Public Meeting on Future Plans for the BC SPCA Campbell River Branch
Update: June 10, 2013
The BC SPCA has been busy developing plans to re-establish its operations in Campbell River. Please join us for a public meeting on Thursday, June 13 at 7 p.m. in the old Movie Gallery in Merecroft Village. BC SPCA Chief Executive Officer Craig Daniell and other SPCA representatives will be on hand to update community members on the exciting progress that has been made. Thank you to the amazing residents of Campbell River for all your continued support of the SPCA!
Go Loonie for the SPCA
Update: April 25, 2013
Join a community-wide fund raising project that puts the “fun” back in fundraising. The City of Campbell River is proclaiming May 1, 2013 as SPCA day, and they will be matching the total raised up to $10,000!
An individual can contribute, or teams can be formed for “friendly competition”. Be creative in your fundraising plan: Book sales, bake sales, garage sales, round up at the cash register, silent auctions, dog washing, massages, portion of coffee sales are just a few ideas. Be creative and be competitive. Corporate spying is encouraged.
A trophy will be awarded to the overall winner, which will be announced in the June 5, 2013 Mirror Newspaper. So get registered today!
For more information contact Dr. Helen Kwong, at the Merecroft Vet Clinic (250) 287-2007.
BC SPCA Campbell River shelter operations end March 31, 2013
Update: April 18, 2013
Thank you to the incredible residents of Campbell River who have supported us in our efforts to remain a vital part of the community. Our meeting with City Council yesterday was constructive and all parties were in agreement that every effort should be made to ensure the SPCA is able to stay in Campbell River. We are working on proposals now and will keep you updated as things progress. Thank you again for your support!
Update: April 5, 2013
To our valued supporters and volunteers in Campbell River:
As you are aware, the Campbell River Branch of the BC SPCA had to cease its shelter operations and vacate the city-owned animal shelter on March 31, after City Council made the decision to award its contract for pound services to Coastal Animal Services. The BC SPCA has proudly provided these services to the community for more than 30 years, and the ability to work from the city shelter enabled us to also offer the community our donor-supported services such as cruelty investigations, humane education, low-cost spay/neuter assistance and advocacy work. The SPCA provided full operational hour (seven days a week) and offered care for all impounded and surrendered animals – including dogs, puppies, cat, kittens and small animals. By comparison, the bid by Coastal Animal Services covers impounded dogs only and provides no other care for animals in the community. In addition, the shelter is now open only one hour per day.
We have written to the city asking them to reconsider their decision (copy of letter attached) and we urgently request your help in supporting the reinstatement of the BC SPCA as the organization responsible for pound services in Campbell River. Please email or call Mayor Walter Jakeway and members of council at mayor.jakeway@campbellriver.ca or 250-286-5700 to express your views.
We deeply appreciate the concern that has been expressed by our loyal supporters and volunteers in Campbell River and to all those who attended the recent public rally to support the SPCA. We remain committed to the community and to the animals we serve.
In addition to asking Mayor and Council to reconsider their decision, we are currently working on auxiliary staffing to respond to complaints of animal abuse and neglect in Campbell River and we are exploring options on how we can continue to serve the community in areas such as humane education, low-cost spay/neuter support, advocacy, and fostering and transferring animals to other SPCA shelters.
Your partnership and continued support is essential to us as we move forward to explore how we can best serve the animals of Campbell River. We will keep you updated on any future plans as they develop and hope that you will continue to work with us to provide the best possible future for the animals in your community. Once we have received a response from Mayor and Council regarding their decision and willingness to work with the SPCA, we plan to hold a public meeting in early May to discuss our future plans and to seek input from the community. We will announce the date of this public meeting shortly.
Thank you again for your generous support and for your commitment to the animals,
Craig Daniell,
Chief Executive Officer, BC SPCA
Copy of letter to Campbell River Mayor and Council
April 4, 2013
Mayor Walter Jakeway and Council
City of Campbell River
301 St. Ann’s Road
Campbell River
V9W 4C7
Dear Mayor Jakeway and members of Council
Re: Loss of Animal Control Contract
I am writing to Mayor and Council with a request that it formally reconsider its decision to award the animal impound contract to Coastal Animal Services.
Like hundreds of residents of the City of Campbell River, the BC SPCA was surprised and disappointed to learn that the animal pound will only be open to the public for one hour per day and that the pound keeper will no longer be accepting stray and surrendered cats and small animals, despite the existence of a City Bylaw that mandates such services.
Furthermore, it is our belief that the terms and conditions that appear to have been given to Coastal Animal Services differs markedly from those offered to the BC SPCA, to the point where the two offers cannot even be objectively compared. In fact, it would be our position that Coastal’s offer on a per hour basis is significantly higher than that of the BC SPCA. It was this very real concern that motivated me to write you on February 27th 2013, recommending that you undertake an RFP for the operation of the pound services.
The BC SPCA is of the opinion that it is not too late for Council to re-examine its original decision. It is apparent that our position is shared by an overwhelming majority of residents of the City of Campbell River.
For the record, we are committed to a presence and a long term solution to animal services in Campbell River and are willing to work with the City to achieve this end. We renew our offer to provide full animal sheltering services for the City as per our original offer of $95,000 per annum, an amount which I may add would be approximately one quarter of the nearly $400,000 per annum it cost the BC SPCA to operate the Campbell River shelter.
I am available to discuss the matter further either telephonically or in person with Mayor Jakeway and can be contacted at (604) 647-1322.
Sincerely,
Craig Daniell
Chief Executive Officer
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