Inside the Marcie Moriarity Complaint to the RCMP
The RCMP have started an investigation of BC SPCA Chief of policing Marcie Moriarity's involvement in a veterinary report submitted as evidence in the trial of Marie-louise Felicia Allen considered by a provincial judge.
The complaint allegation made to the RCMP alleges that Moriarity improperly influenced the wording in a veterinarian’s report that was used as evidence in the court. The complaint has raised serious questions about the integrity of the proceedings surrounding the animal seizure and Ms. Moriarity, who is by profession a lawyer, influencing outcomes against people with pets and animals seized by the BC SPCA.
A veterinary report submitted to the court as evidence generally serves as an objective, scientific and medical observation by a qualified and licensed practitioner in regard to an animal. Ms. Moriarity is not a veterinarian and does not possess the medical expertise required for the content in a veterinary report for the Court's consideration. However, Ms. Moriarity is experienced with legal knowledge as a lawyer by profession and education which could assist a veterinarian writing a report to sway the Court.
Prosecutors and defense counsel can rely on the veterinary report to decide whether to press charges, how to structure charges, whether to offer plea bargains, or how to shape trial strategies. Submitting a Veterinary Report shaped or influenced by the Chief Of Police may include prejudice or a conflict of interest - it is very unlikely that Ms. Moriarity is representing the pet guardian of a seized animal in influencing the wording or conclusions in a veterinary report. As a lawyer, Ms. Moriarity would know how important a report or form written by a veterinarian can be in influencing a presiding judge.
Veterinary reports prepared by the veterinarians hired by the BC SPCA to assist in the seizure of an animal are also relied on by the Tribunal that considers animal seizure appeals and whether costs should be awarded to the BC SPCA. The Tribunal, the B.C. Farm Industry Review Board (BCFIRB), often does not have veterinary observations or reports from the animal guardians appealing the seizure of their pets or animals so the evidence that the BC SPCA in its defense and the Tribunal in determining its decision, often relies on is the veterinarian hired by the organization, either oral evidence or written or a combination of both. If the Chief of policing has assisted in past cases with the wording or interfered with a veterinarian's medical outcome, many of these cases may have to be rescinded.
Having the Chief of BC SPCA policing helping, influencing or interfering with a veterinarian's assessment or animal to be used as evidence at a trial or Tribunal hearing can present a disadvantage for the pet's guardian who is rarely prepared or knowledgeable on pet raids and seizures by the BC SPCA police. Many pet guardians do not have a lawyer handy to assist a veterinarian write a report about an animal at the time of BC SPCA seizure for a tribunal or court. Were lawyers hired for that purpose by a pet guardian it would likely be deemed as inadmissible evidence or tainted evidence.
According to statistics, people who have their pets or animals seized by the BC SPCA rarely succeed in their return by the BCFIRB Tribunal or the Courts. If there is an unfair advantage, there may be revisions needed. At this time, the BC SPCA animal police actions have no independent oversight. Depending on the Moriarity investigation outcome, the way may be paved for more scrutiny within the policing unit of operations.
A spokesperson for the BC SPGA, a non-profit charity, said, "Surrey Police Service (SPS) Chief Constable Norm Lipinski was abruptly fired without cause on June 1, 2026. A BC SPCA police chief is under police investigation and the mainstream media refuse to let the public know."
Although it is unclear whether any charges will be laid as a result of the RCMP investigation of Moriarity, the situation may very well underscore the importance of transparency and accountability in animal policing.
