City-run Sudbury animal shelter begins one-year trial run

The City of Greater Sudbury is starting to run animal care and control operations on a one-year trial basis.

The new municipal animal pound and shelter will operate out of a former pet boarding facility on Kari Road in Wahnapitae.

According to a press release sent out by the city, the current contract for animal control by-law enforcement and shelter services adds up to $622,771 with an additional $69,000 annually.

• Read the city's release here.

Mayor Brian Bigger defended council's decision to stop contracting out the service, saying they achieved a good balance between price and quality.

"Council has made a decision based on delivering the best quality service at the most reasonable cost," Bigger said in a press release.

But the true expenses may run into the millions, said Richard Paquette, manager of the Rainbow District Animal Control and Shelter Services, which used to be contracted to operate the city's animal control services.

"I think that their budget estimates are too low," Paquette said. "I think they will spend a million dollars or be back at council in six months asking for a million dollars. And that will be council's decision to make at that time."

Rainbow District Animal Control operated the city service for many years before getting into a dispute with the city about the cost of the contract a few years ago.

There were several calls for firms to bid on the contract with few bidders that ultimately led to city council's decision to run the shelter and animal control in house.

"This whole process for me has been a lot of smoke and mirrors," says Paquette, whose company still has animal control contracts for several first nations and small towns in the area. 

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