Rocky View County recently entered into a new two-year agreement with the Cochrane Humane Society.
The county has had an agreement with the society since 2002 but this newly amended agreement provides more services for county animals, explained Lorraine Wesley-Riley, acting general manager of community services for the county, during a council meeting, Jan. 29.
The changes included guaranteeing space for county dogs and extended hours for bylaw officers to drop off dogs seven days a week, she said.
The society services Cochrane, Bragg Creek, Cremona and Airdrie and takes in animals including primarily cats and dogs, but also birds, rabbits and smaller pets.
“There has been a problem with getting access,” said RVC deputy reeve Paul McLean, who recounted a situation where a dog was found abandoned in a vehicle but the person who found the dog wasn’t able to get a hold of anyone at the county or the humane society.
“Will this solve that? Can residents contact the peace officer and drop off an animal?” he asked.
Wesley-Riley said an officer can bring animals to the shelter on Tuesdays to Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays and Mondays from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and again 4-6:30 p.m.
She said if an animal is discovered outside of these hours, there is a 24-hour veterinary clinic in Cochrane officers are able to bring the animal to in the interim hours.
The county will pay $75 for each animal delivered to the society that is reclaimed by its owner and $500 for each animal that isn’t reclaimed.
Cheryl Wallach, communications and media relations for the society, said the $500 surrender-fee cost is based on a new cost-recovery model the society is now using.
It covers a medical examination and vaccination, behaviour assessment, pet food and supplies and animal care and adoption staff.
It is based on an average stay of 51 days for a dog in the shelter.
In the past, all costs associated with caring for the animal were covered by the society.
“I think it’s outstanding that (the county) will be helping out,” said Wallach when contacted after the council meeting.
Once a month, the society will bill the county.
During the meeting, RVC councillor Lois Habberfield wanted to know how much this service cost last year.
Wesley-Riley said the county was actually returned $55 last year because the society collects the $150 at-large fee on behalf of Rocky View.
She estimates costs with the new fees to be around $8,000 but said it’s dependent on how many county animals are brought in.
A report prepared for the public services meeting in December 2012, stated RVC animals that come to the society have a 63 per cent return to animal return to owner rate.
The society started in 1998 and is sustained primarily by 200 volunteers and 18 staff. The shelter takes in approximately 1,100 animals a year.
Since opening its new facility in 2007, the society hasn’t had to euthanize an animal due to lack of space. For more information about the society, visit cochranehumane.ca.
