I met with the city today and am feeling very good about it overall. We had a 2 hour meeting and covered pretty much every topic possible.

*The importance of spaying and neutering - the cycle and how it can benefit CAC; the responsibility
* the need and ability to assess temperament prior to adoption;
*vet care; the city is open here!
*applications and HOME CHECKS (with volunteer help);
*liability issues;
*how rescues work - what is a good rescue;
*the contractual agreement between the city and those that hold the CAC contract;
*licensing,
*chained/tethered dogs;
*Dog fighting rings
*BYB
*petfinder;
*how and what bylaws can be amended
*and the where/how/why of a new shelter WITH play yards!
*How to get volunteers for the shelter and what they can do.

It is important to note that Lisa contacted me to have this meeting and gain as much knowledge and information as she could. A week or so prior to all this blowing up, I had a meeting with Ian Crane, and many of these issues were already on the table and the city was working on it. This is an important beginning. Lisa and Ian are both animal lovers and they do want to make things work better.
The city does want to make some changes here, and they are looking for all the information in order to make those changes come about.
Now that Lisa has this information, she will go back to the city officials and discuss all of this. We will meet again within the next few weeks to discuss these changes.
In the meantime, animal control dogs will be adopted out WITH application, and this application, which we went over, will be adopted into the bylaws. My only worry here on who is going to be checking over these applications presently. I have to admit in all the topics we covered and discussed, this slipped by me, but I will call her on Monday and ask about this. Dogs in the shelter right now will be assessed before going out for adoption by myself or a city employee who used to work with the police dogs and is now retired.
Dogs will be altered prior to adoption! My understanding is that this will also be adopted into the bylaw.

The future of Chilliwack Animal Control looks much better. The city officials are going to go and tour some other shelters in the lower mainland, and with our help, it is looking very hopeful that this shack of a shelter will be torn down and a new one will be built! This makes my heart sing for all the future dogs of animal control. I am excited that Chilliwack is about to come out of the dark ages and set by example for the residents of this city. I am hopeful that we will have a shelter to be proud of and our elected officials will take a greater interest in these innocent beings. None of this will happen over night, we must be patient and be there to offer our support to make positive changes!

All in all it was a very good day and a huge amount of ground was covered. The dogs thank you, and I thank you!