The BC SPCA Quesnel community animal centre will no longer serve as the pound keeper for the City of Quesnel’s animal control services once existing kenneling service agreements end on December 31, 2025.
“Over the past few years, the BC SPCA Quesnel community animal centre has experienced a significant increase of animals coming into care through emergency response and cruelty investigations, which can be limiting for the centre’s capacity and also puts additional strain on our staff,” explains Ashley Fontaine-Ost, Regional Manager of Sheltering covering centres in the Cariboo and North Region. “As the only animal welfare organization authorized to enforce the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the difficult decision was made not to renew our kenneling contract with the City of Quesnel’s animal control services in order to maintain centre capacity to assist the most vulnerable animals coming into our care through these other means.”
Fontaine-Ost adds that the BC SPCA will support the City of Quesnel through the transition to a new animal control kenneling service provider, wherever possible. “Our priority is to ensure no animals are impacted by gaps in service provision during this change.”
Starting January 1, the BC SPCA Quesnel will no longer provide support for:
- Dog licensing
- Kennelling and reunifying stray animals
- Housing dangerous dogs
The BC SPCA will continue to provide the following services to City of Quesnel residents:
- Investigating concerns of abuse or cruelty to animals
- Accepting surrendered animals by appointment
- Animal adoptions and fostering
- Emergency outreach support for the community
- Community spay and neuter programs
- Pet food bank services
In addition to the other resources listed above, the BC SPCA’s Animal Helpline team is trained to help assess situations involving pets and wildlife. Anyone with questions or in need of guidance can call 1-855-622-7722.
For more information on purchasing dog licenses or the Animal, Bird and Insect Control and Licensing Bylaw, please visit the City of Quesnel’s website.