Dawson Creek, British Columbia, is ending all municipal animal control services on December 1, 2026, leaving pet owners to find their own solutions for stray animals, licensing, and noise complaints. The decision, made by city council in a closed meeting on May 11 and announced May 27, means the city will no longer contract with the BC SPCA or any other provider for these services.
The move is expected to save the city about $300,000 each year after factoring in lost revenue from things like dog licences. That savings lines up with the amount the city lost when council lowered a proposed property tax hike from 6.75 per cent to 5.45 per cent earlier this year. Contract costs with the SPCA were climbing quickly – from $240,778 in 2024, to $275,449 in 2025, to a projected $310,120 this year and $344,791 in 2027.
Mayor Darcy Dober called it a tough choice but said council had to weigh community wants against long-term money pressures. “We recognize that animal control services matter to many people in our community, and this was a very difficult decision,” the mayor said in a statement on the City of Dawson Creek website. “Council had to carefully balance community expectations with long-term financial responsibility.”
The decision drew fire from some corners. Councillor Jerimy Earl voted against it, saying animal control is a basic job of local government. Emma Hamill, regional director for the BC SPCA in the Cariboo and northern B.C., called the move “very rare” for a city of about 12,000 people. She noted the South Peace SPCA took in 333 animals from Dawson Creek in 2025 through the contract. Paige Loomis, president of the On Our Way Home rescue in Dawson Creek, warned the change will overrun her already stretched group.
The South Peace SPCA branch won’t shut down. It will keep operating after December 1 but will shift away from rounding up strays and enforcing city bylaws. Instead, it will focus on cruelty investigations and taking in animals that owners give up. That means residents who spot a stray dog or hear constant barking will need to figure out another path, since no city service will step in.
Unlike other BC communities such as Prince George and Port Alberni, which ended SPCA contracts but signed new deals with alternative providers, Dawson Creek opted to simply exit animal control altogether. The change takes effect December 1, 2026.
