On or about February 16, 2021 the BC SPCA served a warrant and seized 40 working sled dogs from the Spirit of the North Kennels in British Columbia. They loaded the dogs without care or concern for their wellbeing into an unventilated UHaul van without snow tires, in blanket covered crates and transported them in these conditions for 7 plus hours.

Al Magaw and Spirit of the North kennel have a reputation in the dog sledding community for excellence in both dog care and his work in behavioral rehabilitation. In the past his kennel has been subject to frequent inspections by B.C. SPCA officers and veterinarians licensed to practice in the province of British Columbia and has never previously been found in violation of either the B.C. Animal Welfare Act, the B.C. Sled Dog Code of Practices or veterinary standards of husbandry. The assumption that he is now suddenly found to be in violation provides reasonable grounds to suspect that B.C.'s animal cruelty and sled dog care laws are not being consistently enforced.

Based on social media events and postings, this seizure and the consequences of this seizure are controversial not only among dog mushers in B.C. and other Canadian provinces, but also by B.C. livestock producers and dog breeders, who frequently described B.C. SPCA as "a law upon themselves.

The community supporting Spirit of the North Kennels and Al Magaw believe that the allegations arising from this seizure constitute reasonable grounds to suspect that although charged with law enforcement responsibilities, BC S.P.C.A is opaque, insular, unaccountable and potentially subject to undue external influence and that the people of British Columbia cannot be confident that laws being enforced will be fair and impartially administered.

We are requesting that Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture exercise her legal authority to require that B.C. SPCA be held publicly accountable in this matter.

Subsequently we also request that our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau review the situation and exercise his legal authority to initiate an investigation into the Charitable status and dealings of the BC SPCA. 

We are also requesting that the BC SPCA release the dogs back into the care of their rightful owner so they can be properly cared for. The dogs are currently being held in sub par conditions without proper exercise or social interaction. 

If you would like to assist further in this matter donations can be made to the Al Magaw defense fund at

https://gofund.me/ebc598ba

or by etransfer (Canada) or paypal to almagaw85@gmail.com