Clerk’s Department M E M O R A N D U M
TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
FROM:	Sheila Birrell, Town Clerk
DATE:	2006-04-04
SUBJECT:	Animal Care

The Town is in receipt of a petition, signed by 13 residents of the Town of Markham expressing concern for the animal care provided by the Town’s former animal care provider. Much of their concerns have been addressed by the Town’s new partnership with the Town of Whitby. Regarding their final recommendation, i.e. the Town commit to the development of a municipal shelter for York Region—with satellite shelters in Aurora, King, Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan, Members of Council will recall the direction to staff not to pursue that avenue in 2006 but, rather monitor the new partnership with the Town of Whitby and report back. I would propose to forward a letter to each petitioner in the manner set forth below:

“Thank you for participating in a recent petition concerning protection of lost and abandoned animals in the Town of Markham. Animal care has been utmost in the Town’s priorities for sometime. You will be pleased to know that the Town recently entered into a partnership with the Town of Whitby for the provision of animal care services for Markham residents. The services were transferred, effective January 1^st, 2006, and the transition was seamless. The Town is very pleased with the improved animal care services. The Whitby Shelter facility is an excellent facility and the animals are treated properly.

The partnership is based on a three-year contract with a right to renew for an additional two. Upon approval, Council directed staff to concentrate on monitoring the new partnership over the next year and not to participate in discussions of a longer term solution.

Ultimately, a regional municipal shelter would be the preferred option. However, a new regional facility and satellite facilities would be very expensive and monies for this project would need to compete with all other municipal projects in every municipality in the Region of York. This is a project that will be investigated in the future but direction has been not to proceed with it in 2006.”

______________________________________

Sheila Birrell,

Town Clerk.