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Re-organized WAG working for animals

Animal welfare issues are set to take a front seat in Whistler, as the sharing of operations by WAG and the municipality allows for greater flexibility and expansion of programs.

Animal welfare issues are set to take a front seat in Whistler, as the sharing of operations by WAG and the municipality allows for greater flexibility and expansion of programs.

In the pipeline are plans to extend animal control services to Pemberton, establish a "franchise" of WAG-type animal shelters and train more local people in animal first aid and welfare.

Up until August this year, the animal shelter, near day-skier Lot 2, was largely run by RWOW animal control officer, Kimberly Lord. However, since joining forces with WAG (formerly Whistler Animals Galore), the largely volunteer-run group has taken up the bulk of the shelter work in exchange for free space in the building. It’s an arrangement that suits both parties.

Lord says she now has the freedom to increase her fieldwork within Whistler and starting in January, into the Pemberton area also.

"WAG is doing an awesome job of adopting, vaccinating, feeding and exercising the animals as well as running the meet-and-greet program and keeping the shelter clean," Lord said.

Expansion of the kennel facilities has also occurred since WAG moved in, largely due to volunteer workers and donations from local businesses.

WAG’s two paid staff – executive director and co-ordinator Jody Stockfish and shelter manager Lauren Fraser – say having a central facility, rather than the traditional fostering system, will make a huge difference to what WAG can achieve. It also gives WAG’s core of 15 to 20 regular volunteers easy access for cleaning and walking duties, Stockfish added.

The highly organized WAG of today is a far cry from the original ad hoc organization founded in 1982. While the purpose of the organization hasn’t changed – i.e. protecting and enhancing the lives of lost, unwanted and homeless animals – its efficiency levels and screening processes have. For instance, just because you want a pet, it does not mean you will get one from WAG. And if you do adopt an animal, expect to pay $125 to partially cover vaccination and neutering costs, and to receive follow-up visits – just as with any human adoption agency.

Stockfish says it is all about educating people about the responsibilities of owning a pet.

"Everybody that knocks on the door thinks they will be a great pet owner," she explained. "But if I detect any doubt I hone in on that and ask questions such as, where will the animal go when you go on vacation and how many hours do you work, until they start to get an idea of what a big commitment it is."

However, she says few failed adopters leave feeling bad because they gain a better idea of when having a pet would suit their lifestyle and how to look after an animal. Even those deemed suitable owners must make several visits and become acquainted first.

Stockfish says anyone under 25 who has lived in Whistler less than three months is usually automatically struck off the adopters list, because of the risk that they will move on.

"This is a common problem in such transient communities as Whistler," she said. "I would like to see a franchise of WAG outlets across B.C. as well as central animal shelters, all geared at looking after unwanted animals and educating people about the WAG-way."

The "WAG-way" as it were, is a departure from many of the traditional aggressive ways of treating animals or dealing with pet problems. For example, a rolled-up newspaper rapped across a dog’s nose or rubbing a kitten’s nose in any messes it makes inside is unnecessary, according to WAG.

Stockfish and Fraser hope to improve their own knowledge of dog behaviour through training by Burnaby-based organization Custom Canine and pass the knowledge onto fellow WAG members or interested groups. The focus of the training is non-contact, using voice and rewards to communicate with dogs. Stockfish says humans and dogs have to learn each others’ language.

"We both dream, have emotions such as happiness, depression and sadness but many people aren’t aware of how to communicate – how to become dog whisperers in a way, I guess."

Lord is also keen to share her training in animal first aid and emergency rescue services with local volunteers. She has been offering local workshops on canine behaviour, animal triage and health since 1998 but says she now has more time to dedicate to education. This will include showing videos at local schools.

Lord says she also wants to implement new practices into local dog owner bylaws, things she just picked up from a two week training session with the National Animal Control Officers Training Academy curriculum in South Carolina. She is one of only three animal control officers in B.C. to have gone through the training.

"Owners of dogs found wandering in parts of the U.S. must pay an extra neutering fee when they pick up the animal if it is not already altered," she said. "This neutering certificate can then be used at a local vets, since it has already been paid for."

Unneutered dogs that are repeatedly picked up by animal control officers may have the alteration done without the consent of the owner, she added.

It remains to be seen whether Canadian law or Whistler’s bylaws would allow such action to be taken. However, Lord says the goal is to develop a local program to reduce the unwanted animal problem via spaying and neutering, primarily through education.

Fortunately, she says, WAG works hard at placing each of its charges and only four abandoned animals have had been put down in Whistler in the past five years. This contrasts sharply with one animal control officer at the conference in South Carolina that had personally put down 20,000 animals since 1994.

Lord says the new Whistler dog owner bylaws expected by the end of January will amend the current open policy on strata properties and require dogs to be under direct control instead of roaming free. Spruce Grove will also be designated as an open exercise area for dogs, when not in use for other events.

In the short term, WAG’s immediate priority is to gain charity status, so it can apply for funding assistance. Stockfish says WAG had to change a clause in its charter to enable this process to start, on advice of their volunteer lawyer, Nick Davies.

"The clause allowed us to lobby for animal welfare issues on a provincial, federal and municipal level," she said.

"However, gaining charitable status will encourage more donations since people will be able to get tax receipts, therefore help animals by assuring WAG’s future."

Stockfish says with the average cost of every animal passing through the shelter topping $160, money is extremely tight. However, she says people are incredibly generous. And pointing to a child’s hand-drawn picture of a dog on the wall entitled "Freckles", she says it is rewarding work.

"We just received this picture and $200 from a Seattle family that came up to Whistler recently and lost their Australian Shepherd, Freckles, that I later found and lured with a cheeseburger," she laughed.

Animal welfare would have to be a business you love, because unlike most jobs, when you go home, the work doesn’t just stop. WAG is open seven days a week from 8.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and welcomes all visitors and helpers.

WAG will not be advertising its current cats and dogs up for adoption over the Christmas period to discourage people who see pets as a short-term gifts.