The District of Squamish will contract out the pound operations so that bylaw enforcement can focus on important areas, in particular camping and off-leash dogs.
The District recently put out RFP call for contractor to provide pound services related to dogs, chickens and other small animals, with the exception of cats, which the SPCA manages.
The successful proponent will also issue dog licences and collect the fees on behalf of the district, maintain records and provide relevant report to the district and operate the pound year round.
The District will continue to provide Animal Control services in-house.
DOS is proposing a three-year term for the contract, and said it would prefer the applicant was able to operate services in a facility that didn’t belong to the district.
The pound currently operates 365 days a year from a building in the public works operations yard on Government Road. Anywhere from 100 to 160 dogs are brought into the impound every year.
The facility, however, at the end of life and needs considerable investment.
Contracting out the services, DOS says, will free up capital to invest in other critical infrastructure projects and will permit the District to focus on bylaw enforcement and animal control in the community.
