Press Release

November 14, 2008
Halifax, NS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPCA Issues Public Warning – Quebec-Based Charity Targeting Nova Scotians

The Nova Scotia SPCA wishes to alert its supporters to a direct-mail campaign launched by a Montreal-based SPCA known as the “Canadian SPCA” that is being distributed throughout Canada asking people to donate money.

“Many of our supporters throughout Nova Scotia contacted us this week expressing their frustration that an SPCA in another province is soliciting them for donations and these supporters feel they are being misled into thinking that their donations are going to benefit their local shelter,” says Sean Kelly, spokesperson for the Nova Scotia SPCA Board of Directors.  “This is simply not the case.  We have just launched our own annual direct-mail campaign.  Our financial situation is very difficult right now and we depend on the generosity of our supporters, so it is very disheartening to find out that our donors feel they are being misled by another province’s charity.”  The letter uses such misleading phrases as “many precious animals throughout Canada will find themselves alone…that’s why I’m asking you to send your gift,” which leads donors to believe their money is helping animals “throughout Canada” when, in fact, it is going directly to the Quebec charity.

The Montreal-based group is able to use the name “Canadian” only because they were the first Canadian SPCA to incorporate but “they are not a national organization regardless of what their letters may imply,” urged Mr. Kelly.  “I have no doubt that the CSPCA helps many animals in the province of Quebec, but we continue to be frustrated by their marketing techniques that only serve to take away from much needed local funding throughout the rest of Canada.”

This is an uphill battle that the Nova Scotia SPCA has been fighting for many years and they are not the only ones fighting this battle – many other provincial SPCA’s fall victim to this group.  Mr. Kelly urges that, “financially, we are running at a deficit so to have the Montreal SPCA out there collecting donations from our own supporters is devastating and awareness is the key – we want our supporters to know what is going on.  This week’s campaign is the first in a series that this Quebec-based charity is sending to Nova Scotia during the coming months.”

Mr. Kelly reiterates that the Nova Scotia SPCA is very grateful to their supporters and urges the public to be cautious of such mailers.  “Our own mailers will always include our Nova Scotia SPCA logo,” states Mr. Kelly and he reminds supporters that if their intention is to support the Nova Scotia SPCA, they can ensure that their donation reaches the right place by calling the Nova Scotia SPCA’s provincial office at (902) 835-4798.

For more information, please contact the Nova Scotia SPCA provincial office at the phone number above or by email to animals@spcans.ca. Media inquiries should be sent to media@spcans.ca.