British Columbia·NewThe Langley Animal Protection Society says that the Township of Langley has moved to terminate a longstanding contract and is leaving it in the lurch — even as the local mayor says there’s no intention to disrupt animal services.While society is sounding alarm, Langley Township mayor says there is no intention to disrupt animal careAkshay Kulkarni · CBC News · Posted: Sep 14, 2025 6:18 PM EDT | Last Updated: 12 minutes agoA cat is pictured under the care of Langley Animal Protection Society in Langley, B.C., on Sept. 14, 2025. The society says it fears for its future after its contract with the township was terminated. (Martin Diotte/CBC)The Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) says that the Township of Langley has ended its longstanding contract with the non-profit organization, leaving it in the lurch — even as the local mayor says there’s no intention to disrupt LAPS’s animal care work at its shelter.In a Wednesday statement, LAPS said it was given 30 days’ notice by the municipality, ending an animal services contract that had been in place for 23 years.Under that contract with the township, LAPS had been responsible for both animal control — responding to dog bites and nuisance animals — as well as animal sheltering for unhoused pets.The contract termination comes as the township seeks to give its bylaw officers the authority to enforce animal control instead of LAPS.The Langley Animal Protection Society is seen in Langley, B.C., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Martin Diotte/CBC)But the society said it raised alarms over the longstanding Patti Dale Animal Shelter, which houses dozens of animals, as well as the society’s services like a pet food bank and subsidized vet services.Township of Langley Mayor Eric Woodward says it is in the process of negotiating a new contract with LAPS which will see the organization continue to provide shelter services going forward, but added the society is dragging private contract negotiations into public view.The situation between LAPS and the township has included a prolonged, public back-and-forth via statements and social media posts, though both sides told CBC News in interviews that they intend to work toward a new contract.LAPS executive director Sarah Jones said the society wants to hammer out a new contract with the township. (CBC)”We’ve always said that we will be open and understanding of what they’re wanting. And we just want a fair and mutually beneficial agreement,” said LAPS executive director Sarah Jones.”So if they want us there for animal sheltering, then that’s what we’ll talk about.”Langley Township Mayor Eric Woodward said the society was dragging private contract negotiations into public view and causing confusion. He said there’s no intention to have LAPS leave its shelter. (Ben Nelms/CBC)Woodward says that with the legal process of negotiating a new contract spilling into public view, it’s created confusion for community members.”We’re really caught off guard why LAPS would be conducting itself in this way,” he said.Injured pitbull and a court caseThe issue at the heart of the conflict between LAPS and the township stems from a township council decision to bring animal control services in-house last year.That decision followed a court case involving a pitbull called Enzo, which was seized in April 2024 after the township says it attacked two people.According to the township, the attacks involved Enzo biting a 16-year-old girl on the arm, as well as seriously injuring a contractor to the extent that he was hospitalized for nearly a month.LAPS says the Patti Dale Animal Shelter is named after its founder and it fears losing access to it after the contract termination. (Martin Diotte/CBC)”Following the second attack, [LAPS] investigated and determined that Enzo met the definition of a ‘dangerous dog’ under the Animal Control Bylaw,” the township wrote in a statement last month.”The seizure was done by animal control officers for LAPS,” it added. “Enzo sustained minor injuries to his teeth and jaw during the seizure, which was the result of Enzo biting a catch pole used in the seizure.”A LAPS vehicle is seen with the Township of Langley and Langley City logos on it on Sept. 14, 2025. (Martin Diotte/CBC)After the seizure, Enzo’s owners filed a lawsuit, and a decision was rendered late last month.LAPS said in its own statement that the court found its officers acted reasonably when seizing the dog.However, LAPS said the court found technical issues with the warrant that prompted the seizure.”While the warrant has now been ruled to be invalid, LAPS carried out the order in good faith at the time it was issued,” the society’s statement reads.No changes to animal sheltering: mayorThe township’s decision to move on from LAPS as an animal control provider was at least partly due to the Enzo case, according to a statement.”Recent legal proceedings highlighted challenges associated with the third-party service delivery model,” the statement reads.”These developments underscore the importance of delivering animal control services under clear municipal authority, with strong oversight and accountability,” it adds.The statement further says that allowing the city’s own bylaw officers to assume animal control services would lead to long-term cost savings for Langley residents.Woodward says the 30-day notice to terminate animal control services was simply a legal requirement to negotiate a new contract.For Jones’s part, she says that while the termination notice came as a surprise, they want to stay at the table and hammer out a new deal.ABOUT THE AUTHORAkshay Kulkarni is an award-winning journalist who has worked at CBC British Columbia since 2021. Based in Vancouver, he is most interested in data-driven stories. You can email him at akshay.kulkarni@cbc.ca.With files from Cory Correia and Tanushi Bhatnagar
Furor as Langley Animal Protection Society’s contract terminated by township
