City seeks backing on dog rescues

NEWS/ CITY HALL — City council will ask other B.C. cities to add their clout to a plan that would strengthen the ability of bylaws officers to rescue dogs from hot cars.

Tuesday, Council will discuss a resolution to the upcoming Union of B.C. Municipalities convention asking its members to urge the provincial government to give the officers power to enforce the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and to give them the authority to break into vehicles to seize animals in distress.

The resolution also proposes that the Community Charter — the legislation that governs civic governments — be amended in a similar manner.

Currently, only SPCA constables and police are allowed to break into vehicles to save animals in distress.

Kamloops bylaw supervisor Jon Wilson told council at a recent meeting that under existing law the bylaws officers must call the SPCA or RCMP if they see an animal suffering from heat in a vehicle.