SPCA dogs still barking at Napier Lane

By Jennifer McLarty

Victoria News
Aug 17 2005

Burnside-Gorge residents want more teeth in an amended legal agreement created to muzzle the noise of barking dogs at the SPCA's Napier Lane shelter, bordering Saanich.
"This is not fluffy down the street barking. This is a pack of 15 to 30 dogs," said Chytyk, who works from a home office about a half-block from the shelter.
They say changes were made without community consultation in May, and that the revised deal doesn't go far enough in addressing 15-year-old concerns.
"There has to be a set of legal documents that bind the SPCA to do what it says it's going to do. At the moment, we don't believe the agreement achieves that," said Washington Avenue resident Paul Chytyk.
"There's a lot of mistrust toward the SPCA in our community, and we want assurances things will change this time."
Chytyk and Burnside-Gorge Community Association president Kate Forster submitted 12 clauses to City of Victoria staff Thursday, requesting they be incorporated into the amended agreement.
The list includes detailed information about how the SPCA will soundproof its facility, as well as hard-and-fast guarantees dogs won't be allowed outside except when they come and go for daily walks.
City solicitor Jack Basey apologized for not consulting residents about the four-month-old revisions during last Thursday's committee of the whole meeting, but added the changes will still satisfy their concerns.
The new agreement permits the society to complete a facility overhaul in phases, but stipulates all outdoor dog runs must be enclosed by Nov. 1.
SPCA shelter manager Penny Stone also extended apologies about any confusion over differing blueprints for the $500,000 upgrade.
Even an outdoor area for staff and volunteers has been scratched from the plan to allay fears dogs would be still be left in the yard.
"The only reason we're doing this is to stop the noise complaints," Stone told Victoria councillors. "We wouldn't be spending $500,000 if we weren't going to solve the problem."
Stone also committed to the best soundproofing possible to prevent any interior noise from escaping through the shelter's ventilation system.
But after more than 10 years of squabbling, Chytyck says the community wants those abatement provisions included in the legal agreement.
The mediated deal was struck between the city and SPCA last year, after the municipality threatened to take the society to court over more than a dozen unpaid noise bylaw tickets.
"The community is encouraged by our meeting with staff last week. But it will require subsequent meetings to ensure things stay on track."
The enclosed shelter will have to comply with new, zone-specific noise bylaws, scheduled to be implemented before November.

Published in Saanich News on Aug 17, 2005
Story URL: http://web.bcnewsgroup.com/portals-code/list.cgi?cat=23&paper=28&id=476419