Town, PARS meet to settle differences

Alicia Boisson
South Peace News

A meeting between Prairie Animal Rescue Society, (PARS), town manager Larry Baran, constables Mark Morrical and Alan Bloom and Public Works employee Brian Martinson, was successful in clearing up past confusion. Last week, PARS approached council regarding the protocol for the handling of stray dogs in the community, stating they felt their contract was being breeched by one of the employees. Baran says the meeting held on Feb 21, was a good thing to have. “There was two things I wanted to accomplish,” says Baran. “The first being I wanted to read through the contract and ensure that everyone was on the same page and I think that was accomplished.” Baran adds part of the confusion about how strays were handled after the contract was signed between the town and PARS came from how the dogs were handled prior to the contract. “The public works staff had a lot more freedoms when it came to how they were handled,” says Baran. “So if (for example) someone came to the pound and said they wanted a dog they would just let them take them from the pound, because they didn’t have the time to handle them. I think that up to this last incident they believed the freedoms still existed.” Over the past while, dogs that were in the pound and weren’t forwarded to PARS were either given to families in the community, put down and in one incident a puppy was given to the local Pet Store. Under the Sea owner, Joanne Wilson, says this puppy was not sold for profit. “I just wanted to help this puppy find a good home, which it has,” adds Wilson adding te fears of PARS are answered. “The puppy will be vaccinated and spayed.” Wilson continues by saying this was a rare incident where she helped the town to find good homes for puppies, and that she never carries stray dogs for sale. Constable Bloom says since he started he has tried to make it easier to handle the high volume of strays by extending the time in the pound. “Originally it was only three business days that we had to keep the dogs and now we keep them sometimes up to ten days, but we aren’t a shelter,” says Bloom. Bloom adds that dogs who are not considered adoptable are put down. “In many cases we try to take the dog to the vet but other times it is not safe for us or other staff to be handling them,” says Bloom adding they use other options for these cases. Baran says they have confirmed with the SPCA that their other option is viewed as humane. Bloom adds he hopes that the relationship between the town and PARS can continue. “We have a very good relationship with PARS, it is unfortunate that we had this misunderstanding but I think things will get better,” says Bloom adding the public needs to get educated about being pet owners. “First they need to make sure when they get a pet they want it and that the novelty won’t wear off. Then they need to choose a pet that fits their lifestyle.” Manager of Roads and Facilities for Public Works Brian Martinson, says he doesn’t deny some of the actions he has taken regarding strays but adds they weren’t made maliciously. “Any of the dogs that I have had to put down showed signs of aggression,” says Martinson adding the border collie pups in question were a good example. “It was determined by both Const. Bloom and I that they were dangerous.” PARS president Terra MacLean says she hopes the changes to the current protocols will help to alleviate any other forms of confusion in the future. “I think the meeting went well, and I hope for future there is more communication between us,” adds MacLean saying that more specifics were discussed regarding breed types and what should be classified as aggressive. “If the dog is jumping at the chain link at the constables I by no means want it, because it won’t make a family pet. But if they are being aggressive because they are cornered or scared they can potentially still be adopted out.” The town will be reviewing and making changes to the current stray handling policy and will be working with PARS to do so.

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