Regional collaboration of the Comox Valley local governments led to a new shelter contract that will maintain kennel services in the Comox Valley. The new location is at the Unleashed Dog Boutique, 1970 Anderton Road.
The current contract with the SPCA will end December 31, 2024 for housing animals picked up by local government animal control officers.
As of January 1, 2025 the SPCA will no longer be selling dog licences, holding dangerous dogs awaiting court dates, or accepting stray animals that are listed under local government bylaws. All stray animals found in the region will need to be brought to the Unleashed Dog Boutique, 1970 Anderton Road, as SPCA will not be accepting them. The SPCA will continue to accept resident animal surrenders and continue their work in keeping animals safe through animal cruelty seizures.
“Although each local government is responsible for animal control in their communities, staff from the Comox Valley Regional District, City of Courtenay, Town of Comox and Village of Cumberland worked together on a shared kenneling option to support our community,” explains CVRD Board Chair Will Cole-Hamilton. “The SPCA will still be open in the Comox Valley for adoptions and their focus will be to support animals displaced by emergency situations. The Comox Valley SPCA has been a wonderful support for our contracted services and we look forward to continuing to support them as they adjust their focus .”
“The BC SPCA has enjoyed working with the cities in the region and will continue partnering with them to ensure a smooth transition for kenneling services,” says Corrie Bownick, the BC SPCA’s manager of municipal animal contracts. “Looking ahead to 2025, this change will support the BC SPCA's Comox Valley community animal centre by preserving more shelter space to house vulnerable animals coming into our care from cruelty investigations as well as emergency boarding and surrenders.”
For more information visit your local government website for more information on where dog licences can be purchased and other related updates.
- CVRD Animal Control: www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/animalcontrol
- City of Courtenay: www.courtenay.ca/animalcontrol
- Town of Comox: www.comox.ca/animalservices
- Village of Cumerland: https://cumberland.ca/animal-control/
The Comox Valley Regional District is a partnership of three electoral areas and three municipalities operating on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of the land. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on providing sustainable services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.
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Media Contacts:
City of Courtenay
Mike Kurvers, Manager of Bylaw Enforcement
T: 250-334-4441
E: mkurvers@courtenay.ca
Comox Valley Regional District
Amanda Yasinski, Senior Manager of Building and Bylaw Compliance
T: 250-334-6049
E: ayasinski@comoxvalleyrd.ca
Town of Comox
Shelly Russwurm, Director of Corporate Services
T: 250-339-2202
E: srusswurm@comox.ca
Village of Cumberland
Courtney Simpson, Director of Development and Bylaw Services
T: 250-336-3019
E: csimpson@cumberland.ca
SPCA Comox Valley
Corrie Bownick, Municipal Animal Services Manager
T: 604-562-2035
E: cbownick@spca.bc.ca
