B.C. SPCA Raises Animal Welfare Concerns as Dawson Creek Ends Animal Control Services

Emma MacLeod

7/28/20262 min read

The B.C. SPCA is raising concerns about animal welfare and public safety as the City of Dawson Creek prepares to end animal control services later this year.

In May, Dawson Creek city council voted to end its contract with the SPCA, saying the move would save taxpayers approximately $300,000.

The contract expires on Dec. 1 and the city says it will not be replaced.

Once the agreement ends, the South Peace SPCA will no longer conduct animal bylaw patrols, respond to reports involving aggressive dogs, handle animal noise complaints or remove dead domestic and wild animals.

It will also stop picking up stray pets or accepting stray animals brought in by residents unless the animals meet the organization's existing intake criteria, such as being seized during an animal protection investigation.

Concerns Ahead of Winter

The timing of the change has raised additional concerns because services will end at the beginning of December, when temperatures in northeastern B.C. can become extremely cold.

There are fears stray cats and dogs could be left outdoors without access to existing municipal animal control support.

Shoni Field, the B.C. SPCA's chief public engagement and advancement officer, said the organization intends to continue assisting animals and residents where it can.

"We remain committed to supporting animals and humans to the best of our ability," Field said.

"But as a donor-funded charity, we serve the whole province, and we can't fill the gap that will be left when the city steps away from that partnership."

City Contract Accounts for Significant Funding

Field said Dawson Creek's contract represents approximately 37 per cent of the South Peace SPCA's annual budget.

Local donations account for about 12 per cent, while the rest of the shelter's funding comes from donations originating outside the community.

In a letter, the B.C. SPCA said it could not simply redirect additional charitable funding to cover the loss of the city's contribution.

"We are not in a position to increase that subsidy as it would harm our operations in other communities across the province," the letter reads.

Mayor Darcy Dober previously told Peazzi that ending the contract was a difficult decision but was considered necessary as the municipality faces increasing financial pressures.

"We're facing operational pressure all the time with our budget. So we're always looking at ways that we can save," Dober said earlier this year.

SPCA Urges City to Consider Alternatives

Other B.C. municipalities, including Prince George and Port Alberni, have previously ended contracts with the SPCA but subsequently entered into agreements with alternative service providers.

The B.C. SPCA has urged Dawson Creek to consider other options before the existing contract expires.

Suggestions included establishing an in-house animal control service, reducing operations to core services or hiring a private, for-profit contractor.

However, the city says those options have already been considered and rejected.

In a statement posted to its website, the municipality said it will neither establish an in-house service nor hire another contractor.

"Council also reviewed alternative service delivery options, including bringing services in-house," the city said.

"However, these options were not determined to be financially or operationally viable."

Dog licences will also no longer be issued or required once the city's animal control services end.

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