In 2004, Felicia Allen rescued a large, magnificent horse from slaughter whose harness racing days were over due to a leg injury. Felicia named the beautiful horse Oliver. The next year, Felicia rescued a mare from the same fate and named her Lacey.

In time Felicia would rescue two other horses from a similar fate who were named Star and Coco. Although Felicia has rescued and rehabilitated hundreds of horses in the past forty years these four horses became the permanent residents and Felicia raised, cared and loved the horses for 15 to 20 years.

Felicia is the founder of Equine Assisted Natural Healing (EANH) and the four horses eventually became non-riding therapy horses due to their friendly, calm and safe temperaments.

Felicia and Lacey featured on the cover of a local newspaper. Lacey was sold by the BC SPCA to strangers and could be living a life of abuse being a former racing harness horse likely to be bred over and over again and who cannot be ridden.

In 2021 Felicia had entered into a commercial lease contract with a property owner Major Singh Khinda in Surrey, BC for a barn and approximately an acre of land so that she could re-launch her equine therapy business after a hiatus due to Covid-19 restrictions. "I was looking forward to once again working with mostly youth at risk and children with autism in my non-riding, therapeutic program with the horses."

However, the lease arrangement didn't work out because Felicia found out the following year that she was not allowed to operate an equine non-riding therapy business on the property. Then Felicia was assaulted by the landlord and was taken to Emergency at the hospital by the RCMP. "That's when the BC SPCA took the horses, refused to contact me and took advantage of my situation." she says despite funding from the Vancouver Foundation for the BC SPCA Safe Keepers Program which is supposed to help with temporary foster care for pets belonging to individuals fleeing interpersonal violence or abusive relationships. "I wouldn't be surprised if the funds were placed in their bank instead."

Felicia took legal action on the BC SPCA in the BC Supreme court for the return of her horses. Felicia was successful on her injunction and Mr. Justice Gibb-Carsley of the BC Supreme court agreed that her animals should be returned. However, the BC SPCA insisted that their costs should be paid by Felicia although she had been the successful party, The Court agreed that the BC SPCA should have their costs. Felicia appealed that she should have to pay the other party's costs (BC SPCA) since she had succeeded on her injunction. The Court Of Appeal disagreed although the Court was shown that the BC SPCA at the time had a surplus of over $80 million dollars from public donations for the care of animals. The BC SPCA eventually settled out of court with Felicia and returned the animals. "The horses were so happy to be together again, "says Felicia. "They galloped together in the field in pure joy! The BC SPCA had cruelly seperated them while in their care. One of the horses was returned starvation thin. I cried when I saw him so defeated and malnourished." The BC SPCA came to the property two days later and seized the horses again. This time Felicia says that, "The BC SPCA killed Oliver and Star (the borse that was starvation thin and another beautiful female horse) and sold Lacey and Coco to strangers, two therapy horses. I was in grief beyond belief. What kind of evil people do this?"

Star who was named by the children in therapy was tragically killed by the BC SPCA after being seized by them two days after a Supreme Court judge had ordered Star returned to Felicia. "Star was in her best years. Healthy, vibrant, sweet. Her biggest crime was that the BC SPCA couldn't make a profit selling a former rescue animal off the harness race track. The vet that was hired by the BC SPCA did not recommend euthanasia for Star."

The BC SPCA had killed the two horses and sold the other two horses without notice provided to Felicia as required by the BC Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals Act, section 17(b)(i). "This was the last straw," says Felicia. "This time I am suing them for financial and reputational damage. They had absolutely no right to take those horses into their custody particularly since the horses had plenty of hay, and were on a horse property.

