VHS is pleased to announce that Amy Morris has been appointed as Executive Director.
Amy joins VHS from the BC SPCA, where she most recently served as Public Policy and Outreach Manager/Policy and Companion Animals Manager. Amy has wide experience in the animal protection movement, campaigning for policy changes at the municipal, provincial and federal levels to curtail animal exploitation.
Successes include updating municipal bylaws to restrict chaining dogs and the sale of animals in pet stores, along with introducing a framework to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to regulate cat and dog breeding. She has also worked on improving access to housing for people with companion animals and managed a team to produce a strategy for reducing the suffering of unwanted cats in B.C.
Amy has considerable knowledge of farmed animal welfare issues, having worked for five months on four farms to gain first hand understanding of the animals’ experience and welfare.
Holding a Master of Public Policy from Simon Fraser University (focusing on policies to regulate dog breeding), Amy has used her knowledge and skills to bring about real and positive change in animal protection. Having started as a volunteer with the Montreal SPCA, where she helped to care for animals from puppy mill seizures and hoarding situations, Amy has had a lifelong commitment to improving the lives of animals.
Amy lives in Vancouver with her family, including Clover, a communicative and assertive three-year-old collie shepherd. She will take up her post in mid-January.