After the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals decided to stop doing animal control last year the City of Parksville took over over.
City Bylaw Compliance Officer Aaron Dawson said they looked into hiring a contractor to take over the job, but based on the low number of calls they get, decided to do it themselves.
The city will absorb the job into their two existing bylaw enforcement positions. The bylaw officers have been trained and will act as the animal control, kenneling animals at the SPCA in Errington.
The bylaw department first needs a vehicle more suitable to transporting animals than their current Smart Car and they need to finalize the contract with the SPCA.
Dawson pointed out they get a lot more calls about stray animals than the animals they actually get. People report seeing what looks like a stray somewhere but when they go and look they can’t find it.
He said they hope to be fully up and running soon and until then people can still call the city and together, “one way or another we will find a solution,” adding they have been successful so far.
For bylaw issues and inquiries call 250-954-4672.