The horses were my life, my loves and my partners. After the BC SPCA took them two of the horses were murdered by them and two sold for profit without me even knowing. This was all done behind my back which is not allowed under the BC Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals Act.
Felicia Allen

Felicia has filed another claim against the BC SPCA in the BC Supreme Court. She alleges corruption by upper management in the BC SPCA and by the BC SPCA policing section. "If BC SPCA Marcie Moriarity, Eileen Drever Eccles with her husband Sean Eccles break the law and are found to be corrupt, this time I hope they pay dearly for it. Killing animals for sport and selling them for profit shows the way that they operate in my view." She seeks considerable damages and vows to "get my two horses back. Somebody is hiding my horses that are alive. You know who you are and I hope karma strikes your family just as hard if you do not find the integrity and morals to contact me."

Oliver is terrified, frightened and doesn't understand what is happening to his human and herd family of nearly twenty years. Oliver was cruelly killed after three months by the BC SPCA.

Felicia succeeds again in the BC Supreme Court in obtaining the return of a seized pot-bellied pig

In yet another BC Supreme Court case, Mr. Justice Elwood ordered a seized pot-bellied pig returned to Felicia. "The BC SPCA had worked behind the scenes on this one." says Felicia. "The BC SPCA didn't want the pig, so they convinced the Surrey Animal Resource Center to take him instead. When the BC SPCA has it in for you, they network to make sure that everyone else does too." Felicia says it does not stop there, "One thing they do is circulate court cases documented by the mainstream media that are about me. Ofcourse none of those news media articles show my success in the courts and none of the journalists have attended any of the trials. In my experience, the BC SPCA pretty well control the mainstream media who has journalists only to happy to gang up against you with them."

Felicia's journey is being documented to show how someone who was recognized for many decades in the province for rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing animals to good, forever homes can be destroyed by a "faction" operating in the BC SPCA. "In some instances, the BC SPCA police officers found no fault with my care of animals, yet management would overturn their findings and conclusions. If Marcie Moriarity and Eileen Drever have you pegged, there is no end to their abuse of power in my view and experience." says Felicia. "That's been how these two have conducted business in the policing section for many years now. Rescues, breeders, and pet guardians who are poor and struggling financially are particularly susceptible. They never seem to get the real criminals because they don't have the police training or background like the RCMP. They wing it by stocking their animal reserves by seizing your pet. That's why they should be removed from policing - the conflict of interest is too great. They profit from taking your pet, selling your pet or killing your pet - you are on the financial hook for it all. Then they bully you in the courts with their hired vets, RCMP officers and anyone else they can muster to go against you. That's why about 95% of people who fight them in the courts or tribunal loose to them. What Judge is going to go against Crown and the BC SPCA animal police? Show me one."

Dr. Monica Marcu agrees. Dr. Marcu had purebred German Shepherds and their puppies seized by the BC SPCA from a 100 acre farm property purchased for the dogs to live happily on and says that " The BC SPCA has committed an unforgivable injustice to me and many others in British Columbia. They have STOLEN my beloved dogs (in my professional care, on a large farm), and while some were heartlessly murdered, others succumbed to unimaginable conditions while locked in their pounds." Dr. Marcu recounts how the BC SPCA "slandered me, and many others, with vicious lies." While the dogs were in the BC SPCA facility, Dr. Marcu was appalled by the treatment of the dogs, "What they truly inflicted on my dogs were horrors: unnecessary surgeries, relentless drugging with antidepressants, living on cold cement floors, no exercise and running, all while they endured MONTHS in cramped cages, having their spirits broken. The few dogs remained alive were sold for profit, while BC SPCA was also soliciting donations from the unknowing public." Dr. Marcu observes that, "0bviously, the lack of accountability is an incentive for BC SPCA to steal beautiful animals for their own profit."

Dr. Marcu and her family have started an online petition Investigate BC SPCA for alleged crimes and corruption.

Megan Pitre points out that "The BC SPCA continues to serve meat and other animal products at their events. This is extremely hypocritical and unacceptable." Megan's online petition, Tell the BC SPCA to stop putting animals on event menus! has garnered several thousand signatures.

