Vol. 26 No. 97
Hunger strike on after SPCA invoice
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COMOX VALLEY RECORD
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December 7, 2011
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WEDNESDAY
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NCE 1986
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Children’s Expo
Scott Stanfield
tions.” Kitching’s stock included English and French bulldogs. She A Merville dog breeder who estimates she lost at least $50,000 feels the SPCA unfairly seized worth of dogs. Under the Prevention of Crumost of her dogs in the summer is elty to Animals Act, an owner on a hunger strike. In July, officials seized 71 dogs of an animal taken into custody from Green Acres Kennels, leav- is liable to the SPCA for costs ing Nancy Kitching with six dogs incurred, says Marcie Moriarty, and eight puppies. The SPCA said the BCSPCA’s general manager the dogs were removed from the of cruelty investigations. “This is always explained to property because they met the definition of distress. The animals the animal owner,” Moriarty were treated for periodontal dis- said, noting owners are given the ease, dermatitis and other health opportunity to surrender an animal at the time of seizure. “If they concerns. “They basically ruined and took don’t surrender at that time, they are responsible for everything I worked the costs that we for in the last 20 need to incur to years illegally,” said They’re ensure their animal Kitching, a widow is relieved from diswho built her busi- abusing their ness while raising power. They turned tress.” The non-proftwo children after moving to the prop- me into a criminal. it SPCA does not receive government erty 24 years ago. It feels like I’ve money to enforce Last week, she provincial legislareceived a $9,000 been raped. bill for boarding Nancy Kitching tion. While Kitching fees, services, mileis on the hook for age and wages. “They’re targetting me,” said $9,000, Moriarty said the SPCA Kitching, noting a woman in spent tens of thousands of dollars the same area who surrendered on her dogs. Kitching was billed about 20 dogs to the SPCA but because she did not immediately was not billed. “They’re getting surrender the dogs. “The costs that she would have easy people like me; they’re not doing their job of shutting down incurred would have been the costs of veterinary treatment puppy mills.” She suggests the SPCA should that was immediately required to track litters picked up by brokers relieve those animals of distress, at the Vancouver International and then boarding fees,” Moriarty Airport. said. “She actually has a very “They’re abusing their power. small portion of what it took to They turned me into a criminal. save her dogs.” It feels like I’ve been raped,” said Kitching’s operation, she added, Kitching, who has empowered fit the definition of a puppy mill, a herself through Buddhism. place where dogs are bred repeti“How can I fight them? This tively, primarily for profit, with is the only way I can do it. They little to no concern for their welhave to be accountable. I want fare. to be a voice for those dogs that “Puppy mills aren’t always the are in garages and being bred big warehouses with dogs stacked six times...They’re enforcing laws one on top of the other,” Moriarty that they don’t even have the said. “This was an operation that right to do because it’s so unregu- had 71 dogs that were in distress.” reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com lated. Typical Canada, no regulaRecord Staff
Musicians ask for your help Friday in Cumberland. ■ B3
YETIS REBOUND
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MAGICIAN GREG LADRET performs during the first Children’s Expo Saturday at the Comox Community Centre. PHOTO BY EARLE COUPER
Put food for food bank in bags in today’s paper Scott Stanfield Record Staff
Quality Foods, in conjunction with the Comox Valley Record, has once again launched its annual bags campaign, with brown bags inserted into today’s newspaper. Readers are encouraged to fill bags with non-perishable food and drop them off at either QF in Comox or Courtenay.
All bags collected in-store are donated to the Comox Valley Food Bank. The program has been in place for many years. “It’s something we like to be involved with just because of the obvious outcome of it,” said Kevin Knowles, store manager at QF in Comox. “It helps the needy, and we sure raise a lot from it. It’s always something we pride our-
... see CASH ■ A2
Heading into a home contest on Saturday night, the Comox Valley Glacier Kings desperately needed a victory. Losers of a season-high five in a row, the Icemen have simply been outplayed as of late. Amid the recent struggle, the Kings have been outscored 22-10, had the worst goalsper-game average in the division, and watched as the Oceanside Generals began to quickly close the gap on first place in the North Division of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
...Full story on page ■ B7
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