Chilliwack Times

Opinion
City policy needs reviewing

The question of animal care at Chilliwack's Animal Control facility has ignited a community debate and should be a cause for concern if not cause an outright change in policy.

Although some of the issues, it would seem, may be related to differences in opinion amongst staff and former staff there are others that must generate further discussion.

Chilliwack Animal Control's mandate is primarily public safety. It's not an SPCA-type organization concerned with animal cruelty investigations and preventing animal abuse. Of course, it doesn't promote these illegal and immoral activities, but at the same time it's not in the business to stop such behaviour.

It's more concerned with keeping problem dogs off the street by dispensing of them permanently or through the seeking of new and more loving homes.

However, that isn't good enough.

In order to prevent problem animals from turning into habitual offenders it's simply not acceptable to adopt a captured animal out to virtually the first individual who expresses an interest. There is value in background checks that could include a quick call to landlords or strata organizations to ensure these animals, if adopted, will be wanted and allowed. This is a rule followed by the SPCA and it helps to prevent animals from being adopted and then returned or simply dumped.

Spaying and neutering should also be a policy that CAC is encouraged to adopt. It is the only surefire way to decrease the number of unwanted problem dogs. It is simply shortsighted and irresponsible not to institute a program of fixing dogs prior to re-releasing them.

The City of Chilliwack should also consider letting the SPCA take over the contractual duties of animal control as it does in many other, larger municipalities such as Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Richmond, Delta, Surrey and North Vancouver.

published on 09/15/2006

http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/issues06/093206/opinion/093206op1.html

Letters
Adoption policy dead wrong

Editor:

Does Sharon Gaetz mean city council when she says, "the city" and "we?" If so, she definitely doesn't speak for the majority of the population of Chilliwack when she says, "we are pleased with the service they (Commissionaires) have been providing, and we haven't had any complaint."

What does she think Big Heart Rescue Society president Gail Moerkerken is doing if not voicing a complaint?

I presume she is speaking for all the members of that society.

Sharon Gaetz should educate herself, and the rest of the city council of the necessity to have a policy that all animals be neutered or spayed, unless they are needed for breeding purposes for which a licence has first been obtained. Gaetz makes a number of insipid statements that she "didn't want to offer an opinion on whether the 'city' should institute a change," and "I'm not sure about spaying or neutering. It would certainly make it (adoption) more expensive. I haven't looked into the pros and cons. I imagine there are some dogs they want to use to have puppies."

What on earth is she thinking, or not thinking? It's about time she started earning her votes, because she certainly hasn't done much research on this issue.

Maureen June Cleaver
Chilliwack

Second chance at life for rottie

Editor:

It is with a heavy heart I write to you. Things have taken a bad turn at Chilliwack Animal Control with the loss of some very dedicated and caring staff members.

I have a senior Rottweiler that came to me from an SPCA seizure several years ago. When I heard the plight of a senior Rottweiler named Milo at CAC I couldn't say no. The poor fellow was crippled due to two torn knees and had lost a significant amount of weight.

My dog Brandy and I immediately fell in love with the big lug. I have never met such an affectionate dog, everyone he met human or animal was his friend; he was a true ambassador for the breed. He and hundreds of others wouldn't have been given a second chance at life had it not been for the tireless efforts of the CAC staff.

I shudder to think what the future holds for the dogs at CAC now that the philosophy is "if they have $50 give them a dog." An animal abuser, a dog-ring fighter, a dealer looking for a grow-op dog, a backyard breeder can walk in and take a dog home to do with what they choose.

I have lived with the consequences and I have rehabilitated the abused. CAC is now nothing more than a revolving door.

Citizens of Chilliwack please demand more from your elected officials.

Waverlea Tezak
Gabriola Island

Kill what doesn't sell

Editor:

Chiliwack resident Angela Nielsen asks why Chilliwack Animal Control is allowed to adopt out dogs to anyone who hands over $50. That's a misuse of the word adoption. What CAC is doing is a sale, not an adoption. Using the right word answers the question. Pound contracting is all about running the most profitable dog disposal contract, not about animal welfare or suffering dogs.

Commissionaires B.C. is contracted by the City of Chilliwack to round up and dispose of stray dogs, and dogs that are not sold are killed. There is no requirement for a degree in economics in the dog disposal business. In fact, there is no requirement for any education at all, certainly not in knowledge of animals; just the willingness to dispose of dogs, by killing them if they don't sell fast enough or are sick or injured.

CAC had a poor reputation with the dog rescue network before some volunteers began devoting themselves to saving the lives of as many dogs as they could by paying vet bills and getting the dogs into foster homes and rescue groups. Then the city backed the contractor in getting rid of the "bleeding heart dog-lovers" who were in the way, and business went back to usual-sell to anyone, no matter how bad they clearly were, and kill what doesn't sell. They actually ripped up the volunteer's adoption agreement forms and ordered that all dogs were to be sold to the first person with $50. If dogs were being bought to use in the dog-fighting pits that ring Chilliwack, so what? Not the city's business.

The City of Chilliwack's website invites people to, "discover our lifestyle." Red-neck cruelty is the lifestyle of hundreds of Chilliwack's dogs. Its pound is as bad as 19th century pounds. Its ruthless dog-catching contract ought to make the mayor and council cringe in shame. Video of some Chilliwack yard dogs on our website shows what we are talking about.

Let's hope Ms. Nielsen's letter brings this ugly can of worms to the light of day and that Chilliwack's dog-lovers get together and speak for Chilliwack's dog victims.

Judy Stone, president,
Animal Advocates Society of B.C.

http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/issues06/093206/opinion/093206le1.html