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Separate pound and shelter

Dear Editor

It’s time for a change at the
SPCA. In a recent letter to
the Editor (June 13th), Dr.
Earnshaw reminded us of the
days when private dog-
catchers were hired to im-
pound problem dogs. This
led to abuses, and the SPCA
was brought in to do a better
job. In addition to providing
shelter and selling dog
licences, the SPCA was also
given the authority to impose
and collect fines.

‘The system worked
reasonably well until about
five years ago. However, it is
no longer true, as suggested
by Dr. Earnshaw, that
revenues Offset costs. The an-
nual budget of the District of
North Vancouver shows that
since 1979, in the District
alone, the annual net cost to
the taxpayer has tripled. In
1979, the difference between
cost and revenue was about
$20,000. In 1983, this jumped
to over $60,000.

As costs of their operation
rose, the SPCA looked for
ways to increase revenue. Un-
fortunately, but predictable,
the SPCA chose ta make use
of their broad and indepen-
dent authority under By-law
3039. Under the guise of
‘‘responding to compliaints’’,
the SPCA have apparently
attempted to increase revenue
by intensifying their patrols
by vehicle. Like many others
in our area, we were a victim
of a recent ‘‘neighborhood
blitz’? by an SPCA patrol. In
a period of one month, a
single SPCA patrolman seiz-
ed 18 dogs and issued 12
tickets in a two-block
neighborhood.

Despite fewer complaints
by residents over the last
three years, the SPCA search
for ‘‘stray’’ dogs has increas-
ed. SPCA Yearly Service
Reports to the District show
that complaints about dogs
declined from 640 in 1980 to
430 in 1983. However, total

charges under the By-law,
dogs impounded, and tickets
issued increased from 825 in
1980 to 1,144 in 1983.

The SPCA will probably
claim that this surge of activi-
ty produced a drop in com-
plaints. But they will have
forgotten two: things. First,
By-law 3039 (Dog tax and
pound by-law) allows the
SPCA to respond to
legitimate complaints. It is
not the intent of the by-law to
allow the SPCA patrols to
roam at will searching for
any dog that might, for a few
moments, wander off his
owner's property.

Second, -and more in-
criminating, is the statement
of priorities contained in the
1983 SPCA Yearly Service
Report. The following is
taken directly from this
Report:

**The Shelter, in 1983, was -

given three priorities, which
were as follows;

Local committee needed for

Dear Editor:

Dr. Earnshaw hits the nail
in the head when he says that
what North Vancouver needs
is its own active branch of the
SPCA — not just an offshoot
of the Vancouver regional
branch. West . Vancouver,
operating under the umbrella
of the ‘‘parent body’’ (the

Fire truck took 15

Dear Editor

1 have noticed that there is
a large number of articles and -
photos in the NEWS concer-
ning the community ‘‘work”’
of the North Vancouver
District Fire Dep’t. Now I’m
sure this was a good idea just
at the time they were
threatening strike action
against the community tax-

on your
reading

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overall B.C. SPCA) has
always insisted on being a
separate branch. It has been
so for about fifty years and
during all that time has been
notable for the concern of its
members for animal welfare.
As long as there has been a
shelter the members have in-
sisted that it be well run even

payers for higher wages.
What I was glad to see,
however, was the goal of the
new Fire Chief Archie Steacy
to provide a high standard of
service to our community.
This appears to be very much
needed, as about one week
ago a car fire occurréd in the
parking tot at Queens and
Lonsdale and it took two
Phone calls and a wait of 15

when the money to do so was
very scarce.

Speaking from personal
experience | know that many
of us from West Van. have
tried for years to persuade
our North Van. animal lov-
ing friends to set up their own
branch of the BCSPCA and
to elect a committe interested

minutes

minutes for the fire truck to
arrive (according to those
making the calls.)

] certainly hope the new
Chief will be able to improve
on this aspect of the Depart-
ment, and wish him well in
his endeavors.

R. Gibbs
North Vancouver

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a) To achieve a higher
claim rate, which in turn
would increase revenue.

b) To increase revenue
from all possible areas,

c) To increase the issuance
of tickets’’.

It is abundantly clear that
the present combined
SPCA/Pound operation has
outlived its usefulness. In
operating the Pound as a
revenue-producing arm, the
SPCA has lost sight of its
original objective.

The time has come for the
establishment of an indepen-
dent shelter-oriented opera-
tion. The Pound itself should
be detached from the SPCA,
returned to a properly super-
vised department within the
District, and made directly
responsible to local tax-
payers, who now provide the
major source of financing.

A,.R. Casselman,
North Vancouver

NV SPCA

in the proper running of the
pound. This is not to criticise
Vancouver regional which
has a mammoth task to per-
form but just to insist that it
is vital for each area to have
its own on-the-spot
committee. :

N.H. Gillison (Mrs.)

West Vancouver

NOW!

September 6

Att Secretary

SURNAM

RESIDENT ADDRESS,

Cily

PHONE

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Village of tise Bay the

A7 - Wednesday, July 4, 1984 - North Shore News

Surely not blood money?

Dear Editor:
I do not agree with the
June 8th article by Walter

Block which recommends
paying blood donors and
charging patients for blood.
There are many activities
which benefit from the
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but I don’t think that the

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Make your CHOICE heard.

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North Vancouver

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