Port Alberni & the BC SPCA: Help us continue our Successful Pet Overpopulation Strategy
The BC SPCA • The BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a not for profit charity dedicated to the protection and care of animals. • We are the largest animal welfare organization of its kind in North America. • The BC SPCA operates 37 branches across BC and provided direct care to nearly 40 000 domestic, farm and wild animals in need last year.
Our Mission and Vision MISSION: To Protect and Enhance the Quality of Life for Domestic, Farm and Wild Animals in BC VISION: To inspire and mobilize society to create a world in which all animals enjoy as a minimum, five essential freedoms: 1. Freedom from hunger and thirst 2. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease 3. Freedom from distress 4. Freedom from discomfort 5. Freedom to express behaviours that promote well-being
The BC SPCA and The City of Port Alberni The Alberni Branch of the BC SPCA provides an Animal Control Contract to the City of Port Alberni. •Our animal control services include: – Providing an animal control Officer – Providing a vehicle – Trained staff to care for the impounded animals –A facility to house the Animals –Knowledgeable reception staff to log complaints and assist the public with city bylaws and animal control issues –License sales –Control of Dangerous Dogs
BC SPCA and Port Alberni The Alberni branch of the BC SPCA has been in operation since 1960. In 2015: • We admitted 634 animals from the Port Alberni region • Of those 332 were cats and kittens • Compared with 254 dogs and puppies taken in during the same time- there are more cats being surrendered and abandoned than dogs. • 61 dogs and puppies and 154 cats and kittens were transferred to other branches for re-homing.
Many more animals saw help through our assistance programs. • Our Animeals Program which provides free pet food to guardians in need. • Spay/Neuter Assistant Programs for low cost spay and neuter to 334 cats and dogs. • Cat Vaccine Clinic which saw 39 cats receive their annual vaccine and flea control at a significantly reduced cost. • Dog Vaccine Clinic which saw 52 dogs receive their annual vaccine and flea control at a significantly reduced cost, which has greatly reduced the incidence of parvovirus in the Alberni Valley.
Spay & Neuter Programs Saves Lives Every year in Port Alberni and other B.C. communities thousands of animals suffer from abandonment and disease due to lack of care. With support from governments, foundations and donors, The BC SPCA combats this problem by caring for nearly 40,000 abandoned or surrendered animals every year.
Pet Overpopulation: Community Concerns Unsterilized animals cause community problems • Unsterilized animals breed, producing unwanted litters, creating pet over population • Disease from animal waste can spread to children & other animals • Increased incidents of dog bites and dangerous dog interactions • Predation of birds and other native wildlife • Public nuisance & noise issues • Poor animal welfare – animals die needlessly
Pet Overpopulation: A Preventable Problem However, with your help we can continue to : 1. Increase public health & safety 2. Save animal lives By continuing to provide an affordable and accessible spay/neuter program for the community of Port Alberni.
Barriers to Spay/Neuter Success Affordability Accessibility Attitude Low-income residents are HALF as likely to spay or neuter their animals.
Port Alberni Spay/ Neuter Project: A Community Spay/Neuter Story When low-income pet guardians have access to assistance for spay/neuter, they are eager to do the right thing. Combining low-cost spay/neuter assistance with public awareness about spay/neuter are the most successful in reducing pet overpopulation. Port Alberni is one of these success stories- help us continue the good work!
Port Alberni Spay Neuter Project Pre-Project Situation in Port Alberni • In 2012, the city of Port Alberni was experiencing a serious cat overpopulation problem. •Limited access to affordable cat spay/neuter services for low income residents. •Intact kittens and cats left to reproduce, with some producing multiple litters per year. As a result, community members surrendered unwanted kittens to the shelter, further stressing the branch’s capacity to provide quality services.
Port Alberni Spay & Neuter Program Program Overview: • The BC SPCA Alberni-Clayoquot Branch received $110,920 from PetSmart Charities of Canada to sterilize 800 owned cats within the city limits of Port Alberni from 2013-2015. •Local veterinary partners offered discounted surgery rates. •Residents schedule the surgery appointment and received a spay/neuter voucher from the local branch. •All voucher recipients were asked to pay a $30 fee which was added back into the fund enabling us to help even more people.
Port Alberni Spay & Neuter Program Success we’ve seen: • The project is responsible for a dramatic decline in the number of homeless and abandoned kittens in Port Alberni. •47% decline in kitten intake between 2014 – 2015 •40% decline in owner surrendered kittens between 2014 – 2015 •12% decline in owner surrendered cats (expected to increase over time) •Only one pregnant cat entered the shelter during the 2015 kitten season •Prevention is the solution!
Spay & Neuter Saves Lives The Need • The Alberni Branch provided Animal Control Services to The City of Port Alberni in 2015 for We asking that you consider $147,539.52 A 2% increase to our Animal • In 2016 we are asking Council to consider a 2% increase to our Control Contract the Contract fees. The additional additional funds will be $2,950.79 will be added to our added to our Spay/Neuter Assistance Spay/Neuter Assistance fund Program.
Spay/Neuter Saves Lives Why Fund Spay/Neuter? • Save animal lives • Help low income Port Alberni residents • Less free roaming & feral animals • Less noise & nuisance complaints • Less disease transmission • Continue being a municipal leader in animal welfare!
Thank You CONTACT INFORMATION : Irene Towell Alberni-Clayoquot Branch Manager Email: itowell@spca.bc.ca Phone numbe r: (250) 723-5269 Questions?
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