The Boundary animal control officers have terminated their contract with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB).
As a result, the RDKB is looking for someone to fill the shoes of Richard Smith and John Jansezian as of last Saturday, said Elaine Kumar, RDKB director of corporate administration.
“They gave their notice,” said Kumar. “I was disappointed; however, with what’s been going on (lately) it’s been rough for them.”
She told the Gazette that they have been harassed by residents throughout the Boundary.
“They have been spit on, called names and threats have been left,” said Kumar.
Mayor Brian Taylor, who was once an animal control officer as well, said emotional outbursts from concerned pet lovers have always been part and parcel of the job.
“I think what they are saying at this point (is) that they are surprised with the kind of demands that they were put under,” he said.
“The big problem for Richard and John is they didn’t have the power of enforcement,” said Taylor, as he explained that they were hired under a bylaw which was put into review.
“I really don’t fault them, I think they did an excellent job and they had a lot of support from a lot of people for beginning to deal with some of the chronic (animal bylaw) problems,” said Taylor.
Anita Krause of the Kootenay Boundary Pet Dog Association said she wasn’t surprised to hear of the resignation.
“At best it is a difficult job; their position was not supported by a good framework i.e. good bylaws,” she wrote in an email to the Gazette. “The RDKB will be hard pressed to find someone until they rework their bylaws.”
The mayor said the RDKB and its stakeholders are working on a bylaw that will be clear and concise.
“We are going to write that bylaw so that we know when we hire people for this next (time) around that we will be able to give them clear directions as to how we want them to enforce it,” he said.
“We still have the service but we don’t have anybody in place for a little while,” said Kumar. “I would expect we will be a good month or two without (an animal officer).”
The RDKB is looking for a replacement and Kumar added that the region didn’t have an officer for two or three months a few years back.
“We just did what we had to do to keep the service going,” she stated. “Phone this office and I guess if it’s something very serious we’ll be phoning the police.”
Taylor said the SPCA is still available in instances of animal cruelty.
Kumar said the RDKB has made the case of finding a replacement and redrafting the animal bylaw a top priority.
Smith and Jansezian had not responded to the Gazette’s request for comment as of press time.
The RDKB recommends contacting 1-800-355-7352 until a new provider is in place.