Kelly Bunting is alarmed by how dogs are treated by the BC SPCA and her petition West Vancouver SPCA Dogs Endure 14 Hours Alone Each Day information, "Animals at the West Vancouver BC SPCA are left completely unattended for 14 hours every single day. Staff depart at 5:00 PM and do not return until 7:00 AM the following morning. That is 14 hours that the dogs are left in their kennels with no care or company. Many of the dogs will not soil their kennels, so they have to hold their bodily functions for over 14 hours causing extreme physical discomfort and distress. Furthermore, the facility lacks climate control, exposing animals to uncomfortable temperatures." attests yet again that profit is more important than good care, particularly in view of the BC SPCA's $108+ million surplus, according to their audited financial statements comprised of public donations solicited for the care of animals.

"Let's face it," says Felicia. "The BC SPCA is the richest non-profit animal charity in the country because they don't use the donations for the purpose that they receive them - not even $50 million of the surplus in donations - that's only half, have been used for animals."

Nicole Frey, the Founder of a non-profit called the Animal Food Bank Foundation, a non-funded 100% volunteer operated organization providing pet food and supplies to pets of the homeless and low-income, started an online petition pointing out the need for transparency and clarity from the BC SPCA. The petition seeks clarity on the following:

Seizing animals from rescues is nothing new

The BC SPCA have a history of seizing animals from reputable animal rescues and sanctuaries in the province. Felicia says, "By seizing animals from other rescues, they intentionally damage the good reputations of others who help animals because the public view most of their activities as charitable. In reality, the BC SPCA may kill off the animals that are too costly to provide care for and profit from the sale of the others. People do not realize that when the BC SPCA seize an animal, the animal's guardian pays for those costs. Even in court, if you are successful, be prepared to pay their costs. It's a loosing battle for the animals and their beloved families and loved ones. There is no oversight of the BC SPCA's policing activities, finally, the RCMP have undertaken to investigate the Chief of policing, Marcie Moriarity. Who knows how many cases she has won for the society by interfering with vet reports and the BC SPCA officers decisions?"

Warren Brundage, of the Suzaku Sanctuary,knows all about the tactics used by the BC SPCA in their investigations. In this instance of animal seizures from the sanctuary, BC SPCA Eileen Drever told the Victoria News that "the agency received a call from someone concerned about animals being “possibly in distress” at a home in a residential neighbourhood in central Abbotsford." Eileen refused to further comment on the specifics of the case. Warren Brundage said that, “The SPCA seizes animals that they determine to be in distress, but ‘distress’ is very loosely defined. 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.” Mr. Brundage shared a view held by himself and others when his sanctuary was investigated and animals seized , "the SPCA previously visited the home and provided recommendations, including seeking veterinary care for a few of the animals, but their timeline was unreasonable." Felicia agrees with what Warren Brundage is talking about, "Marcie Moriarity and a BC SPCA lawyer came up with impossible timelines for me too - not as regards veterinary care, my animals have always been extremely well cared for - but as regards me finding a barn for them after they had seized the animals - I think it was two or three days if even that, if I remember correctly. That's how they try to convince the public that they are "fair" in their dealings with pet guardians. Ofcourse, no one can meet impossible deadlines and Marcie, and the BC SPCA lawyer, Andrea Greenwood, must have known that. It's not rocket science."

The media and alleged wrongfully seized animals

The media has documented many instances of BC pet guardians speaking out that their animals have been wrongfully seized by the BC SPCA. The pet owners fight back against the BC SPCA animal policing section for their beloved animals. Most recently, Dale Malkinson's lost her little dog of eight years to a stranger that the BC SPCA sold her to, Al Magaw lost his dogs either to BC SPCA euthanizations or selling the animals, Marisa Panter fought hard in the media to get her Dashshund dogs back (and had to pay the BC SPCA's $5,570.25 bill for the dogs detainment for two weeks to the BC SPCA) and there have been many others.

