Conclusion And Recommendations
The citizens and animals of Edmonton are extraordinarily poorly served by Edmonton Animal Services as it currently operates. The department puts no effort into finding homes for unclaimed animals in it's care beyond transferring a select few to the Edmonton Humane Society. The result of this practice is an unacceptably high rate of euthanization of animals in it's care. In 2006, according to their own statistics, Animal Services killed 52% of the cats and 12% of the dogs in addition to an unknown number of other animals it took into custody. It is likely that the actual number of animals killed is far higher than what is indicated by Animal Services statistics. There is good reason to question the veracity of the statistics and other information coming from Edmonton Animal Services.
Firstly, the Animal Services department maintains an excessive amount of secrecy around it's operations. It's refusal to permit members of the public to view facilities where animals are housed or to use volunteers makes abuses of the animals a near certainty and makes any justification for euthanizing any animal highly questionable. There is no indication that records are kept for any individual animal that is euthanized making it impossible to tell if there is any evidence of mistreatment of the animals while they were in the care of animal services. Furthermore, a single veterinarian euthanizes the animals without any independent witnesses or oversight. It may well be that the animals are euthanized as quickly and "humanely" as possible, however with out any independent verification of this and no apparent records for examination it is impossible to ensure that this is the case. Undercover investigations at laboratories and other animal facilities have documented serious abuses of animals by staff and veterinarians. The most famous, and perhaps most disturbing, example of veterinarian abuse of animals in an animal facility is the video obtained during one of several undercover investigations of Huntington Life Sciences. In the dramatic video a veterinarian is shown shaking and punching Beagle puppies. Like Edmonton Animal Services Huntington Life Sciences insisted that the animals in it's care were being treated properly and that euthanasia was carried out humanely.
Secondly, what little oversight there is of Animal Services consists of an advisory board which the director of Animal Services sits on. Finally, although Animal Services claims that it does not supply the University of Alberta or any other laboratory with animals the events I observed last summer make this claim dubious.
It is completely unacceptable that significant numbers of animals are being killed every year by Edmonton Animal Services simply because of the unwillingness of the department to make changes to the way it operates. While similar departments in other jurisdictions have taken steps to reduce the numbers of animals euthanized Edmonton Animal Services stubbornly clings to what the Houston Mayor's Animal Protection Task Force referred to as "...a relic of an outmoded belief that pets are disposable property and that shelters exist to kill unwanted pets "humanely" not help them." Other centers have shown that it is possible to vanquish this "outmoded belief" without spending vast sums of money. A number of centers and societies have even managed to achieve a surplus while providing humane services and reducing euthanasia. One only has to look a few hours south to Calgary to see an animal services department that has been wildly successful in reducing the number of animals it euthanizes without incurring exorbitant costs. It is beyond belief that the director of Edmonton Animal Services would be unaware of the successful programs in place in Calgary and other center unless they are willfully blind or, alternatively, incompetent. While the new Animal Services facility that it will share with the Edmonton Humane Society will improve some aspects of the Animal Services department and provide some much needed transparency it is not a panacea for the problems that exist.
Recommendations
1. Remove David Leeb as Director of Animal Services and prohibit him from having any contact with animals in any capacity with the City of Edmonton.
There is no indication this in his time as Director of Animal Services that Mr. Leeb has made any effort to decrease the number of animals euthanized, improve the conditions for the animals housed at the pound or reduce the number of animals being taken into custody by Animal Services. Outside of a draconian campaign to increase enforcement of the cat licensing bylaw Mr. Leeb has been essentially invisible in his time as director. In his role as director he is inaccessible to the public and does not respond to inquiries or concerns. I have attempted numerous times over the last several years to arrange meetings with Mr. Leeb by main and telephone without success. I have spoken to others who have had similar experiences in attempting to contact Mr. Leeb.
Based on Mr. Leeb's lack of response to inquiries and requests and the lack of any initiatives instigated by him to modernize his department or reduce the number of animals euthanized it is clear that he sees his role as one of revenue enhancement and collection with little or no concern for the animals in his department's care.
2. Increase Independent Oversight of The Animal Services Department and The Pound
There is an alarming lack of transparency in the operation of the Animal Services department and the pound. While Animal Services in other jurisdictions make statistics and yearly reports easily accessible to the public, usually by posting it on their website there is a complete dearth of information regarding the operation of Animal Services in Edmonton.
The Animal Control Advisory Board needs to be changed to a Commission rather than simply an advisory board or, alternatively, a board with the authority to oversee and investigation animal services should be struck. The board or commission should have structure similar to that of the Edmonton Police Commission so that those with a vested interest, such as the Director of Animal Services and representatives of agencies involved with animal regulation or enforcement are not represented on the board.
Statistics showing the number and type of animals taken into custody by Animal Services should be posted on the Animal Services website They should include those from 5 - 7 years past as well as monthly updates.
3. Reduce or Eliminate The Use of Euthanasia By Edmonton Animal Services
Euthanasia should only be used as an absolute last resort rather than the routine practice that it is now. As was recommended in the Houston Task Force's report that City Council should adopt a resolution establishing an achievable 5 year goal to increase adoptions and reduce euthanasia at the Edmonton pound. The ultimate goal is to guarantee the adoption of all healthy and treatable pets housed at the pound.
