Media Release - January 16, 2004

From Rick Sargent, Director and Volunteer President, BC SPCA

The BC SPCA is pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement to settle the long standing dispute with the City of Victoria over noise from barking dogs. This issue goes back as long as people have memories, but the City has pressed for a resolution since 1999. The Society and the City have pulled back from the court house steps 3 times in the last year.

Direct negotiations between Mayor Alan Lowe and Society President Rick Sargent began in November and has resulted in a settlement signed January 16, 2004. Under the agreement the BC SPCA will undertake the redevelopment of the Victoria Shelter in stages beginning with the construction of a new Companion Animal Adoption Center including new kennel system for dogs.

Gone will be the Alcatraz-like prisons for animals. Our companion animals do not recognize concrete and stainless steel boxes with iron bars as friendly spaces. The new kennel system will see dogs and cats living in rooms designed to resemble the homes they left and hope to return. These kennel systems are animal friendly and provide a low stress living environment; they are also people friendly and more attractive and inviting for prospective adopters. Low stress means less barking and as the kennel system is a room within a building it provides a double sound barrier; as a result the new facility will also be community friendly. Over the last few months the Shelter has experimented in placing particularly stressed and noisy dogs in rooms. This solution is proving to be very successful in reducing stress and keeping dogs quiet. Many of you will have seen Precious in the window of the shelter when you come to visit.

The preliminary design of the new shelter and detailed design of Phase 1 of the redevelopment is expected to take one year with construction completed by October 2005. The Adoption Center is estimated to cost $1.5 million. The Society will embark on a Capital Campaign to raise the necessary funds.

During the transition period the Society will institute a number of interim measures to provide noise relief for the neighborhood. The City of Victoria has agreed to provide long term property tax relief in support of this solution.

The Society wishes to thank Gerald Hartwig for kick starting this final round of negotiations and to Tom Moore of Moore Paterson Architects for helping to put ideas on paper. Special thanks goes to Mayor Alan Lowe for his personal involvement and his proactive support for a long term " animal friendly" solution. This is a great example of community cooperation where everyone wins.

When complete our new shelter will be in the forefront of animal welfare in North America, animal friendly, people friendly and community friendly.