The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Community Safety Team, better known as CST, are going door to door and community to community across the Nation in a new campaign to meet people at their homes and to register and license dogs.
The campaign began on August 5 and will last until the task of registering all the Nation’s dogs is complete. CST intends to visit all of the homes it possibly can in every reserve community on the North Shore and the Squamish Valley—that’s about 990 homes.
CST’s work will help the Nation keep track of the dogs living in our communities and also enable the return of lost ones to their families quickly, and safely. CST has already registered 25 dogs.
Registering a dog with the Nation is free, and once registered dog owners get a license in the form of a tag. The license is renewed every January. To register your dog, please download and fill out this form. For reporting concerns or incidents about dogs or other animals you can fill out this form.
Besides registering beloved pets, this campaign allows for the face-to-face introduction of Public Safety’s CST. The team includes Tiffany Wright, Animal Control, Lesley Natrall, Community Relations, and CST members Mark Antone, Robert John, and Anthony Joseph on the North Shore and Rebecca Billy and Vivian Joseph in Squamish Valley. They are all in Community discussing the new Animal Control Program, the operating hours of the CST, and details about its daytime and nighttime patrols. While at people’s doors, the CST will also chat about how to contact Public Safety for non-emergencies and other contact information, and share information about Elders’ safety and protection,
Ta na wa Téy̓wilhay̓lhem could be interpreted as ‘The Ones Protecting the Descendants’. And when our Community Safety Team appears at your door, they’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have and also listen to any Squamish People’s concerns.