The city will consider a Prince Albert SPCA program for subsidizing the cost of spaying 150 cats for low-income families.
The idea was first proposed by the SPCA in the summer, but was given to the city’s administration to draft into a workable plan.
City manager Robert Cotterill presented his report to the city’s executive committee Monday night.
In the report, Cotterill suggests that the city adopt the program. As well, he proposes that the SPCA become the sole issuer of pet licenses in the city and that revenue from that could go towards the program, which is expected to cost around $12,000.
As part of that, he says, the SPCA will implement a “Get out of pound free” program, where licensed pets can be retrieved from the pound for free.
“The ‘Get of out Pound Free’ program is a great incentive for the City, Bylaw Enforcement and Prince Albert SPCA to implement to reward responsible pet owners who license their pet, increase the pet licensing campaign and increase the number of animals redeemed from the pound,” said the report.
“Licensing compliance revenues will increase toward the long-term goal of offsetting animal services program costs.”
For Debbie Lehner, executive director of the SPCA, the program is necessary to control what the SPCA describes as a cat population crisis in the city.
“We can take in anywhere from 12 to 20 cats in a week,” said Lenher. “I think it’s something Prince Albert really needs and I think it’s going to address some of the cat crisis and overpopulation in the city.”
City council will consider the plan for the 2011 budget.
adesouza@panow.com
