About the Animal Shelter

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Ryan Voutilainen

With 24 plus years in the animal welfare & sheltering profession with 20 years at the BC SPCA and 4 years with the City of Delta, Ryan Voutilainen understands that an animal shelter should not only serve the animals in it but the community as a whole, and beyond. Whether it is building relationships with partner organisations, local and big business, or with individual community members, Ryan believes that we all have a role to play in supporting the animals in our community.

Ryan is a member of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, the National Animal Care & Control Association, and the Animal Welfare Advisory Network of BC. In his spare time, Ryan volunteers for the RCMP and hones in on his weather photograph skills.

Jenna Walker-Grazier

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Jenna is Delta Community Animal Shelter’s Supervisor and also one of our Acting Senior Bylaw Inspectors. Having worked for the City of Delta since 2008 and at the Delta Humane Society prior to that, Jenna has dedicated her career to animal welfare. She worked in clerical, animal care and animal control roles at DCAS before taking on a leadership position and expanding her duties to include general bylaw enforcement.

Improving the lives of local animals through guardian education is Jenna’s passion, followed closely by working with wildlife. When not in uniform, you’ll find her at the gym, travelling, enjoying tasty food downtown, or in her favourite spot - cuddled up on the couch with her two senior Chihuahuas, Hulk & Echo.

Brittany

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Brittany has been working as an animal care attendant at the Delta Community Animal Shelter for 4 years now. Her deep love and passion for animals started at a very young age and lead her to pursue a career in the veterinary industry, as a veterinary assistant back in 2013. It was during that time, that she rescued her beautiful tuxedo cat Minnie, who officially made her into the cat person she is today! When not at Delta Community Animal Shelter, Brittany also shares her time as an auxiliary at the Surrey Animal Resource Centre, and when not at work she enjoys keeping up with health and fitness, hiking, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Elizabeth

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Shelter animals have always held a special place in Elizabeth’s heart.   In fact, Elizabeth started as a volunteer with the Delta Community Animal Shelter as a dog walker when she was in high school.  Upon graduation, she obtained her dog training certification from Good Dog Academy and further expands her knowledge by attending lectures on dog training & behaviour. Working at DCAS has also lead to what Elizabeth calls her “biggest failure in life” – Being a foster fail of a Great Dane named Jiro!  When not at the shelter, she enjoys spending her time with her dogs who like to keep her on her toes and she wouldn’t want it any other way!

Erin

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Erin has worked for the City of Delta for the past 15 years. Her passion is working with animals and for 12 years, has been a Animal Care Attendant at the Delta Community Animal Shelter. At home, Erin’s caring for animals continues with her 6yr old, twin boys Adam & Liam and her beloved dog Casey who most of the time, listens better than her children.

Taylor

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Taylor has been at the Delta Animal Shelter for 3 years (but in the animal welfare profession for 6). Born in Shreveport, Louisiana and growing up in Ladner, Taylor has always had a deep love for animals and led to her passion of animal sheltering. Taylor’s top three loves are her cat, Jax, food and lastly, small animals. Taylor’s dream is to open a small animal sanctuary one day. When she is not at work, you can catch Taylor at the beach on a sunny day or on Netflix on a rainy day! Fun fact: Taylor is terrified of birds but as she says “I suck it up for the cuties that fly into the shelter.”

Danielle (Auxiliary/Casual)

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Danielle had been with us for the past eight years! Danielle grew up in South Delta and has fond memories for visiting the shelter when she was little. From there she quickly found where her passion lies, helping homeless animals feel loved, and helping them on the road to a healthy, fresh start with a new forever family. Her favourite part of working at DCAS is being able to connect with adopters from years ago and hearing about how happy their pet has been with their family. And of course getting some snuggle time with all the animals at the shelter! 

In Danielle’s free time you can normally find her enjoying a cup of coffee at a local café, out hiking or at a beach on a sunny day! 

Brittanee C, Registered Veterinary Technician 

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Brittanee has been a veterinary technician since 2009 and has been with us at the Delta Community Animal Shelter since November 2014. Originally from London Ontario, Brittanee moved to the west coast 11 years ago following her love of the mountains and the sea. Brittanee spends most of her days tending to the medical needs of the animals in our care, liaising with our local vets to ensure everyone receives the best care possible. When Brittanee isn’t at the shelter, she’s often taking her work home fostering sick animals or orphaned kittens alongside her 5 personal cats (Odette, Mouse, Corbin, Leroy and Emerald).

Melanie

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Melanie is our voice as our full time receptionist & matchmaker for the Delta Community Animal Shelter. Mel was born in Vancouver and grew up in Ladner. At a young age, she found a love and passion for all creatures. Graduating in the Veterinary Assistant program through Douglas College, Mel has been pursuing a career working with animals for the past ten years. At home, she has a beloved Chihuahua named Sid, two darling cats named Ruth and Binx and an adorable Leopard Gecko named Sherman. During Mel’s free time, you can find her at a live concert or enjoying an outdoor adventure. 

Donna

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Donna has worked at the shelter as an Animal Care Attendant and receptionist since the new facility opened in May 2013.  She absolutely loves caring for the shelter animals and being rewarded when she sees them leave to go to their new families and homes.  When not at the shelter, her favourite thing to do is to go for a walk with her own two rescue dogs, Maggie and Wile E.

