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Animal advocates are urging Aurora to rethink its telaoonship MdttheOnmloSocietybrther vendon ofmaeltytoltnhnals. Councillors have head this mnmfromtwoanlmaltiansorga- n'nations (rummaging the town to evaluate all of its options before awarding another animal control contncttotheOSPCA ' Only 10 per cent of wild animals picked up by the OSPCA are trans- ferred to appropriate and nearly all othem are euthanized. Ms Karvonen said. ' What's more. a large volume of calls about sick. injured and orphaned wild animals am being Referred to the Toronto Wildlife Centre by the OSPGK. even though the centre doesn’t receive financial compensation as a result. she Said. Animal Alliance Environment Water: Party of Canada leader U1 Whhewascritical odeeOSPCA's track mead and chimed to the Mmofamusiaglnongcats mdwildadmlbatmeshelter. Ofallofthecampuldmmlast year. 22 per cent wen: killed due to timeland space mums. she “With regard to dogs. can and small domestics. my purpose in presenting this report to the com- mittee is not to lay blame. but to seek a Resolution to the euthanasia problem,” Ms White said. ( “Most testdents of Aurora would comlder killing as an unacceptable wayofdeallngwithlost. abandoned and unwanted pets.” Council members also heard from Nathalie Karvonen. the Town to W'tldlik Centre's executive dime- tor. Ms Kamnen also took issue [meted for animal control services. isn‘t in the businessof mhabilitating The organimtion does have a singe wildlife facility in Midland. she continued, but it's only open a few months of the year; Animaladvocates urge Aurora to rethink OSPCA deal WHITCHURCH-STDUFFVILLE SHELTER EXPECTS T0 RESUME OPERATIONS IN MATTER OF WEEKS IV SEAN PEARCE speantOyrmg‘wm The town should examine the OSPCA'S suitability to handle wfldo‘ life issues. she added. “Aurora has. beautiful green spaces and diverse wildlife species. which are highly valued by its dents.” she said. “When wild animals are in need of help or when aresidcm hasques- tions 0: concerns aboutwildlife. the townmedsaspedalizedlesmnse mplaoetoprovidemebestsewice The tmm extended its animal control services contract with the foroneyearback in Deoem. her. Undermctcnnsofthc $191.!!!) agreement. the continues to provide daily patrols toyick up stray dog and cats and responds to animal-related complaints from tesidenm The deal also includes bylaw enforcement on weekends and evenings and monthly reports on ProtestsoontimmdhstsmmmnftamimnkaflthSPCA'sMerin WWmnnhmindinmmanmtoconuolaring- mouthmkIheshdmupectstom-openinthecomhgweeb. me contract extension came despite the dosme of. the shake: at the OSPCA's York Region branch. on Woodrme Avenue in nonhem Wtdmxdt-Wdtmbnnout- break of ringworm last yew, which resulted in 102 euthanmeth ' the report in question mntnined inaccurate information. as It did nu! identify Aurora’s Kennel Inn as a possibility. ~- Despitemeaccidemal it wouldn’t have dungad the rec- ommendation in the report. she Accmding to a stat! upon. the town investigated other potential service providers. but found the OSPCA was the only one in dose proximity capable of meeting its A subsequent memo from build- ing and bylaw services director Techa van mum acknmledged animal control activities and she]. ter services. SUN-me Ht! M070 While some numbers indicate justonecatoutof30takeninfium Aurora last year was put down. the ZZ-perwent overall figure present- edbyMsMfiteistypical fut many "ll isatedisflc statistic.” MsCxoss said. "We don't accept that num- Town 3116 has been dhected to («plate othet possible options for animal control services. Ms van [woven said. adding the hope is to have a nepon in from of council by lune. That way. can con- sider its options well in advance of the OSPCA conuact's December expirnfimdatc. ‘ ’ For example. shelter Doors are being replaced because the old tiles had exacts, Ms Cross said. Those crevices can hubour disease and allow“ to moocurcwn after fection. she said “We've also introduced new pol- icies and have had to train our staff on them.” Ms (lmss said. “That all said, as shelter managers indicated meyputthefapflityupfoysale._ “Mother or not the town pan- ners-wim other on animal control. puts out a request for Proposals or develops another in-house option will be up to coun- Cil. M5 Van [neuwen said. Fm now. however. the town has full confidence in the OSPCA’s ties to fulfill its contractual obliga~ ,tions, she said. adding the shelter should be soon with a new 'set of policies and protocols aftet the ringworm outbreak “They had a diflicult year. but they have responded wsponsibiy and acomdingty to the Ewe“ As to: statistics pmvided by Ms White and Ms Kamnen. Ms Cross doesn‘t dispute them man'snofinndateastowmn the sheitet will me-open. OSPCA spokmpcrson Alison Cross said. butaddeditslnuldbcamncrof weeks The bdlity has undagonc renovations in the aftermath of last year's outme she said. Beyond having your pets spayed or neutered. you can also help by ensuring your dogs and cats a’rv licensed andmicrochippvd as lhal makes it an easy task for sht‘llt'm to track down an animal's rightâ€" ful owner. Ms Cross said. adding, municipalities also need to ensure bths requiring the licensing of domesfic animals am enfnrced. 0f the three remaining animals. two were euthanized for quality of life masons. while the third was put down due to its temperament. To put that in perspective, of the 22 dog taken in by the 0mm last year. 18 were claimed by an owner and one other was adopted. It's estimated a unfixcd. female cat can produce upwards of 420 kittens over the coursexof its hfetim. she said. adding the society also has a program to trap. fix and release feral axis to combat as the overpopuJaUUn problem always tends to be of the feline Of the [cumming 29 cats picked upinAumm. 10were dead on arriv~ -. al or within 24 hours of reaching the shelter. elglt were picked up by their miners. seven wem housed. three were adopted and one was 3 sent to a rescue/rehabilitation a amp» 5 The ()SPCA is wanking In rrducc the number of cats destmyed in a few ways. Ms Crass said. one of which is to ofl'er krwer c: m spay and neutering clinics at its facilities in BarrieandWhitdmmh-Stoufi'vifle. It seems many more dogs are licensed than cats. M: Cross said. her. Mr, and we're constantly working to reduce that number ii} the hapé ofeliminaung il." They had a difficult yea r, but they have responded responsibly and accordingly to the issue.’