Animal group seeks to claw shelter from SPCA Contract up for grabs, SPCA’s competitor tries again

By Matthew Hoekstra
Staff Reporter
Sep 09 2006

The Richmond Animal Protection Society is trying to get its paws on a contract to operate the city’s animal shelter and swipe the longtime operator to the sidelines.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has long operated the shelter at 12071 No. 5 Rd., and is also competing for the two-year contract—worth up to $300,000.

Sept. 19 marks the deadline for proposals.

The animal protection society bid for the contract in 2004 under its former name Richmond Homeless Cats Society, but was rebuffed.

City staff and politicians both seemed receptive to the society’s proposal and said turning it down was simply due to timing.

Society president Carol Reichert said at the time a key reason she wanted the contract was to stop the SPCA’s needless euthanization of treatable animals.

At that time, B.C. SPCA chief executive officer Craig Daniell defended his society’s record in front of council. He said the SPCA has a 100-per-cent adoption rate of adoptable animals and a zero-per-cent adoption rate of aggressive or dangerous animals.

In an interview this week, Reichert said her society has “no choice” but to bid for the contract, saying her group is getting inundated by rescue calls for more than just cats.

Reichert said the SPCA’s practice of moving animals from shelter-to-shelter is creating more local strays that can’t find homes.

“Importing animals is having an impact on us. We’re taking care of Richmond animals and other animals coming into this community,” she said. “That’s why we have no choice, but to pursue this contract.”

The SPCA doesn’t deny it transfers animals to different shelters, but that’s done out of need for adoptable animals in some communities.

According to spokesperson Lorie Chortyk, in Richmond it works out to the city’s advantage.

“We’re actually relieving the burden on the residents of Richmond by having that flexibility.”

Reichert said if her group won the contract, it would also continue to operate its East Richmond shelter, which rescues and shelters animals, and offers free spaying and neutering services.

The contract also contains the provision for animal control services.

Two years ago, the city’s bylaws department took over dog management and enforcement responsibilities.

City spokesperson Ted Townsend said the new contract represents status quo—animal control is shared by the city and shelter operator—but more clearly defines enforcement roles.

“Primarily our enforcement officers really work with dog issues,” said Townsend. “If your dealing with some specialized animal issues, our staff might not have the expertise.”

The contractor is required to pick up stray, dangerous and dead domestic animals, and respond to complaints of injured or dangerous wildlife.

But Reichert believes the new contract represents a shift of more animal control services back to the shelter operator.

“We are surprised as anyone else,” said Reichert. “But we have to deal with it.”

The contractor would be required to have a dedicated animal control vehicle to respond to calls—something her group of six employees and 120 volunteers already does.

“For 17 years we have been the people active in the community, going out to help...the SPCA never leaves their shelter,” said Reichert. “So we’re the group that has the ability to work with the people of Richmond.”

But the SPCA says it can provide services others can’t, particularly around cruelty investigations, night emergencies and with its assessment program for animal temperament.

Said Chortyk: “People assume they’re getting the same services, but (they’re) not.”

Some Lower Mainland communities have already moved away from the SPCA for shelter services.

According to Judy Stone of the Animal Advocates Society, the District of North Vancouver was the first to take back its shelter from the SPCA. The City of Coquitlam followed suit and now manages its own shelter.

Delta and Langley have opted to contract the operation of their shelters out to other independent societies.