WHEREAS there is an immediate concern regarding abused, abandoned and neglected animals, as well as public health and safety, in rural British Columbia communities; AND WHEREAS the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals BC SPCA is responsible, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, for taking custody of abandoned animals and taking any action necessary to relieve distressed or critically distressed animals; AND WHEREAS the BC SPCA has the authority to establish and operate public shelters for stray and seized animals; AND WHEREAS the BC SPCA has the authority under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to appoint an officer, employee, or any other person who has been appointed as a special provincial constable under the Police Act as an authorized agent under the Act; AND WHEREAS there is a lack of SPCA branches in rural BC communities resulting in public health and safety issues and a lack of animal welfare enforcement: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the Province for funding to support the BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals BCSPCA for the purpose establishing additional public shelters or appointing authorized agents for all rural communities to ensure public health, safety and welfare of animals.
Ministry of Agriculture Public health and safety and the welfare of animals are important to the Government of British Columbia. In addition, the 2011 amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act ensure even more protection for the animals of British Columbia. The resources available to the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals BCSPCA provide flexibility and tools needed to address public health, safety and welfare of animals. Careful application of the resources is needed to ensure that priority cases are addressed in all areas of the province. The BCSPCA operates in many communities in British Columbia and has the authority, under their legislation, to appoint persons to carry out the mandate. The Ministry of Agriculture is currently experiencing funding pressures from a number of different areas. As a result, the Ministry is not in a position to assist the BCSPCA with providing further financial assistance for a public shelter. The Ministry of Agriculture encourages all local governments to work with the BCSPCA to find workable solutions within the current resource envelope.