Your Vancouver Sun

Six SPCA workers face losing their jobs

Nelson Bennett, Richmond News
Published: Friday, December 15, 2006

RICHMOND - Six workers with the SPCA in Richmond will be out of a job at the end of January, if council ratifies a recommendation to award the contract for animal control to a local volunteer shelter.

The city's community safety committee has voted to award a two-year contract for animal control services to the Richmond Animal Protection Society.

"It's very discouraging, this time of year, to have to give that news to people," said Lorie Chortyk, general manager of community relations for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Paying full-time staff was one of the reasons the SPCA's contract bid was much higher than the bid submitted by RAPS, which relies heavily on volunteers.

Chortyk wonders if the volunteer society will be able to provide the level of service the city and the public will expect.

"I really hope the level of service is maintained," she said.

The SPCA bid would have cost the city $579,884. The SPCA would have run the city animal shelter only, at a cost of $396,000.

The city would need to provide city bylaw enforcement officers to collect stray dogs and cats, at an added cost of $143,884.

The RAPS bid will cost the city only $340,000. Included in that bid is the cost of providing animal control services.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006