Animal-protection society in danger of closing
Dispute over name of new Richmond veterinary hospital puts shelter at risk
A longtime animal-protection society in Richmond is in danger of shutting down entirely due to the delayed approval for the name of its new animal hospital.
The Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS) — formerly known as the Richmond Animal Protection Society — is a no-kill animal shelter that began raising funds early this year for a new animal hospital, with the hope of bringing veterinarian care in-house to save on costs for the charity.
Additionally, the hospital would provide paid services to the public, a new funding stream that would support RAPS’s ability to care for the 500 cats at its sanctuary and the more than 1,000 animals that come into its care annually.
Construction is nearly complete at the hospital’s 6,000-squarefoot property in Richmond, but opening day next month could be delayed due to a legal tussle with the College of Veterinarians of B.C. over the hospital’s proposed new name.
While many of the CVBC’s concerns have been resolved in recent months, the final sticking point is over the naming of the hospital.
“The college has come up with a kaleidoscopic range of delays,” said RAPS CEO Eyal Lichtmann in a statement shared earlier this week.
“Every step of the way, our team, our veterinarians and lawyers have responded to their every concern. We have addressed each and every issue that has arisen and the CVBC has responded by erecting new barriers.”
According to Lichtmann, the naming process is typically a three- to four-week process; it has been about five months since RAPS applied for approval.
The college has approved RAPS’ use of the name “RAPS Animal Hospital” for its new facility, provided it not use the word “regional” in any of its materials or promote itself as such. The CVBC’s concern is that use of the word “regional” could mislead the public into thinking the new hospital is a government-associated regional authority.
RAPS, however, argues it’s impossible to operate without the word “regional,” as its registered charity name is “Regional Animal Protection Society” and it is required by the Canadian Revenue Agency to identify itself as such.
The word appears on their invoices, on their contracts and in various places throughout the organization and to agree with the college’s conditions would mean contravening provincial and federal requirements.
RAPS will now appeal to the CVBC’s counsel at a meeting on Jan. 20.
The meeting was already postponed from a previous meeting date in late November.
“No consideration whatsoever from the college, that we’ve consistently told them about this massive financial implication on us for what they’re doing,” said Lichtmann of the strict timeline for the hospital’s construction and opening.
Lichtmann said beginning Jan. 15, which was the hospital’s original opening day, the society will lose about $50,000 a month.
“We stopped signing contracts, we stopped moving forward because we’re afraid — and when I say afraid, we’re literally afraid — of the college. They have enormous power and they told us we’re not allowed to use ‘regional’ anywhere, so we don’t know which way to turn.”
Requests for comment left with the CVBC were unsuccessful Thursday, as the college is closed during the holidays.