to let the private charity be charitable and the policing to be fully transferred to the Province."

The BC SPGA has also undertaken to keep British Columbia's rescues and sanctuaries "well alive" by encouraging the public to adopt from no-kill rescues, contribute to and donate to the smaller no-kill rescues that so desperately need the help to care for animals and to support our Rescue and Sanctuary Program.

The list of rescues and sanctuaries raided by the BC SPCA over the years is much larger than one article can cover. The most recent are listed above.

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