It is incongruous to witness plans being made in a perceived vacuum of ignorance, indifferent careless manner for our companion animal dogs and cats.
I have been an advocate for animals since 1995.
Problems and their causes are international in scope, some are being addressed reasonably well by such groups as Mercy for Animals (Farm Animals and Factory Farms notably) and the SPCA.
In B.C. many well-meaning advocates are trying to improve animals lives, but there seems to be a large wall dividing Metro and FVRD communities.
Collectively we have met many caring municipal councils who have responded but ongoing work still needs to be done in the valley.
I made proposals to four FVRD municipal councils to adopt some progressive cat spay and neuter, breeder permit and tattoo bylaws to no avail and total indifference by local media. Undaunted I persevere in my quest to convince councils of the need and solicit media support.
To this end, this retrograde action at Mission, out of sheer ignorance we would witness animal control moved from current municipality-owned animal shelter to be wrongly incorporated with decisions by Abbotsford and Chilliwack, to form a (regional) facility located in Chilliwack.
One glaring anomaly to house dogs in a shelter van (air conditioned) all day, until someone could transport from Mission to Chilliwack. This flies in the face of compassionate needs of dogs, from exercise, socialization, available potable cold water, food, toilet facilities, presumably being air-conditioned but we trust in winter the claim of heating would prevail, of a van running all day, using gas.
Mission council spent about $600,000 to purchase the existing pound facilities and erred by not developing an adjacent cat facility. Regardless now claim the building assessed could be sold for approx. $400,000 a loss of $ 200,000 presumably?
The complete project is so ill-advised and flawed, we are compelled to protest vehemently. I recommend council exercise some commonsense and judgment to create an environment conducive to adopting an animal relations strategy embracing dogs and cats in our Mission owned facility, adopting applicable bylaws and suggest animal welfare must trump some ill-advised notion of cost savings for inferior product joining the retrograde FVRD animal control program.
George Evens
Mission