By Sarah Stone

Local SPCA concerned as Sask. organization drops enforcement

Jan 8, 2015 | 5:23 AM

With the recent announcement that the Saskatchewan SPCA will not renew its investigative services contract with the province come March, the Prince Albert SPCA is concerned.

“The first we heard about it is when we read it in the news,” said Leanne Roberts with the Prince Albert SPCA.

So far, they haven’t received any instructions as to who to direct calls to when they receive complaints of abuse, she explained.

“We get phone calls all of the time for abuse or neglect for farm animals or companion animals, which are outside of our jurisdiction,” Roberts said, explaining they can only attend calls within 30 kilometres of the city.

Frances Wach, executive director of the Saskatchewan SPCA, said they are working with the province to conduct a smooth transition.

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The board of directors made the decision to step away from enforcement after lengthy discussions in November, she said.

“After an extensive discussion the board felt, for two reasons that as a charitable organization the Saskatchewan SPCA is not the appropriate body to be responsible for the enforcement of legislations and that we can better serve animals in the public by focusing on education in the prevention of animal cruelty,” Wach said.

According to the Saskatchewan SPCA’s 2013 annual general meeting notes, its Investigative Services Program continued to be very busy. It received 735 complaints in 2013 -2014, which was up by 10 per cent over the previous fiscal year when it received 671 complaints.

Six staff members will be affected by the decision to end the contract.  However, according to Wach, they have made the recommendation to the province that their investigative services staff be a part of whatever new arrangements are being made to enforce the Animal Protection Act.

“Our animal protection officers cover the Province of Saskatchewan, other than in the communities of Moose Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert, who have their own animal protection officers,” she said.

For those cases that will still be open at the time the contract ends, she “would assume that some of the cases will transfer over to the new service provider.”

As for what the future looks like for the provincial SPCA, Wach said they will be working staff to develop details of a new program.  Some of the priorities outlined in this surround the human education program, resources for animal and human victims of interpersonal violence and crisis funding for livestock producers.

“We’re looking forward to working on innovate and, you know, educational programs.”

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84