The BC SPCA in Parksville Qualicum Beach cared for 256 animals and adopted out 208 furry companions in 2023.
Parksville council received a contract report that updated the city on the BC SPCA's pound-keeping services on behalf of the municipality, as well as information about its operations overall in the PQB area.
The BC SPCA received 45 animals (23 cats, 21 dogs and one turtle) through its contract with the City of Parksville in 2023, according to a Nov. 4 presentation by Corrie Bownick, who manages municipal contracts for the BC SPCA.
Of those, nine cats and 18 dogs were returned to their owners, Bownick said. Information on the turtle's outcome was not available at the time of the presentation.
“We do see many more dogs redeemed than cats,” she added. “Canada on average, it’s about a 15 to 20 per cent redemption rate for cats and this is almost 50 per cent, so quite good for cats.”
Animals not claimed by owners after a 72-hour stray hold are transferred into BC SPCA custody for ongoing care, behavioural assessment and adoption.
Bownick said she understands that not all owners want to put a harness on their outdoor cats and many people let them roam freely.
“Unfortunately they can wander quite far and the owners aren’t able to find them and they don’t think to call us,” she added.
The BC SPCA operates a fully-equipped animal shelter for the Parksville contract, Bownick said in her report to council. It receives, impounds and holds animals to be claimed by their owners. The organization also accepts animals surrendered by Parksville residents and facilitates animal adoptions, provides access to spay and neuter services and sells dog licenses.
“We do take in quite a few animals through other sources than just the City of Parksville," she said. "We had 208 adoptions and we also offered 68 nights of emergency boarding."
The BC SPCA has an emergency boarding program for when people experience a situation such as a temporary loss in housing or a trip to the hospital.
The BC SPCA is a registered charity primarily funded by donors and receives no ongoing provincial or federal funding, Bownick said.
Other services it provides include animal protection investigations and a pet food bank, which also includes supplies like leashes.
