A petition backed by thousands of people is calling on the District of West Vancouver to extend daily staffing hours at the West Van SPCA after an activist raised concerns about a senior dog left alone for long periods.
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A petition calling on the District of West Vancouver to extend staffing hours at the West Van SPCA has attracted thousands of signatures after an activist described a senior dog being left alone overnight for weeks.
Kelly Bunting, who said she used to volunteer walking Clyde, a caucasian shepherd, told the story of finding out the staff at the municipality “clock out at 5 p.m.” She said Clyde was left alone for about 15 hours a day, with “not a soul there, not even another dog,” and that he “wasn’t going to the washroom,” describing loneliness and physical discomfort until he could be taken out during the day.
Bunting said she worries animals left too long alone can become depressed and develop behavioural problems that can reduce their chances of being adopted. She also said that under the current staffing hours, there is no one on site to help if an emergency happens at night.
The West Vancouver SPCA operates under a contract with the municipality to provide animal control sheltering services. Bunting’s petition asks that the district require the SPCA to keep a staff person on site for at least 12 hours per day, and she said the petition had reached 2,700 people.
She also said she has lobbied individual candidates during municipal election campaigns, noting that most were upset to learn about the SPCA’s closing hours and that two of those who were elected promised to address the concern. Bunting said she plans to be at the first full council meeting to present the petition.
BC SPCA spokesperson Kaila Wolf acknowledged the petition and said animal well-being is the organization’s highest priority. She said the care standards in its centres are developed with the BC SPCA’s animal behaviour and shelter medicine teams and that they meet and often exceed recommendations from the Association of Shelter Veterinarians.
Wolf said the organization avoids using donor funds to pay for services that are supposed to be under contract with a municipality. She said staffing hours could be updated, but would need to be reflected in the district’s budget and would be part of negotiations.
She also said keeping animals in a shelter is never ideal and that the non-profit works to get dogs fostered in volunteer homes, adding that fostering is not always an option. Wolf said the BC SPCA is increasing and improving and “constantly recruiting” foster volunteers.
In a statement, District of West Vancouver spokesperson Natalie Roizman said the municipal contract with the SPCA is due for renewal and that the new council will have the opportunity to review the agreement. She said the district’s priority is ensuring animal shelter services meet community needs and provide safe and humane care.
After spending seven weeks in the shelter, Clyde found a forever home in September.
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