City earmarks $31 million for animal shelter
Plan provides up to $750 per dog, per day

Sandra Thomas
Vancouver Courier

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The proposed pricetag for a new animal control shelter recommended by city council is more than $30 million.

Animal rights activist and animal shelter watchdog Donna Liberson supplied the Courier with a document obtained through a Freedom of Information request, which says the net capital request to the city for a new shelter is $30.5 million. The city's 2009-2011 capital plan is at the draft stage. Liberson, who donates much of her time to animal causes, calls the amount "outrageous."

"When the government announces it's donating $20 million to build accommodation for the homeless, everyone makes a big deal of it," she says. "And now council's going to spend $31 million to house 20 dogs? It's a joke."

The Courier dropped by the animal shelter Monday afternoon and counted almost two dozen dogs. Liberson said on average the shelter houses between 12 and 20 dogs. She adds many of the dogs are brought here from other shelters across the province. Sam Hurley, supervisor of field operations for the city's animal control services, did not return phone calls by deadline.

Coun. Kim Capri brought a motion to council in January requesting that funding for a new animal services facility be included in the 2009-2011 capital plan and that community partnerships be considered as a way to help pay for it. Capri noted at the time that if the city partnered with a group, such as the B.C. SPCA, the money needed to pay for a new shelter could be raised sooner. Capri once worked as chief operations officer for the B.C. SPCA. In January, Capri said she had no idea how much a new shelter would cost--in a previous capital plan it was priced at $15 million.

Reached by phone Tuesday morning, Capri said it's up to staff to complete the draft capital plan before it goes to council.

"Council doesn't get involved at this stage," she said. "And I don't know if [the animal shelter] is going to even make the cut."

Forensic auditor and tax consultant Scott Busfield said the cost to finance a $31 million project, combined with the depreciation on the building over 40 years, works out to between $375 and $750 per dog, per day, based on a 20-dog average. Busfield became interested in the financial dealings of the animal control shelter after meeting Liberson.

"You can get a damn nice hotel suite for $500 a night," he said. "Or fly [the dogs] to Hawaii or the south of France once a year. Any rational person can see this money is not for a dog pound."

Busfield said for $31 million the city could buy several homes in high-end areas like Shaughnessy or West Vancouver, and then house about six dogs in each with homeless people brought in as caretakers.

"You could solve two problems at once," he said.

In a message to the Courier left Monday evening, Bill Bruce, director of animal services for the City of Calgary, said that city's animal shelter was built in 2000 for $3.5 million. Bruce added the new 42,000-square-foot SPCA building in Calgary cost $9.5 million.

Liberson said the front of the animal shelter has been dug up for the better part of a year for a repair that appears to be in limbo. That gives the appearance the shelter is in dire need of upgrades, she adds. Liberson believes the work needed at the shelter is mostly cosmetic. She notes 16 new kennels were constructed in 2004 at a cost of more than $300,000.

"The city's gone to the dogs," she said. "We don't need a new shelter. What would they do differently? They have cement floors that are easy to wash and a large outdoor play area."

Meanwhile Nancy Clarke, longtime manager of the shelter, retired Friday.

Last Wednesday a source told the Courier Clarke had left under duress. When the Courier called the animal shelter to confirm the rumour, a shelter employee said that Clarke's departure wasn't official yet and to call back.

The Courier then made several inquiries to the city. David McLellan, deputy general manager of community services, said Clarke was not fired. He did not offer any more information on her departure.

When the Courier called the animal shelter Monday afternoon, the reporter was told Clarke no longer worked at the shelter. In response to a second call from the Courier, McLellan left a message Monday evening that said Clarke resigned to pursue other interests. He added Glen Hodges, manager of Mountain View Cemetery, will take the position of interim manager until the position can be filled. Clarke did not return a phone call to her home Monday.

On Monday afternoon Bob Cristofoli, former supervisor of field operations for animal control services, told the Courier Clarke has "happily retired."

© Vancouver Courier 2008

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