The District of Sooke is retaining the services of the Capital Regional District for animal control services.
Sooke has had an animal services contract with the CRD, since its incorporation in 1999.
The new contract is for a one-year term and begins Jan. 1. The contract is paid through the $3.5-million CRD requisition and doesn’t affect Sooke’s municipal budget.
So far this year, CRD animal services has responded to more than 270 complaints in Sooke, including 82 for dogs at large.
“Sooke is a fairly busy community and as community grows, so do complaints about animals,” said Don Brown, manager of bylaws and animal care for the CRD.
As part of the contract, Sooke will get regular patrols by animal control officers throughout the week, and an officer is available on-call at night and on weekends.
Last year the CRD seized more than 600 dogs and 350 cats throughout Greater Victoria with “virtually every animal being re-homed,” Brown said, adding seven years ago the CRD won a national award for re-homing animals and last year was runner-up to New York City in an international competition.
Along with enforcement, CRD animal services also conducts public education workshops and uses volunteers to exercise and help look after animals in its care.