Society advocates animal shelter http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17347347&BRD=1998&PAG=461&dept_id=221589&rfi=6
Laura Walz - Peak Editor 10/18/2006
CEO calls on city and regional district to support permanent facility
Representatives of a not-for-profit organization that looks after the welfare of animals is seeking an answer from Powell River's local governments about establishing a shelter to serve the region.
Earlier this year, BC SPCA presented a proposal to the Powell River Regional District (PRRD) and the City of Powell River about establishing a permanent facility, one that would help both animals and residents in the area. The society would like to partner with Powell River's local governments in the project.
Craig Daniell, chief executive officer of the BC SPCA, attended a PRRD committee-of-the-whole meeting last week and urged directors to decide about the society's proposal. "Ten months later, I've returned to ask you for a decision about whether the Powell River Regional District will participate in this project," Daniell said. "Neither the city nor the regional district has made a decision." The society needs to move forward with the project and, with local government support, it can accommodate all the needs in the region, Daniell also said. "Without your support, the SPCA will press on, but the end result will be a facility that couldn't meet all the needs in the region."
Daniell explained that volunteers with the Powell River branch of the SPCA have built up a substantial fund to build a shelter. The provincial organization will also be contributing funds to the project and will be applying for gaming grants as well.
The long-term plan is to provide shelter for stray and abandoned animals in a building located on about one acre. It's estimated the facility would require 1.5 to two full-time employees and will have other standard operating costs.
Daniell said Powell River is the exception in the province in not having a shelter.
Colin Palmer, chairman of the PRRD board of directors and Electoral Area C director, said that he would like Tla'Amin (Sliammon) First Nation to be involved in the project as well.
"The rural directors have to make their minds up and talk to Sliammon to see if they will become partners," he said.
Brenda DeGraag, a city director on the PRRD board, said the project should be a regional one. "There is no point in having a shelter in the city," she said. "It has to be a shared service."
In order for the proposal to move forward with local government support, the city and the regional district would have to work out an agreement and the regional district would have to create a service function in order to tax rural residents for the service.
Audrey Hill, president of the Powell River branch of the SPCA, pointed out currently volunteers provide the service for free. While the city has a pound, stray and abandoned animals are often placed in foster homes and animals from Powell River's rural areas are cared for by volunteers, with the regional district making no contribution to their care. Volunteers also provide homes for cats, as they are not taken into the pound.
Daniell said that Powell River's branch is run by volunteers. "They're one of the best branches in the province," he said. "They do incredible work."
Daniell said the society is looking toward the regional district and the city making a decision so the project can move forward.
ŠThe Powell River Peak 2006