The Prince George SPCA will continue to act as the city's animal pound. City council heard at their public meeting on Monday, that a contract had been agreed upon between the municipality and the animal welfare society. It continues a relationship that began in 1999.
The new contract was announced by councillor Murry Krause, chair of the Finance and Audit Committee. He explained that the proposed contract is for three years; retroactive from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012.
The proposed total contract price for the three years is $404,813.04, which is $33,911.45 more than the previous three-year contract. Krause outlined how some of that small increase would be offset.
"Dog license, dog impoundment and dog maintenance fees have been increased for the 2011 operating year," he said in his report to council. "The increase in the dog license fees should generate approximately $15,000 in additional revenue in 2011 to the City of Prince George. Dog impoundment fee increases could generate approximately $3,500 in additional direct revenue for the SPCA's pound operation."
Staff anticipated reporting back to council later in 2011 on further bylaw changes to the Animal Control Bylaw, including options on user fee increases.
Municipal staff also had a suggestion that this contract should be used for better future use in dealing with the SPCA as partners in carrying out the animal control requirements in the city.
"Staff suggest using the proposed contrac as a transition step towards a new contract standard with the BCSPCA," said Krause. "Staff could use the 2011 operating year to prove the viability of the user fee increases as an additional revenue source to the BCSPCA. This would then form the foundation on which to begin discussions for the contract renewal negotiations in 2012."
The provincial SPCA body is also trying to improve their viability for the future by applying to the provincial government for payment for animal cruelty investigations and prosecutions. As it stands now, SPCA fundraising pays for that in all cases across the province, as well as a lot of their everyday operations to care for and adopt out abandoned or mistreated animals.
