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New digs for distressed dogs

and cats and horses and cattle
and sheep and bears and —

Frank Bowsher: Time to start thinking about the next 25 years. -

Skeena steelhead run steady
but still below average

The time of year at which sum-
mer run steelhead are usually
expected to reach their peak num-
bers in the Skeena River has
passed, but the Ministry of En-
vironment Fish and Wildlife
Branch reports that numbers have
not improved substantially over the
count from previous weeks.

During the weck beginning Aug.
13, 3,051 fish were counted going

past the Tyce test fishery and the
commercial fishing fleet reported
an incidental catch of 664
steelhead in their pink salmon
fishery. The total run for the sea-
son lo the beginning of last week
is now calculaicd at 21,769 fish.
There had been 18 days of com-
mercial fishing during the summer
up to Aug. 20.

Fish and wildlife officials believe

the current strict sport fishing
regulations on the taking of
steclhead will remain in place. A
statement Aug. 20 described the
in-river Native fishery of steelhead

as "substantial", particularly at the

Moricetown Falls on the Bulkley
River. Only a large increase in
returns over the next two weeks
will allow relaxing of sport catch
restrictions, the branch says.

by Betty Barton

The Terrace Animal Shelter has

received approval in principle from
the City of Terrace to research the
possibility of a new animal shelter
for Terrace. Animal Control
Officer Frank Bowsher says the
present Shelter has served the
community well for the past 25
years, but we have to start thinking
about the next 25 years.
_ The whole province is taking a
Closer look at animal control, says
Bowsher. There is $30,000 desig-
nated from the 1990 City budget
to determine a location and prepare
the land for a new shelter to be
constructed, possibly in 1991 or
1992.

Frank Bowsher feels the cost of
putting up a new shelter would be
comparable to or less than the cost
of maintaining and expanding the
present Animal Shelter on Haug-
land Avenue. He also feels the
present location would not be an
ideal place for a new shelter
because it is already a residential
area and the city-owned property
could probably be put to better
use, pethaps for some sort of hous-
ing project. Animal shelter staff
are now investigating the viability
of using city-owned property in
other parts of Terrace to reduce the
total cost of a new shelter.

He says, "As a rural city, we
have larger animals — horses,
goats, sheep and cattle — to worry
about, as well." Bowsher is pre-
sently assisting the city to develop
bylaws for fencing of livestock. He
hopes that will alleviate some of
the problems and complaints.

But they need a shelter that can
deal with the larger animals.

Presently, the Terrace Animat
Shelter has 10 indoor and 10 out-
door runs, a compound, pens for

the cats, and three stalls for cattle,
horses and sheep. Injured wild
animals .and birds are another
consideration in building a new
animal shelter. Bowsher says more
and more often injured wildlife is
brought into the shelter. Because
they can’t be housed and cared for
here, the animals are sent to a
wildlife sanctuary in Surrey.
Kodie & Friends Humane
Society has evolved to protect both

domestic and wild animals. All -

operational expenses for this
organization are paid from dona-
tions given by what Bowsher terms
"a very supportive public". But
with a new facility, many of the
injured animals could be looked
after locally and kept in the north.
Bowsher says the ultimate goal of
the Terrace Animal Shelter is to
keep Terrace safe for people, to

homes when they are found unat-
tended, injured or their owners
have to give them up.

The Terrace Animal Shelter even
has a "customer wish book" in
which people can write down the
type of animal they’re looking for.
If such an animal comes in, the
Animal Shelter contacts them with
this information.

In a new shelter, Bowsher would
like to see 24 dog runs, a medical
room, small office space, a recep-
lion area and a separate area for
the cats. Also, with increased
space, they could board more
animals to help offset operating
costs.

Bowsher says everything is look-
ing positive so far. He’s optimistic
that they will soon find an appro-
priate piece of property on which
to start making plans for a new
Terrace Animal Shelter.

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