Animal Welfare Questions for Mayoral Candidates - Quentin Carlson

Last week we sent out a list of animal welfare questions to the four mayoral candidates. Unfortunately only one candidate responded, Quentin Carlson. Here are the questions we asked and the answers provided. Thank you to Quentin for taking the time to respond to our questions! 

What role do you believe the City should play in supporting animal welfare and the human–animal bond in our community?

The City plays a crucial role. We must lead by setting high standards for humane care. Your government needs to give the Animal Shelter the resources it needs. We will promote the human-animal bond by keeping our public spaces accessible for your pets and teaching people what responsible ownership means.

How do you plan to strengthen collaboration between the City and local nonprofits working on animal welfare?

We need a partnership, not just a handshake. I will establish a consistent process for structured consultation. This process brings groups like PAACT together with key City staff from Bylaw and Emergency Services. We guarantee your hands-on expertise shapes every decision and every budget we make at City Council.

Housing insecurity is a major reason people surrender pets. Would you support policies that encourage or incentivize pet-friendly housing in our city?

I support pet-friendly housing because I live this issue. I own pets, and I have personally been close to the terrifying decision of having to surrender them or live in my car. That choice is unacceptable.

We will support tax breaks or other incentives for developers and landlords. Give people a reason to make their units pet-friendly. We will work with the rental industry to prove responsible pet ownership and good property management work together.

What is your position on humane strategies (like TNR—trap, neuter, return) to address the stray and feral cat population in Lethbridge?

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the best way to handle the stray cat population. I fully support this humane strategy. The City needs to fund a dedicated program, working with groups like yours. This includes money for low-cost spay/neuter. We reduce the shelter strain and protect local wildlife.

In cases of natural disasters, housing displacement, or domestic violence, pets are often left out of emergency planning. How would you ensure pets are included in municipal crisis response plans?

Your pets are family. We must include them in our emergency plans. I will tell the Lethbridge Emergency Management Agency to write animal welfare into all crisis response plans. This means finding pet-friendly shelters before a disaster hits. We will set up clear steps for animal rescue and care during any emergency, whether it's a flood or a displacement from domestic violence.

Lethbridge is significantly lacking in bylaws surrounding responsible cat ownership, how do you, if at all, plan to address this issue?

Right now, our cat bylaws lag behind our dog bylaws. We need rules that promote responsible cat ownership without being too harsh. This means encouraging mandatory microchipping or affordable licensing. We can link that to subsidized spay/neuter. We will start with education to help your neighbors, then we will use clear enforcement to reduce the impact of free-roaming cats on wildlife.

Do you have any plans to address the crippling pet overpopulation crisis that we are currently facing?

We have an overpopulation crisis because people cannot afford spay/neuter services. The fix is affordable preventative care. I will set up a dedicated City fund for low-cost spay/neuter clinics. This money will help low-income residents and groups like PAACT. Prevention saves us money and is much better for the animals than dealing with a crowded shelter system.

Do you have any plans to approve support for local rescue and animal support groups?

Yes. Groups like PAACT provide a vital service the City cannot replace. I will push for stable funding. You need reliable, increased support, not just one-time grants. We can also help with things that do not cost money: help you use City facilities for your adoption events or smooth out your permitting process.

We believe that collaboration with individuals working hands on to support the animal community is a vital part of making decisions regarding animal welfare. How will you make space for these voices when making applicable decisions?

We must hear from people doing the hard work every day. My commitment is to create a formal mechanism for regular consultation. This ensures Bylaw changes, animal-related budget spending, and crisis plans get reviewed by PAACT experts and others before they ever reach my desk or City Council.

If we receive a response from any of the other candidates in the upcoming municipal election, we will happily post them when received!