Founders: CYA Board Members want the BCSPCA to reform, survive and succeed by being inclusive, transparent, and accountable to the public, its donors, staff and volunteers. CYA wants an ombudsman office to ensure that animal welfare and protection is both seen to be done and is actively done in BC. CYA wants the public, through petitions, submissions and questionnaires, to decide whether the ombudsman office should be limited to overseeing the BCSPCA or if it should have oversight of all animal groups and facilities in BC. We will commission and release reports including that material to the provincial government, the BCSPCA and the public. Hope to hear from you

Vice-President: Heather Pettit, Vernon

Heather is a Life Member and former President of the BCSPCA Vernon and District Branch. She volunteered with the branch for over 15 years, serving on its Board of Directors for nine years. In 2000, the BCSPCA named her Volunteer of the Year for her contribution to animal welfare. Her husband, Robert, is also a former Vernon SPCA Board Member. They are the proud parents of a wonderful black lab and five beautiful felines.

Secretary/Treasurer: Maria Soroski, Vancouver

Maria, who is a non-practicing registered psychiatric nurse, recently resigned after 10 years of volunteering for the Vancouver SPCA hospital. She ran its foster program for the past three years, placing about 40 animals each month in foster homes. Maria received the 2001 Volunteer Appreciation Award, 1999 Award of Merit, and SPCA Hospital 1999 Humanitarian Award. Now, she rescues newborn kittens, most of which are sick, some of which are dying. She finds forever homes for those that heal. Maria has an interest in and successful experience with animal homeopathy. And is a dedicated mom to Layla-the-Corgi, Merlin and Stanley who are handicapped cats.

Director: Gary Gibson, Burnaby

Gary is a canine behavior specialist. To name a few, Burnaby, North and West Vancouver SPCAs, the Vancouver Pound, the Workman's Compensation Board and the Provincial Courts have all utilized Gary's expertise. He specializes in aggression and with his partner, Kathy Gibson, assesses and works with between 400 and 500 dogs annually. They were the founding trainers and for 10 years ran the Canine Corrections program at Lakeside Correctional Centre for Women. They also founded the Association of Canine Behavior Consultants to promote and provide education to the public about the human/dog relationship. They were trainers for BC Pets and Friends, the largest animal facilitated therapy organization in the province, and helped develop training and placement standards for therapy and institution dogs throughout the Lower Mainland. Gary and Kathy make a family with Brutus, a 10-year-old blind Chihuahua and "Handsome Joe," the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

Director: Tim Wittenberg, Maple Ridge

Tim has been involved with horses since 1968. He worked at Timberline Ranch from 1969 to 1982, caring for as many as 35 head. In1982, his parents and he opened Golden Acres Boarding Stable in Pitt Meadows, which operated until 1999 when the family sold the property. He has handled more than 300 horses of all ages and breeds, but "seniors" have always been his primary interest. Tim works for the Maple Ridge Pacific Riding for the Disabled where he cares for 12 horses. He says, "It is wonderful to see how these horses respond to these 'special' people." He is currently President of the Maple Ridge Equestrian Trails Council, a Director of the Horse Protection Society of BC and sits on Maple Ridge city's Animal Services Committee. He also has been involved as a Director of the Haney Horsemans Association for 19 years, and is a member of both Horse Council BC and the Circle F Horse Rescue Society. Tim has had several horses, including Q.H., Anglo-Arab, Welsh and Morgan. He loved them all.

Director: Dr. James Anthony, Vancouver, Princeton

Volunteerism is nothing new to veterinarian "Doc Anthony." He is a director of Vancouver's Friends of the Pound, a welfare charity named First Society and the CC Foundation based in the Philippines. He is also a member of Children of the War, a charity that raises funds for children in war torn countries such as Croatia and Bosnia. And, he's loaded with degrees: Bachelor of Science, Agriculture, 1978, Western College Veterinary Medicine 1983, Her Majesty's Royal College of Veterinarian Surgeons 1985, Fellow Academy of Veterinary Dentistry 1987, Diplomate of American Veterinary College 1989, and Diplomate of European Veterinary Dental College 1998. He opened Vancouver's Cambie Animal Clinic in 1984 and has taught dentistry for the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island, La Medecine Veterinaire at the University of Montreal and the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Doc Anthony has mentored dentistry specialists and treated many animals across the country through referral treatment clinics. He is also a farmer with 20 head of free-range cattle and two horses on his property near Princeton. He works with Koi as a hobby, has five children and a Golden Retriever named Niki who volunteers every Thursday at an old age home.

Contact us

Citizens Yell for Accountability (CYA)
Suite #165
1857 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC Canada
V6J 1M4


Email: cyawebsite@shaw.ca

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