Richmond's primary animal welfare organization fears for its future and that of the many creatures it cares for.

The Richmond Animal Protection Society's (RAPS) near $700,000 two-year contract with the City of Richmond for animal control services expires at the end of the month.

The News has learned that RAPS -- which has a no-kill policy -- is just one of three bidders for the new contract.

RAPS is concerned about strong rumours that the city is considering shifting away from having its animal control service operated with a no-kill mandate.

And its anxiety over a new deal became more acute, when the city recently asked RAPS to extend its current contract until the end of February, leading them to believe that someone else is being lined up to take over.

"We've not heard anything from the city about them changing their policy," said Carol Reichert, RAPS' executive director.

"All we know is that the city is going to let us know in a couple of weeks about the new contract. But we can't stop the rumours."

Asked about the city requesting a month's extension on the current contract, Reichert said, "We're very concerned about it, for sure. Especially in conjunction with the rumour about the change in direction.

"If the rumour is true, that would mean they don't want us because most people that know us, know that we go that extra mile to keep the animal alive and healthy.

"Only if there's absolutely nothing we can do or if there's a threat to public safety, would we euthanise. And we would never euthanise for space issues at the shelter."

Reichert added that RAPS has been "very successful in providing a no-kill shelter over the last two years.

"We have been able to do it without killing. It's a lot of extra work, but we've been able to do it.

"We could never switch to being a kill shelter. We could never enjoy our work if it was that way, especially now that we've had success operating a no-kill shelter."

RAPS was the sole bidder for the contract two years ago, although there was brief consideration by the city to take the animal control operation back in-house.

In 2007, RAPS beat the SPCA for the contract after undercutting them by almost $200,000, only to discover a year later that a no-kill shelter couldn't be run so cheaply.

However, this week the BC SPCA ruled themselves out of a return to animal control in the city, telling the News that they were not one of the three bidding organizations.

"Four years ago, we lost the contract and had to move out of the (city-owned) building," said Lorie Chortyk, the BC SPCA's community relations manager.

"Since then, we took a different route in Richmond and we are now committed to another location."

Chortyk said she could not think of any other local organizations that would be in a position to take over from RAPS.

Meanwhile, the city did not want to get into exactly who the other bidders are, as the matter has yet to go before city council for consideration. But its spokeswoman, Cynthia Lockrey, said the city does not actually have a policy on when animals should be put down.

She added that there was nothing untoward about RAPS being asked to extend its contract for another month.

"The city does not have a (no-kill) policy one way or another," Lockrey said.

"The current contract calls for the humane euthanization of animals when absolutely necessary. It doesn't say anything about euthanising if, for example, a facility is overcrowded. And there has been no staff recommendation for the city to have a policy.

"The contract was extended to ensure the welfare of the animals and to give council as much time and information as possible. It means there will be no need to rush through a decision."

Coun. Ken Johnston -- himself an avid dog owner and the council member who instigated Richmond's now famous puppy in pet stores ban -- could not divulge any details of what is being discussed behind the scenes.

But he said he would not be in favour of the city's animal control service being run without a no-kill policy by whoever gets the new contract.

"The city's animal control contract is at the RFP (request for proposals) stage and that's in the works right now, so I can't comment on that too much," he said.

"From a personal point of view, I wouldn't support changing the policy. But rumours are rumours and there's not much I can say about that.

"All I can say is that I know negotiations are taking place, but it's a little too early to jump to any conclusions."