We know making the decision to bring a pet to the shelter can be a difficult one. When things aren’t working out with your pet, no matter what the issue, knowing what to do or where to turn can be difficult. Delta Community Animal Shelter has lots of resources to help pets and people facing challenges.  Give us a call and we can help work out options with you.  

If surrender becomes the option, we will do what we can to make the correct solution for your pet.

Delta Community Animal Shelter through the City of Delta Property Use & Compliance (Bylaws) Division ensures that the community and its animals are not posing a threat to themselves or others and that stray or injured animals are provided with transport and medical care when need from 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week. Please call 604-940-7111 and follow the prompts to report your concern.

Should you required emergency after-hours assistance for aggressive animals posing a threat to public safety or sick/injured animals, please call the Delta Police Department at 604-946-4411.

The City of Delta & the Delta Community Animal Shelter do not respond to lost or found healthy stray animals after hours and asks that finders keep the animal safe & warm until regular business hours.

Please do not hesitate to report that you have found a lost animal after-hours by leaving a message on the shelter phone at 604-940-7111, via email, or the TalkDelta app.

The Delta Community Animal Shelter understands the human-animal bond and that our pets leave paw prints on our hearts.  While we encourage pet guardians to liaise with their veterinarian regarding end of life services. In the event of a sudden passing of your pet, we are here to help guide you through.

Delta Community Animal Shelter, through our provider, Until We Meet Again Pet Memorial Centre, provide after life services via the shelter including private or communal cremation and provide a host of memorial products through them or SPAWTS.  

Please contact us directly and we can gently guide you through the process of making cremation arrangements that are fitting for you and your pet.

The Delta Community Animal Shelter believes that our community should live in harmony with the natural environment and that each Delta resident can become empowered with the realization that they can make a difference in preserving our wildlife habitats. Please leash your dog in sensitive habitat areas so that your dog is unable to disturb the many nesting birds and wildlife in our community.

Should you find an injured or orphaned wildlife, please contact one of the many wildlife care facilities available to help:

• Birds: Wildlife Rescue Association: 604-526-7275
• Mammals: Critter Care Wildlife Society: 604-530-2064
• Raptors: Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (OWL): 604-946-3171
• After-Hours: Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley: 604-514-1711
• Marine Mammal Rescue Centre:  604-258-SEAL (7325)

If after speaking with a wildlife care facility, you need assistance with transport, please contact us at 604-940-7111.

Bylaw Inspectors with the Property Use & Compliance Division will investigate complaints related to dogs which may have aggressively pursued, attacked or bitten another animal, or a person. Once determined to be a dangerous or aggressive dog, the Delta Animal Control Bylaw applies several responsibilities designed to maintain public safety.

When an aggressive or dangerous dog is not in the home, unless restrictions are amended, it must be:

• muzzled and under the control of a person who is competent to control the dog
• within a closed and locked enclosure that has 4 walls, a floor and roof that the dog cannot get out of or a child can enter
• an increased licensing fee that helps cover the cost associated to an annual visit to the home by a Bylaw Inspector to ensure they have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and to provide support for rehabilitation of the dog

Should you require emergency after-hours assistance for aggressive animals posing a threat to public safety, please call the Delta Police Department at 604-946-4411.

• City of Delta's Engineering Department will pick up deceased animals from all Delta roadways and public streets. If you require this service, please contact 604-946-5334.
• If the animal picked up is domestic, staff will notify DCAS so that we can attempt to contact the owner of the pet. We know the heartache related to having a pet go missing and we want to ensure owners receive emotional closure whenever possible
• Provincial Highways: Mainroad Contracting is contracted by the Province of BC and will pick up deceased animals from provincial highways 99, 91, 17, & 17A located within Delta. If you require this service, please call them at 604-271-0337.

The Delta Noise Control bylaw states that: "No owner of any dog or dogs shall cause or permit such dog or dogs to make noise anywhere in the City of Delta which disturbs the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or of a person or persons in the vicinity".

Bylaw Inspectors with the Property Use & Compliance Division will investigate when a complaint is received from an area resident. They will attend the area, address the concern with the dog owner, assist the dog owner in finding root causes, and encourage bylaw compliance. Fines can be issued should the problem continue.

To file a concern, please contact us at 604-940-7111 or via the TalkDelta app.

See information about "Barking - What Can You Do About It?" in our Resources & Education Section

All parks within Delta require that dogs be leashed at all times. Bylaw Inspectors with the support of seasonal Parks Patrol Officers in the Property Use & Compliance Division regularly patrol all of Delta's parks. The fine for a dog being unleashed in a Delta park is $125.00.

If you have a concern about a specific park that might require additional attention, please contact us at 604-940-7111 or via the TalkDelta app.

View full list of off-leash dog parks in Delta.

The City of Delta is contracted by the Tsawwassen First Nation Council to enforce their Animal Control Bylaw and assist in promoting quality animal care within their community.  The Delta Community Animal Shelter will take animal control complaints on TFN Lands to be enforced by Bylaw Inspectors with the Property Use & Compliance Division.

To file a concern, please contact us at 604-940-7111 or via the TalkDelta app.