Wi 5 So eee re READY TO GO: The pump and motor from the Frank St. well have under- gone careful scrutiny by city officials since being pulled from the well two weeks ago. Extracting the equipment was a challenge in itself because the pump and motor had separated from a column housing and were left be- hind at the bottom of the well. City mechanic Art Bourassa custom-designed the smaller extractor device at right to hook onto the pump’s fins and re- trieve it and the motor. The motor is expected to be shipped either to Cal- gary or Vancouver for work. JEFF NAGEL PHOTO The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - BI Wednesday, April. 30,2003 sanctuary ‘Community - for unwanted animals Perceived ‘no kil? policy makes Kitimat shelter a pet magnet By JENNIFER LANG KITIMAT'S SPCA is being used as a dumping ground for unwanted pets from places like Terrace and Hazel- ton, says regional district vice-chair Joanne Monaghan. Last year, the BC-SPCA intre- duced what’s been called a “no-kill” policy for its shelters, including the one in Kitimat, Since then, Monaghan says, pet owners from as far away as Terrace, the Hazeltons, Smithers, Houston, and Burns Lake have been bringing their animals to Kitimat’s SPCA in the hopes that. they'll have a better chance of finding homes than at local animal shelters. Not true. A new report compiled by the Kitimat $tikine regional dis- trict shows more than 500 animals (400 cats and 100 dogs) were eutha- nized at the Kitimat SPCA last year — 136 at the owners’ request. As many as 90 per cent of the animals brought into Kitimat's SPCA are from out of town, the re- port found. “T think the word is getting out, that’s as simple as I can say it,” said Monaghan, who’s also a Kitimat councillor, “If they have to get rid of their pet, they bring it down to Kiti- mat because they know it will never be euthanized.” The Kitimat-Stikine board has agreed to look at turning the Thorn- hill Animal Shelter inte ‘an SPCA- tun facility ~ an option that’s now being investigated by administration. Monaghan, who’s adopted three pet cats from her SPCA over the years, says the Kitimat facility re- cently held more than 100 cats at one time. “Just to keep the litter boxes clean is a nightmare.” The RDKS board plans to meet with the regional man- ager of the BC- SPCA in April or May to find out more. , It could be: Joanne Monaghan ‘that the SPCA could run a pound or provide other services in the regional district. The report says the SPCA’s pri- mary mandate is to investigate re- ports of cruelty ta animals, but it also operates shelters and even pro- vides bylaw enforcement in some communities in B.C., including Kiti- mat. ; Now Open Until 11 p.m. 4620 Lakelse Ave., Terrace 638-8141 seabies : Thursday May 1". 9:00 am - 6:00 pm. 2 Friday May 2" - 9:00 am - 9:00pm - Saturday May 3"-9:00 am - 6:00 pm TUESDAY 2 For One Spaghetti No Meatballs It’s also looking at potential part- nerships with municipalities that don’t presently have SPCAs. Contrary to public perception, the new “no kill” policy is more accura- iely called a maximum adoption po- licy. SPCAs euthanize dogs suffering from severe kennel stress or are otherwise unfit for adoption because of behaviour or health problems. Approximately 35 per cent of the animals brought into the SPCA in Prince Rupert last vear were eventu- ally euthanized, the report continues. There, the city still provides its own animal control services while the SPCA operates the pound. Prince Rupert pays the SPCA $44,000 a year, with the provincial body and donations subsidizing the rest of the $211,000 in annual opera- ting costs. The Thornhill Animal Shelter, which also performs bylaw. enforce- ment, operates at about $120,000 a year. The. shelter euthanized 80 dogs and 178 cats last year. The Kitimat SPCA performs both animal control and pound services, costing the district $90,350 a year, with the BC-SPCA topping that up if needed, Last year’s operating costs exceeded $130,000. FRIDAY Appy Special | buy one - get half off. e second Cala ‘aie! he 6!