Vernon Daily Courier, September 9, 2005

Animal group protests SPCA plan
by Stephanie Waddell

A draft plan by the BC SPCA to focus on providing space for seized animals in Vernon is being met with contention by the Vernon & District Animal Care Society which questions the impact it will have on other needy animals in the North Okanagan.

B.C. SPCA President Mary Lou Troman said yesterday the organization is looking at the change to address the financial deficit at its Vernon shelter. It's also considering a similar change for the Chilliwack shelter as a part of an overall plan for the province.

"We absolutely want to stay in the North Okanagan so what we're looking for is a community solution," she said.

The plan could also change as it moves along.

"The strategic plan is a road map, but we haven't identified every curve on the road," she said.

Since the SPCA lost the local animal control contract in 2003, the Vernon shelter has been in a deficit position by $174,000 in 2003 and $164,000 in 2004. It's predicting a deficit of $85,000 this year.

The Vernon facility was built with 48 kennels because of the dog control contract the SPCA had. The shelter continues to operate at full capacity for cats, but space remains for dogs.

Operating an animal protection centre out of the Vernon shelter would mean funds are moved around, bringing it out of a deficit because the money it spends on looking after animals seized and kept during court proceedings in animal cruelty cases would go to Vernon.

Taking in seized animals in Vernon would provide a central location and space for animals to come from the Thompson, South Cariboo, Shuswap, Kootenays and Okanagan.

It would not mean that the shelter used to adopt out animals would close; though there could be less space available for them if the animals seized stay in Vernon. Some could be transported to another SPCA shelter, she said.

The remote location of the Vernon site could be an ideal spot for larger animals as well.

Animals that are seized for criminal investigations usually need more care.

"These are the most traumatized. They need very special care and they need attention," said Troman.

The board will be doing its best to accommodate all the suggestions made at a meeting at the Vernon shelter Tuesday night. Troman admits it won't be able to do everything asked.

While some were in favour of the possible changes to the Vernon shelter others wanted it to remain primarily focused on adoptions. "People are very passionate about animals and have very strong opinions," she said.

Views were also offered on the SPCA in Vernon not spaying and neutering animals. Currently 15 of their 37 shelters across the province sterilize the animals before they're adopted.

The SPCA is working toward having all of its shelters spay and neuter the animals, but Troman said it's a question of cost.

Troman took offence to comments by the Vernon and District Animal Care Society that the SPCA shows no interest in tackling the the overpopulation of cats through a spay and neuter program.

"A few thousand dollars spent on spay/neutering programs would prevent endless animal suffering," said Heather Pettit, president of the society.

She said the animal care society admitted 87 cats and kittens in July and August which had been turned away from the SPCA.

"Needy animals in the North Okanagan face a very bleak future," said Pettit.

The SPCA will be deciding whether to proceed with the plan later this month.

The Morning Star
Friday, September 9, 2005

SPCA plans stir heated debate
by Jennifer Dyck
Morning Star Staff

The claws were out Tuesday evening as people batted around the idea of an Animal Protection Centre at the Vernon SPCA.

Nearly 40 concerned citizens, SPCA volunteers and members of the Vernon Animal Care Society turned out for a two-and-a-half-hour meeting.

Whether they were for or against it, a few spoke boldly about the SPCA and plans to establish an Animal Protection Centre at the Vernon shelter.

Vernon, as well as Chilliwack, is identified in BC SPCA's draft strategic plan as an ideal location for the centre, particularly because it's one of the largest shelters in BC.

"For the next three to five years we want to give this an opportunity to work," said Craig Daniell, BC SPCA chief executive officer.

Once secure fencing is put up, particularly for livestock seizures, Daniell is hoping the centre will be established by the end of the year and then continually monitored and adjusted as needed.

"For starting out we'll designate half the dog kennels [48] for seized animals and see how that goes."

The centre would serve Kelowna,Vernon, Shuswap, Kootenay and Thompson areas.

"It's out intention to adopt it [ the strategic plan] at the September 18 meeting of our board of directors," said Mary Lou Troman, volunteer president of the society.

But some residents are concerned that the centre will take away from current services at the SPCA.

"What happens to this shelter?" asked Moneca Litton.

With the shelter currently housing more than 200 cats [ yet its kennels have only a few dogs ], Litton and others are concerned the new centre will force surrenders away.

Litton asked: "Either we allow these animals in distress to share the shelter with Vernon or Vernon doesn't have a shelter?"

Heather Pettit, president of the Vernon and District Animal Care Society, is worried for local animals.

"Our group has admitted 87 cats and kittens in the months of July and August which had been turned away by the SPCA>"

She fears service will be worse with time, space and money directed to the Animal Protection Centre.

Daniell insists the shelter will still be able to serve its surrender and adoption function.

"We will still accept animals if we have space."

He says this can happen with seizure space freed up in other locations, such as Kelowna where there are higher adoption rates. These locations will then be able to accept surrenders from Vernon.

Having the centre in Vernon will also allow the shelter which had a $174,000 deficit in 2004, to stay in Vernon with the Cruelty Investigations Department supporting the centre.

"The reality is the shelter can't run without the help of the rest of the province," said Daniell.

The centre will also bring a senior animal protection officer to Vernon, with the possibility of an additional officer in 2006.

But the greatest benefit is to the animals, says Marcie Moriarty, head of the Cruelty Investigations Department.

"Because we're more visible people start calling more.

"There's an increase in reporting, which is a good thing."

Anyone who would like to provide input about the centre in Vernon is asked to email their information to mltroman@sspca.bc.ca. [sic]

The Vernon SPCA is also asking anyone interested in volunteering, particularly on their Community Council, to visit the shelter.