CITY OF PORT COQUITLAM -— GENERAL KEMARKS

The performance of the animal control facility during the month of February
was most satisfactory.

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The number of complaints are progressively. being reduced and in addition,
the ratio of dogs being claimed to those impounded is progressively increasing. ‘

The report on the first year of operation of the Low Cost Spay and Neuter i
Clinic will be forwarded to the Municipality in a matter of the next few
weeks.

On the 15th of February 1977, there was a minor oil spill in the Burrard
Inlet in the area of the 1500 Block of Alderside Road. The cil spill was
soybean oil which had leaked from a railroad car into the Inlet, via the
storm sewers. A total of 17 birds were received in a contaminated condition | ; ,
regrettably, four of them died, however the balance were cleaned and washed
and released within 24 hours. This is a record in the North Americas for

the returning of wildlife after having been contaminated by oil. Regrettably,

in addition, the carcasses of a further 7 birds were found.

The shelter staff employed all the procedures as adopted by the B.C.S.P.C.A.
in respect to contaminated oil birds and worked additional hours in order
to save the lives of these birds.

Personally, as the Secretary-Manager of the Vancouver Regional Branch, I

am very proud of the staff of the Coquitlam Shelter in that they took great
pains to save the lives of many wildlife birds and I feel that possibly,
recognition by the Municipality at this time should not go unheeded.