The Question: Whistler: Band, WAG, others eye solutions, but lack money to deal with problem

By Nicole Fitzgerald
Reporter
A person is hired by the Mount Currie Band every couple of years to destroy stray dogs in Mount Currie, but the band has little choice, says a band spokesman. “There is many concerns from Council and from the Tribal Police about dogs that are not tied up and running loose in the community,” said Sheldon Tetreault, administrator and spokesperson for the Mount Currie band. “They form into packs and can potentially attack bike riders, walkers, children and other pets.” Tetreault would not clarify how the dogs are killed, but he said it is done in a “humane” fashion. Those at Whistler Animals Galore (WAG) and Squamish branch of the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) disagree and are concerned about the increasing number of phone calls they are receiving from people relaying stories about various forms of death to which the animals are being exposed. The two animal-welfare agencies have received reports of animals being drowned, shot, clubbed and even hung as a means of dealing with the dog population. Tetreault said the dogs are being destroyed because of the potential threat they pose to the public once they start to assemble into packs and the number of dogs roaming the area. He estimated there are sometimes up to 1,000 animals. WAG shelter worker Joanne Russell explained the pack situation: When dogs are neglected, abused and left to run wild, they often form into packs to fend for themselves. As a result, dogs will often kill livestock or domestic pets to survive, eat dead carcasses they might find on the side of the road. Their neglected state, combined with eating rotting meat, leads to disease and if a person is bitten, the recipient is in danger of contracting the disease. While the dogs continue to suffer from their untreated ailments, disease is passed down to the next generation as the dogs procreate, she said. Russell said Mount Currie dogs brought to the Whistler shelter are often abused and neglected. She added that not all Mount Currie pet owners are irresponsible. Raven, a 10-week-old puppy from Mount Currie, rescued by a concerned Pemberton resident Dennis Taylor, is a classic example of those neglected in Mount Currie. According to veterinarian Dr. David Lane, who treated her, Raven was one week away from starving to death. She had to be treated for lice, worms, fleas and a tooth infection as well. “She was too weak to get her shots and antibiotics,” Taylor said of Raven’s deteriorated state. Taylor paid for Raven’s vet bill and because he already had two dogs of his own, he decided to bring Raven to WAG to be adopted. Russell said all of this is preventable with the introduction of education and a spay-and-neuter program. Mount Currie Band officials recently met with WAG as well as bylaw officials from neighbouring municipalities to gather input on how best to deal with the situation. The band has also spoken with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the Squamish Lillooet Regional District. "If we were happy with the state of dog control here, we wouldn't be engaged in discussion with WAG and INAC," Tetreault said. Among the suggestions that emerged were the introduction of a dog-control bylaw, the hiring of a bylaw officer, the establishment of a spay-and-neuter program and establishment of an educational program on responsible pet management. However, Tetreault said no funding is available from the band to hire a bylaw officer. He said INAC does not fund such initiatives. SPCA officials said they have no funding available for an animal agent in the area as well. The SPCA used to have an agent in Pemberton, but the position was eliminated a few years back. A petition requesting the Village of Pemberton fund a bylaw officer to deal with animals in Pemberton is currently circulating in the village. The SPCA intended to implement a spay-and-neuter van to serve rural areas this year. However, funding constraints led to cancellation of the program. So far, WAG is the only organization stepping up to the plate. Even though the band gives little financial support to the shelter, 30 per cent of the shelter dogs are from Mount Currie. Russell said if the band is willing to take responsibility for the issue and pursue some sort of funding, WAG is willing to meet the group halfway on the implementaiton of a spay-and-neuter program. WAG is also working to secure funding for educating students and teachers at the Xit’olacw School in Mount Currie on bite prevention, animal safety, care and respect. Teachers have embraced the idea and are working to facilitate the program with the shelter, Russell said. While Russell would like to rescue all Mount Currie dogs, she said the Whistler shelter, which has only seven dog kennels, cannot deal with the problem on its own. WAG has a waiting list for animals trying to get into the shelter, she said. As well, the cost of spaying or neutering the animals, administrating vaccinations, veterinarian visits and treatments for other ailment is extremely taxing on WAG’s already stretched budget. The Squamish branch of the SPCA has no kennels. All of the animals are kept at home by volunteers until they are adopted. John van der Hoeven, general manager for special projects for the B.C. SPCA, said the SPCA can help if people can collect the animals and distribute them among SPCA facilities in the Vancouver area.