Senior fights back over pet eviction

By Colleen Dane - Comox Valley Record

Published: August 07, 2008 3:00 PM
Updated: August 07, 2008 6:49 PM The fate of a few remaining pets at Cumberland’s Union Square/Centennial Place remains up in the air.

With senior residents giving up most pet cats after threats of eviction from the society that runs the buildings, only one feline remains along with an aging dog, and their fate and that of their owners is not yet known.

“We’re just sitting back and waiting to see what happens,” said Vera Mossey, one of a group who cares for Amy, a “community” dog that became attached to the residents a few years ago and has lived there ever since.

A few months ago, the society board voted to enforce a no-pets policy that has been in place for decades.

While the residents were aware of the policy, there was never any enforcement, and during subsequent years feral cats have become pets and others have adopted their companions.

The notice came as a shock to residents, and during the next few months, they worried about giving up their pets or potentially losing their home.

The day finally came, with two residents with cats being given formal eviction notices.

Audrey Brown has since given up her cat, a formerly feral one that she had fixed and took in as her own,  but Mary Blake isn’t backing down.

“He is my little companion … he is so sweet, he doesn’t do anything wrong, the little guy,” said Blake. “I would be so devastated, so lonely without him.”

Her cat, Ricky, was injured and doesn’t use one leg. Because of the disability, he’s kept inside most of the time, and only goes out on a leash.

While the complaints that started this whole process were about pets fouling gardens and public areas, Blake said that’s not her cat that’s responsible.

Arguing that the manager and a board member knew about her cat and didn’t do anything until now, she’s filed a complaint under the Residential Tenancy Act and has a hearing date set for Sept. 2. She says it’s unfair for them to do anything at this point.

Mossey hasn’t heard yet what the fate of Amy will be, or how it will affect her living conditions.

“It kind of scares me a little bit,” said Mossey about what the conclusion may be.

And while they’re both on edge about their own situation, they both added they feel terribly for those who’ve already given up their pets.

“That was really, really sad and cruel,” said Blake, about the eviction notice that made Brown give up her feline friend.

Repeated calls to the society office and home of the board chair Ken Allen have not been returned. The society is made up of 10 directors, according to the BC Registry Office , and others contacted by the Record have said Allen is the one to comment.

reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com

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