No one knows how many millions of dollars that the BC SPCA has paid their lawyers to what Felicia says is "fighting legally with the public to keep, sell or euthanize animals while their owners are desperately fighting for their animals to get them back. Judging by the outcomes, it's mostly a loosing battle for the pet guardians and much worse for their animals who are traumatized, locked in cages, face death or being sold to a stranger when all they long for in their grief and confusion is to be with their loved ones."

Felicia and Oliver

Felicia founded the BC SPGA in 2023 to "stop the sacrilege of innocent animals by the BC SPCA. We are not talking about those who run mills or do the unthinkable to animals, this is about wanted animals being taken from their guardians who do not have the financial or other resources to get them back. The animals are the innocent victims. The BC SPCA are entitled to their costs for seizing a pet under any and all circumstances. That in itself defies logic for an organization running an over $108 million surplus (according to recent financial audited statements) from public donations given to them for the care of animals. It is cruel, abusive and terrifying for the innocent victims - the pets."

"I sometimes realize that people think, 'oh, she is in battle with the BC SPCA' as if it doesn't affect others. All I can say is, my rescue service for animals started in 1975 in North Vancouver up until 2012 when Eileen Drever discovered our rescue. They did not receive one single public complaint. Eileen just decided let's behead another one. Even the two staff she sent out didn't find anything wrong. She was the beginning of the animals and my nightmare. I was afraid to speak out initially however when they hurt innocent animals they're on the hook as far as I am concerned. Even those who think that the BC SPCA can't touch them, will find out how quickly they can. No one is safe." says Felicia with a long, deep sigh.

This section on definitions is very important to the whole bill. I have a great deal of concern about the minister's comments when we talk about the definition of the word "stress." Here we have a large group of individuals -- members of the SPCA -- throughout British Columbia who will be charged with the responsibility for a specific act and given the power of enforcement, and the definition is very subjective. The interpretation of the degree of stress is wide and varied; there may be hundreds, if not literally thousands, of unique, individual interpretations of stress. If we cannot specifically define a word in a bill that is the fundamental basis of this legislation, and if we do not have specific parameters around the definition, how can the act be enforceable?

MLA Clifford Serwa, Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Okanagan West Okanagan South (1986-1991). Legislative debate on Bill 4, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment Act.

Again going back to section 2, subsection (c)(2)(b) talks about the subjective terms "injured, sick, in pain or suffering." Here is the problem. If we don't have a standard for this, how can anybody enforce a law?
we expect people who are authorized agents of the SPCA -- volunteers, possibly -- to go out, administer the law and say: "That's pain." You haven't given them any standard to go by. That's my fear about this bill.

MLA R. Chisholm, Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly from 1991 to 1996. Debate on Bill 4, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment Act.

When the BC SPCA then take furry family members knowing that most people can't afford to buy them back from the BC SPCA if even given the opportunity then you have, I agree, what a woman described as "the Mafia" in correspondance received by the former BC Agricultural Minister.
Felicia Allen

We need an overhaul of our law enforcement system as it serves animals. It is unacceptable and possibly unconstitutional to have laws pertaining to animals, or any other laws, enforced by a charity which is exempt from mechanisms of public accountability and transparency essential to the responsible use of such power.
- Jordan Reichert Deputy Leader, Animal Protection Party Of Canada

Drever almost ruined this case of real cruelty because of "playing to the media". But, as is being shown all over North America, playing to the media to get donations is what "Cruelty Seizures" is really about, not animal welfare. If the seizures were about animal welfare, most animals would not be seized but would be left in their familiar surroundings and improvements enforced through fines. If the seizures were about animal welfare, none of the animals would be summarily killed by the SPCA.
Animal Advocates Society of British Columbia

I object to granting any organization a legislative monopoly unless there are truly compelling reasons to do so. It is not good for the taxpayers to have no choice, and it is not good for even the best-intentioned organizations to have no competition or possibility of competition in the future.
Hans de Jong, Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Abbotsford Central Fraser Valley (1986-1991)