It appears that the BC SPCA will close most of its shelters in the Lower Mainland, and replace them with about 4 new larger regional ones. As for pound contracting, all signs indicate that it will ease itself out of it by purposefully overbidding on contracts so that it's not cost effective for the municipalities to use them. This has been alluded to in several comments made through the media by BCSPCA officials. They have used phrases like "cost recovery" when discussing renewing any pound contracts, which leads one to believe they are going to charge a lot more money for the same service the SPCA is currently providing. If that happens, the cities may decide to do it themselves.This may be the only way for the SPCA to get out of contracting, since the Union agreement forces it to bid on pound contracts in the old Vancouver SPCA's warrant area, from North Vancouver to Abbotsford for ten years, and it doesn't seem to be ditching the Union at this point. This entire process will probably take another 10 years to complete the changes, and they've already said the shelters are slated to be built over the next 12 years or so. A long time to wait, but hopefully worth it!