Council Extends Greater Sudbury Animal Shelter Services to October 2019

May 30, 2017

Council has approved a recommendation to extend municipal operation of the Greater Sudbury Animal Shelter for an additional two years. The decision, which was made at the regular meeting of Council tonight, will continue a pilot project to assess the long-term potential of the Greater Sudbury Animal Shelter until October 2019.

“We are grateful for Council’s support to continue our work at the Animal Shelter,” said Melissa Laalo, Greater Sudbury Animal Care and Control By-law Coordinator.

“When we opened the shelter in October last year, it was for a one year trial. Extending the pilot project gives us an opportunity to become thoroughly familiar with every activity and cost associated with animal care and control and to introduce improvements where needed. The end result in two years will be a business analysis to help Council determine whether to make this a long-term service.”

Between October 26, 2016 and March 23, 2017, Greater Sudbury Animal Shelter provided a temporary home for 451 dogs and cats found injured, abandoned or roaming at large in the community, as well as dogs and cats surrendered by their owners.

Greater Sudbury Animal Shelter is low kill, meaning staff makes every reasonable effort to reunite dogs and cats with their owners or to foster and adopt animals following a three-day redemption period. Three veterinary practices provide assessment, treatment, spay/neuter services and euthanasia when medically required. 

From a total of 176 dogs in care, 74 were adopted and four were either euthanized or died of other causes. Strays accounted for 124 of the dogs and of these 90 were successfully returned to their owners.

Cats accounted for 275 of the animals in care and of these 239 were strays. Support from local animal foster and adoption groups resulted in 159 cat adoptions and 12 were returned to their owners. A total of 16 cats were either euthanized or died of other causes.

The City of Greater Sudbury will continue to lease a former pet boarding facility at 39 Kari Rd. in Wahnapitae at a cost of $4,500 per month. The facility offers the advantages of space for dogs to exercise, distance from neighbours to avoid noise complaints and functional design as an animal shelter.

While the location is not central, leasing the Kari Road facility is economical compared with an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000 to renovate an existing municipal building. The shelter operates with a previously approved annual budget of $430,000, including leasing, staffing, materials, veterinary care and other services.

Greater Sudbury Animal Shelter is open to the public Mondays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pet owners can make appointments outside of these hours to retrieve their dog or cat, subject to staff availability. Dial 705-694-PETS (7387) or email cgs.shelter@greatersudbury.ca 

Greater Sudbury By-Law Compliance and Enforcement officers are scheduled Mondays to Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. and on weekends to respond to requests for animal control. Dial 3-1-1 for service or email bylaw@greatersudbury.ca for nonurgent requests.

Officers are on call after hours to respond to reports of seriously injured or potentially dangerous dogs and cats. Dial 3-1-1 then press 6 to reach the City of Greater Sudbury’s call answer service.

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