Price, lack of animal control services sinks SPCA

By Matthew Hoekstra
Staff Reporter
Dec 16 2006

It appears the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and city staff are singing from a different song sheet.

In a two-page statement released Thursday, B.C. SPCA chief executive officer Craig Daniell said city staff’s recommendation to hand control of the Richmond animal shelter to another group was made “solely on the basis of the lowest bid.”

The Richmond Animal Protection Society won the endorsement of the community safety committee on Tuesday to operate the No. 5 Road shelter.

The Richmond Animal Protection Society has offered to do the work for $340,000 over two years. Sticking with the SPCA would cost the city $579,884.

While cost played a role, staff also cited service as a key reason to abandon the longtime shelter operator.

According to the staff report, the new SPCA proposal did not include any provisions for animal control services, which are currently a responsibility shared by the SPCA and city.

The Richmond Animal Protection Society proposal does offer animal control services.

Staff also cited concerns with the existing level of service, saying “internal issues within the SPCA has on numerous occasions forced our city staff to respond to calls.”

A further concern expressed by staff is the Richmond SPCA’s practice of sheltering animals from other municipalities in B.C. in order to assist in adoptions.

In his statement, Daniell said if council approves the contract award to the Richmond Animal Protection Society, the SPCA “will no longer be contracted to provide animal control services.” This, despite declining to offer the service in the future.

Daniell said council’s move would force the SPCA to lay off the equivalent of six full-time staff, effective Feb. 1, 2007.

But the SPCA would consider finding a local storefront to assist in animal adoptions.

“If Richmond city council approves the recommendation to award the animal control contract to (the Richmond Animal Protection Society), the B.C. SPCA will explore other options for a physical presence in Richmond in addition to continuing to provide its core services of cruelty investigations, cruelty prevention education and advocacy,” Daniell said.

Reached Thursday, the SPCA seems to be taking the looming decision in stride.

“We wish anybody well. Our concern is just the welfare of the animals and they do get those services,” said SPCA spokesperson Lorie Chortyk.

According to Wayne Mercer, manager of the community bylaws department, council is scheduled to consider the final contract award at its Jan. 8, 2007 meeting.

Mercer noted that delegations on the issue will not be permitted.

The Richmond Animal Protection Society, formerly known as Richmond Homeless Cats, won’t comment until the contract is formerly awarded.

The city-owned shelter is at 12071 No. 5 Rd.