The City of Medicine Hat will end its contract with APARC in June. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

IN THE CITY

Regular pound operations to continue as Medicine Hat takes over APARC facility

May 12, 2025 | 3:00 PM

The City of Medicine Hat says regular operations will continue at its animal pound facility as it looks for a new partner organization after ending its contract with Alberta Pound and Rescue Centres.

James Will, city parks and recreation director, said Monday a decision not to renew the city’s contract with APARC was made because of changing conditions in the industry.

APARC, like pounds across North America, has reached high capacity levels in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic that has put a strain on resources, according to the director.

“We’ve seen increasing costs for supplies, for animal health care and the city just determined that it was time to go out to market,” Will said.

“The city will be responsible for the operation of the facility in the interim.”

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Will said the request for proposal process used by the city to award contracts will launch in “the coming weeks.” He added the only immediate changes may be to the hours of operation.

APARC was first awarded a contract to operate the pound building in 2016. It acquired a refreshed contract in 2022 for three years but the city chose not to activate a two-year extension option this spring.

When the original contract runs out, the city will formally take over the facility on Gershaw Drive Southwest on June 8.

While ownership of the facility will change, Will said the parks and recreation division hasn’t ruled out keeping the some or all of the employees but it may soon find a new community partner.

“There are staff currently at APARC that may be interested in continuing on with the facility in the interim as we go through this process,” said Will.

“Those options are certainly being considered and we will be finalizing our operating plan and sharing that with the public shortly.”

Medicine Hat is not the only city to drop APARC as an animal pound partner.

The City of Airdrie decided not to renew its agreement with APARC in March but told local media that cost was not a deciding factor.

Airdrie officials said it was “focused on moving towards a new model that continues to be sustainable with our growth and provides the best possible services to our residents.”

When reached for comment, APARC was unable to provide further comment on Medicine Hat’s choice not to renew the contract.

“At this time we do not know more than the public about this decision, there’s nothing more we can add at the moment,” APARC told CHAT News in a statement.

Residents expressed concern on social media over the future of the animals and APARC staff, with many saying it’s an essential service that needs to remain.

Twix the cat meets a former CHAT News reporter at Alberta Pound and Rescue Centre in Medicine Hat in April 2024. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

Parks director Will said the animals remain a top priority during this time of transition.

“Our primary focus will be on the animals in the pound, making sure that those animals are cared for and ensuring the health and safety of those animals,” he said.

The city is obligated to have a local pound because of the Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw that states there can’t be animals running at-large and residents are required to their animals licensed.

While Medicine Hat is responsible for the animal pound service as a whole, it’s not required to deliver the service. So, it turns to the market for a solution, Will explained.

“We know that the market oftentimes steps up and has an option to run it,” he said.

If the city doesn’t receive any submissions, it could run the Animal Pound Services Facility by itself.

Will said it could also work in collaboration through a partial agreement in partnership with another organization that could, for example, see the city maintain the building while the organization runs the daily operations.