SPCA contract in Delta ends amid public complaints

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SPCA contract in Delta ends amid public complaints
Kent SpencerThe Province

Thursday, September 02, 2004


An uproar over a 10-month-old pooch named Cheech has resulted in the SPCA's contract in Delta not being renewed.
The plight of Cheech -- a lovable Labrador-Rottweiler cross or a menace on four legs, depending on whom you ask -- has caused Delta to take a second look at the venerable animal-control agency.

Council voted unanimously not to renew its SPCA contract or its lease on the city-owned pound on 80th Street. Both are up at the end of the year.

"People have anecdotal horror stories about the SPCA amid an undercurrent of animosity and hatred," said Coun. Robert Campbell, who received almost 100 phone calls, e-mails and letters.

Cheech was dognapped two months ago after the SPCA revealed plans to kill it. Animal-rights supporters describe the dog, who is in hiding, as "sweet;" the SPCA said he was a "danger."

The SPCA called Delta's decision "disappointing."

"If Delta wants to have dangerous dogs among their children, they can do that," said SPCA spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk. "For us the issue is placing a dangerous dog into the community. . . We have been around 108 years. We believe we have served the community well."

Delta pays about $225,000 annually and the society collects about the same amount in licence fees.

The contract will be put out to tender until Sept. 30 and a decision will be reached by Oct. 18.

A new animal welfare group called the Delta Humane Society is likely to apply and the SPCA has also been encouraged to come forward with a proposal.

kspencer@png.canwest.com


© The Vancouver Province 2004
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What is the difference between the Humane Society and the Spca?

The SPCA is an offical organization that can employ officers for animal cruelty investigations (ironic). Give them the powers of a police constable. Lay charges under the CC of Canada, go to court, obtain search warrants......

A humane society is a shelter. Humane Societies have the choice of being a "branch" of the SPCA or an "Affiliate" if they want an investigations dept. If a humane society does not want to be associated with the SPCA, it can not by law have an investigations dept. It can however have an animal control contract. Which is only the for the purpose of "rounding up" strays and subsidised by the city. They can not investigate cruelty complaints without the SPCA.

It is possible to have a SPCA and a Humane Society that is an affliate of the SPCA in the same city.

Thanks, so now that they are not renewing the contract, what happens to investigations of cruelty to animals?

The SPCA will still do cruelty complaints, just not animal control issues.
If the SPCA no longer has a shelter in Delta, then the next nearest SPCA would have to house the cruelty seizures. That could make manpower very stretched, delaying response time on complaints :(

No way, so what do they expect to accomplish? What are they going to do about complaints on dog bites and dog barking?

Never been in a situation like this.

Dog bites and barking are animal control issues, dealt with by animal control by-law officers or police. Nothing to do with the SPCA, unless the SPCA obtain a contract from the municipality. It's kept separate from the cruelty investigations.

For example, when I was a cruelty investigator, the HS that I worked for obtained a contract for animal control in the area (picking up strays).
I had a badge #, ID card, and paper work for investigations and different a badge #, ID card and paper work for animal control. In addition, I was on a different pay rate for each. (it could be confusing if you let it)

Animal control paid more, as it was paid by the city. Investigations was less, paid by the HS. We chose not to renew our contract, as it was taking away from Investigations. A local kennel picked the animal control contract up.