The Delta Humane Society will no longer be holding the contract in Delta; city to take over Jan 1.

Delta to take over animal shelter after contract rejected
Maureen Gulyas, The Delta Optimist
Published: Saturday, December 15, 2007
Delta is taking over operation of the local animal shelter after it failed to agree on funding levels with the Delta Humane Society for the coming year.

Shelter manager Sarah Lowe said the animals will stay at the 80th Street facility and so will the staff members, but they've been told they will have "interview" for their jobs when Delta takes over Jan. 1.

Since the humane society assumed the municipal contract from the SPCA three years ago, Lowe said the number of animals in its care has increased by almost 40 per cent. She said costs have risen at the same rate, but the current contract only increased the society's funding by 1.7 per cent annually.

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Font:****The latest offer was believed to be a 10 to 20 per cent increase, but the shelter board rejected it.

"We were not willing to compromise our level of service and care for the animals with Delta's proposed contract fee for 2008," said Juliet Correia, president of the humane society's volunteer board of directors.

"The society has struggled to make ends meet and still provide a humane level of care for the animals at the shelter as well as fulfill the bylaw enforcement requirements," added Lowe.

Delta will now take over much of the administrative work, such as dog licensing, bylaws and payroll, while shelter staff will still care for the animals.

"It's important to me that the animals receive the same veterinary care and pro-humane care. The Corporation (of Delta) says I will have that opportunity, but time will tell," Lowe said.

The society says it raised over $100,000 in donations this year to offset costs not covered by the contract.