EDITORIAL – by Mary P Brooke, Editor, West Shore Voice News
Making room for animal rescue shelters
As first published in the November 17, 2017 issue of West Shore Voice News (pg2)
For years now, various animal rescue groups have been battling up against the mainstream system for an open door to provide their particular level of service to community, pet owners and pets. In particular, the Victoria Pet Food Bank & Feral Cat Rehabilitation Society (aka SAFARS) has in many ways created an awareness of gaps and barriers within the domestic animal management system.
A lot of this has to do with the usual social, legal and affordability issues, such as where people can have pets (and how many), licencing of pets, and requirements for the amount of land to have an animal shelter, and simply the costs involved in owning and caring for a cat, dog or other household pet. When people abandon pets (sad but true), that’s where the rescue shelters can help.
In addition to BC-SPCA and CRD Animal Control there is a niche for those hands-on animal supporters who will help people hold on to their pets (by providing pet food and other resources) and find their pets if they become lost. In a recent after-hours abandoned cat incident on the Sooke Region Museum grounds, the local SAFARS (eager and willing) would have likely been the summoned group if there were more recognized room in the system for smaller operators.
If BC Legislation can soon catch up to this need for domestic animal rescue and rehabilitation centres, it would really help some people who the NDP government hopes to target under their poverty reduction program.
One example of help from the SAFARS rescue group is their adoption service. Working entirely with volunteers and funds from donations and fundraising, all inclusive for $400 they provide spay/neuter services, two doses of vaccines, a microchip, deworming, and defleaing. This helps people who cannot afford the often more expensive services available directly from vets, pet stores, and agencies.
There is no room for monopoly in pet care management. As in business, a little competition helps fill the gaps.
~ MPB