Re: Cats in West Island of Montreal

[nerdy_grrl_t]

When I spoke with public security in Pointe-Claire today they said that they themselves pick up dogs but that no one is responsible for picking up cats in this area... is this true?

LuckyRescue - you mentioned that the SPCA is responsible for this borough? Also did you end up going to the city council meeting? What happened?

Nerdy_Grrl

[Lucky Rescue]

Apparently the SPCA no longer has the contract for the West Island.

To find out the results of the meeting, I suggest you contact Susan, who notified us about this situation. You can email her directly at susankiepprien@videotron.ca

[nerdy_grrl_t]

I just want to clarify from the above message - the SPCA is indeed the pound for most West Island (Montreal) boroughs, except Pierrefonds, but the SCPA doesn't come around and pick up cats (unless it's a cruelty issue), they only receive the ones that are brought in by people.

Here's the Gazette article regarding Canin GL in Pierrefonds:

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Gazette - Nov. 17th (West Island Section)

Pierrefonds/Senneville says the company it hired to do animal control can continue working despite a previous conviction for animal cruelty.

Borough mayor Monique Worth said she was unaware the co-owner of Patrouille Canine GL - the company hired by the Pierrefonds/ Senneville for animal control - had been convicted of animal cruelty. However, Worth said that should not prevent the company from serving the public.

"They paid their dues," she said. "They deserve another chance."

However, Worth added, she will monitor the situation more closely after she received several complaints about GL.

The reports said representatives of Patrouille Canine GL were rude when dealing with residents as they went door to door selling $25 dog licences for the borough and in dealing with distraught pet owners who had called, looking for any sign of their lost pets.

"They were not very nice to some of our residents," Worth explained.

She said borough officials met with Patrouille Canine G.L's owners to clear the air. They were assured things would change for the better.

"They will be giving their employees proper training," Worth said. "We will be watching them."

She said Patrouille Canine GL was awarded the contract in August to sell licences and collect lost, stray and dead animals.

Worth said she had not been aware at the time that Josee Robidoux, co-owner of Patrouille Canine GL, had pleaded guilty in 2000 to two criminal code counts of failing to provide the necessities of life for a dog under her care. Robidoux was fined $250 in December 2000 and given one year probation.

Reached at her company headquarters in Terrebonne, Robidoux refused comment except to deny that she had been convicted. However, court papers show otherwise.

Pierrefonds resident and animal-rights activist Susan Kiepprien said she was upset that Pierrefonds/Senneville will continue to do business with GL.

Kipprien said she would prefer to have microchips implanted in pets to track them, rather than issuing licences, which she deemed outdated.

Pierre Barnoti, executive director of the Canadian SPCA in Montreal, said the SPCA - which formerly handled animal control in Pierrefonds - chose not to bid for the contract last summer because of the issue of door-to-door canvassing.

"We have better things to do than go door to door," Barnoti said, adding that the SPCA prefers using direct-mail campaigns with discounts on licences as incentives to pet owners.

Barnoti also argued that dog licences actually do not address much of the problem of lost pets, because most of those animals are cats. He said the SPCA's figures show 85 per cent of lost pets are cats and 15 per cent are dogs.