DELTA OPTIMIST:

July 16, 2004

Delta wants to meet with SPCA before renewing its contract

by Bart Cummins

The winds of bad publicity that swept through Delta SPCA of late could become a tornado now that the Corporation of Delta has joined the storm.

Delta council has asked civic staff to prepare a report on the practices of the Delta SPCA and, in particular, look at the criteria regarding the euthanizing of animals.

A face-to-face between council and the SPCA will follow the report and likely occur in September. The meeting could take the form of a workshop or a delegation during a regular council meeting, said Kip Gaudry, director of community planning and development for Delta.

"It's too early to tell yet (when the meeting would take place) because we have to put the request out to the SPCA and we're waiting for them to get back to us," Gaudry said.

Delta's contract with the SPCA expires at the end of this year and the coming report and subsequent meeting could determine whether the agreement is renewed.

The kidnapping of a dog by Delta SPCA workers in June that was to be euthanized because it was determined to be dangerous to humans sparked some community outcry. Animal rights activists have suggested the SPCA kills a number of animals that either don't adopt quickly enough or are deemed to have a low appeal.

Coun. Robert Campbell suggested at Monday's council meeting that Delta develop a "no kill" policy concerning sheltered animals. He conceded such legislation may be overdue.

"I think this is a direction that is timely to move on in Delta," Campbell said. "I've had more e-mails, correspondence and telephone calls (concerning euthanasia practices at Delta SPCA) than on any other issue."

Delta SPCA branch manager Michelle Rodgers couldn't be reached for comment.

Each month the SPCA submits a report to Delta and from January through the end of June, the 80th Street shelter reported that 17 animals had been put down for either medical (nine) or behavioural (eight) reasons.

Of those euthanized for medical reasons, there was one dog, two cats three livestock and three wildlife. Of those for behavioural reasons, there was one dog, one cat, five livestock and one in a grouping titled other.