Community Consultation
4. Animal Control

The majority of community consultations submissions, which address the issue of animal control, are not supportive of the BC SPCA providing this service. In the eyes of the public, the Society has put the business of animal control ahead its mission – “to prevent cruelty to and promote the welfare of, animals.” With this in mind, the independent panel recommends that the BC SPCA seriously consider getting out of animal control as contracts expire and putting additional effort and resources into prevention, education and advocacy, which are the foundation of its mission. In their view, animal control is a municipal issue and should be left to municipalities. Specifically, the panel recommends that the BC SPCA make a decision about whether it or not it will continue to offer animal control services in communities in the next six to eight months. The panel recognizes that the BC SPCA initially became involved in animal control to ensure humane standards in the handling of impounded animals. However, it believes the BC SPCA can still enforce these standards by providing municipal pounds with BC SPCA Standards of Animal Care and making them accountable through inspections. Over the longer term, the panel recommends that the BC SPCA develop agreements with municipal-run pounds to turn adoptable dogs over to the BC SPCA, with adoptability to be determined by animal behaviourists.