At the present time far too much responsibility for determining whether an animal is adoptable or not rests with a veterinarian contracted by the City of Edmonton to provide euthanasia services. While I have been unable to get any information regarding the renumeration this individual receives it is reasonable to assume that he is paid according to the number of euthanasias performed. it is therefore to his benefit to euthanize as many animals as possible. In order to lessen the amount of authority that the contracted veterinarian wields it must be mandated that no animal be euthanized without independent verification that the animal is unadoptable or untreatable. It should be further mandated that independent witnesses be present anytime an animal is euthanized and that the procedure be recorded with the recordings being retained for at least 2 years. As this recordings could be stored on DVDs or a server storage should not be an issue. This independent verification and observation would add a much needed level of transparency and ensure that the process is carried out in as humane a manner as possible. To state, as Animal Services does, that the "Vet insures that euthanasia is carried out humanely and correctly is, quite simply, not good enough. Observation and recording of the procedure would allow for review of the procedure if questions or concerns were raised.
4. Permit Adoptions Directly From the Pound
The Edmonton Pound is the only facility of it's kind in North America, that I could find information on, which does not allow adoptions of unclaimed animals. While there may be other facilities that outsource the adoption function I was unable to find any in the course of my research. Most facilities put a great emphasis on ensuring that as many unclaimed animals as possible find new homes.
The Edmonton pound's present practice of outsourcing all adoptions to the Edmonton Humane Society is ineffective and results in numerous healthy and adoptable animals being unnecessarily killed each year. Further, this practice places an undue burden on the Edmonton Humane Society's staff and facility. As the Edmonton Humane Society also accepts owner surrendered and stray animals overcrowding at their shelter is likely to force them to turn away healthy, adoptable animals from the pound which, in turn, results in animals being unnecessarily euthanized. While this problem will be alleviated somewhat in the new facility it will not be eliminated.
As was demonstrated in my case Animal Services does not even bother to transfer healthy, adoptable animals to the Edmonton Humane Society when there is room. A further problem with the outsourcing of the adoption function is that it is necessary to transfer the animals from one shelter to another facility in a different area of the city. This transfer of already stressed animals causes unnecessary additional stress and trauma for the animals and can result in physical and psychological disturbances making it more difficult for th animal to be adopted.
5. Actively Recruit and Support Volunteers to Provide Enrichment, Stimulation and Care To The Animals. This Should Include The Development of A Foster Program.
Every other animal services department and humane society that I was able to research recognizes the tremendous benefit volunteers provide to the animals in the shelter, the shelter's adoption program and the operation of the shelter itself. All of these shelters invest a significant amount of time and effort into recruiting and recognizing volunteers.
The Houston Task Force stated, "The animal welfare community is non-profit, meaning it is understaffed and underfunded. It thus requires ample volunteerism if it is to succeed in caring for and finding homes for abandoned pets. The task force believes that many Houstonians - if recruited and actively utilized - would volunteer to help animal shelters achieve the goal of adopting all healthy and treatable pets.' "We further recommend that the City designate and fund a full-time "director of volunteers' position at BARC.
There is no reason to believe that Edmontonians, like Houstonians, would not volunteer to assist in achieving a goal of adopting all healthy and treatable animals. Given that the present director and management of animal services have resolutely opposed the use of volunteers it will be necessary for Council to mandate the use of volunteers and replace the director and management with individuals who recognize the value of volunteers and support their use. In light of the documented benefits to the use of volunteers Edmonton Animal Service's claims that the use of volunteers would be too costly is ludicrous.
6. In Conjunction With The Edmonton Humane Society Develop and Maintain a Joint Website of All Animals in Their Respective Care.
A single website with high quality photographs of lost and adoptable animals would increase the chances of reuniting lost animals with their owners. It would also allow those who are considering adopting an animal to see what animals are available at both shelters in one central location.
7. Assist With the Development and Operation of a Friends of Edmonton Animal Services Organization.
Many other jurisdictions have developed and supported a organization dedicated to development of new programs and fund raising as well as public education programs. This could be set up as a registered charity thereby allowing individuals to deduct a portion of the funds they donate from their taxes. As this organization would be comprised of volunteers the cost to the city would be minimal.
One of the first goals of this organization would be to develop an enhanced working relationship between the city and local veterinarians and veterinarian medical suppliers, to encourage them to volunteer their services and products for the provision of medical care and treatment of animals in the pound. Publicity for those who volunteer their time and supplies would encourage this type of volunteerism.
8 In Conjunction With The Spay Clinic and Other Providers Adopt the Spay and Neuter Model Pioneered By The Humane Alliance Spay and Neuter Clinic of Asheville, North Carolina.
Humane Alliance employs a fixed spay and neuter facility and sends vans radially throughout 18 adjacent counties to pick up pets at pre-arranged locations (generally in low income/high pet population areas). This innovative, free transportation system accommodates delivery of homeless pets from rescue organizations, pets belonging to low income residents and pet from county shelters. Pets are delivered to the Humane Alliance facility for surgery and returned the next day at the drop off location. Sterilization prices are low ($55 for dogs and $35 - 50 for cats, which includes transportation) and are supported by donations and local veterinarians who provide free post-operative exams.
The program has accomplished sterilization that would not otherwise likely occur. A full 85% of Humane Alliances clients have never taken their pets to a veterinarian and 92% cite money/cost as a factor in their decision to sterilize their pets. In 2002 alone, the Humane alliance accomplished 13, 005 sterilizations.
9. Mandate That The Pound Wait A Minimum of 72 Hours after Contacting An Individual Who Has Expressed An Interest in A Stray Animal they have Turned Over To The Pound before animal is either transferred or euthanized.