Society for British Columbia People With Pets & Animals Raises Alarm Over BC SPCA's Animal Seizures

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Feb. 7, 2026 - PRLog -- Vancouver, BC – The Society for British Columbia Public Guardians and Animals (BC SPGA) is sounding the alarm on a distressing trend involving the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA). The organization is increasingly seizing animals from their owners while they are under the care of licensed veterinarians — actions which occur despite the absence of any complaints from the treating veterinarians regarding the animal's care.

This unsettling practice has resulted in pet owners facing legal prosecution without any protections or rights, effectively punishing them for seeking veterinary care for their sick or injured pets.

"Some individuals misuse the animal complaint process for ulterior motives, and even some veterinarians contribute to this issue by casting doubt on their peers," said a spokesperson for the BC SPGA.

Dr. Monica Marcu shares a harrowing experience: "The BC SPCA forcibly removed my beloved senior German Shepherd the day before her scheduled surgery." The plight of pet owners continues, as another pet guardian recounts, "The BC SPCA took my miniature pony of eleven years before his surgery and subsequently euthanized him."

"The College of Veterinarians of British Columbia has consistently declined to address this pressing issue, which directly affects both treating veterinarians and their clients," a spokesperson from BC SPGA emphasized. "We have called on Attorney General and Deputy Premier Niki Sharma, who oversees the administration of the justice system and oversees Crown counsel who prosecute pet owners who had veterinary care for their pet or animal in British Columbia, to amend the legislation governing animal welfare. It is imperative that laws are fair and support, rather than punish, those seeking responsible care for their pets. The Attorney General has turned a blind eye on this very important issue."

The BC SPGA urges the public and affected pet owners to come forward to the society and share their experiences in hopes of fostering a more transparent and just process for all involved. In addition, the BC SPGA is actively seeking testimony from others who have encountered interference from the BC SPCA while their pets were undergoing veterinary treatment.

A spokesperson for the BC SPGA said that a volunteer is contemplating bringing a petition on the Attorney General to the Court. "It's unfair to people with pets who are dealing with higher veterinary and animal care costs to have laws that prioritize animal enforcement over animal welfare."
For more info https://spga.ca