City's animal care, including Edmonton's zoo, should face audit: Coun. Rutherford

Story by Lauren Boothby • Yesterday 

Three puppies and their mother were siezed last year after a complaint was filed that the dogs had inadequate shelter from the cold.© Provided by Edmonton Journal

As Edmonton’s independent auditor plans for next year, one councillor wants to see more scrutiny of how the city cares for animals, including at the municipally-funded Edmonton Valley Zoo .

How waste collection, Blatchford redevelopment, green energy transit vehicles, capital projects, and external civic agencies are performing are already part of the external auditor’s plans for review next year. Audits of the Valley Line LRT public-private model and information technology are also underway.

But during Tuesday’s audit committee meeting, Ward Anirniq Coun. Erin Rutherford said animal care should be added to the list, particularly because a funding request in the operating budget suggests the city may not be meeting its legal requirements.

“We need to be making sure they’re getting the best care possible in any context, whether it’s animal care and control, or whether it’s at the (Edmonton) Valley Zoo,” she told Postmedia after the meeting.

“It’s important for us to be the voice of our most vulnerable and, for me, animals that can’t speak are our most vulnerable. And when they’re in our care, somebody needs to advocate for them, and I feel passionate about being that voice.”

A funding request for animal welfare — hiring peace officers and animal care personnel, and providing grant funding for animal welfare — is in the draft 2023-2026 operating budget, but so far it’s unfunded.

A third-party assessment of the city’s capacity to care for animals would also be part of that work.

However, the funding request says approving this would “ensure adequate animal welfare and care for all species of animals in custody as required by legislation under the Animal Protection Act.” One result to come from the funding would be “organizational capacity to meet legislated standards for animal care and welfare,” it states.

Rutherford said she’s concerned this package isn’t funded in the draft budgets despite some language she interprets to mean that an independent assessment of whether or not standards are being met could be needed.

She plans to request this package be approved during this month’s budget debates. For 2023, the funding request is $3.3 million with 28 full-time equivalent staff.

The Edmonton Valley Zoo is asking for $10.9 million in the city’s four-year capital budget to upgrade and repair enclosures to meet requirements for animal care standards, and risks losing accreditation , closure, or having to send animals away if work isn’t completed.

Zoo spokeswoman Debi Winwood said in an email Tuesday they aren’t aware of an interest in an audit, but the zoo is accredited by Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) and adheres to very high animal care standards. “Our team is made up of dedicated animal care professionals who take care standards very seriously. With respect to an audit, we would await city council’s direction.”

Capacity for distress-free environment ‘inadequate’: city

Other councillors are also asking questions.

In written questions to city administration about the 2023-2026 budget, Ward Métis Coun. Ashley Salvador asked to what extent legal requirements for animal care aren’t being met. Ward Karhiio Coun. Keren Tang also asked why the service package is unfunded if it is required.

According to the city, the Animal Care and Control Centre (ACCC) was built to shelter stray and lost dogs and cats in 2010 for short-term stays, but after they began enforcing the Animal Protection Act (APA) in 2019, the volume and species of animals being sent there has changed “dramatically.”

“The facility design, staffing, capacity and equipment are insufficient to deal with the diversity of species, their varied medical and environmental needs, the volume of animals, and the length of stay required in the APA investigations,” the city said.

“The City of Edmonton continues to incur reputational and legislative risk because the capacity to maintain animals in an environment free from distress is inadequate.”

For instance, 77 birds and 75 reptiles were seized recently, overburdening staff and leaving them scrambling to fill in unbudgeted overtime, buy equipment and pay for veterinary consultations ad-hoc.

The ACCC has the capacity to hold 84 cats and 47 dogs comfortably, according to the city’s website. Lost animals without ID are kept for up to three days, or up to 10 days with ID. After that, “adoptable” pets are transferred to the Edmonton Humane Society.

Postmedia’s request for an interview with city staff was not granted by deadline.

lboothby@postmedia.com

@laurby