What’s in a name?

Well, apparently, quite a lot if you’re an animal welfare charity on the verge of financial Armageddon because of a legal battle with the College of Veterinarians of B.C. (CVBC).

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The Richmond-based Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS) is in the final stages of opening its own 6,000-square-foot animal hospital at the Richmond Auto Mall.

But a dispute with regulating college – which must first approve the name and then give accreditation - over the simple naming of the $1 million-facility is threatening to ruin RAPS and is risking the welfare of around 500, unadoptable cats at its sanctuary, the biggest of its kind in Canada.

According to RAPS, what should have taken only a few weeks to process, has taken six months, during which time the college has raised other dubious concerns, such as the acronym “RAPS” being too close to “SPCA”.

And the last straw for RAPS’ boss Eyal Lichtmann came more recently when the college claimed the use of the word “regional” in the hospital name or in any of the facility’s business dealings would give the public the impression it was an official operation for the area.

Since that time, RAPS has racked up more than $30,000 in legal bills and will have to suck up around $50,000 a month in overheads and running costs if the hospital’s opening is delayed beyond its expected mid-January launch.

The non-profit’s financial situation is so perilous, staff are currently working on an evacuation plan for the hundreds of cats at its sanctuary, which will be the first to feel the pinch if RAPS’ has to scale down its operations.

“In July, we put forward three suggestions for the name. The (college) approved the name “RAPS Animal Hospital” but with a whole list of conditions that are simply not practical, or legal, for us to operate under; such as the use of the word ‘regional’ on anything, from a receipt to a contract,” a frustrated Lichtmann told the Richmond News.

“They claim, among other things, it would be confusing or misleading for the public to give the impression we were some kind of government-run facility.

“But the B.C. Registry had no problem allowing us to rename to ‘Regional’ about eight months ago and there are more than 100 companies in B.C. with ‘regional’ in their name.

“It just seems to be excuse after excuse with the college and I really don’t know what their problem is. It’s at least a month behind schedule, mainly because they won’t allow us to use our legal name, which has the word ‘Regional’ in it. We are, however, legally obliged to do so when in operation.

“We’re running out of money and the whole thing seems totally unfair.

“You have to ask, what the real reason is for all of this?”

Richmond Animal Protection Society animal care attendant Julie Desgroseillers inspects the ears of domestic short-haired cat Menna, whose owner had died. - Gord Goble/Special to the News

The college, which has its head office on Shellbridge Way in Richmond, was closed for the holidays and didn’t return emails or voicemails from the News.

However, the college’s CEO and registrar, Luisa Hlus, told Global News that it wants to, “…avoid confusion, we want to avoid the name ‘regional’ being a part of the title of the hospital.

“But of course we have no issue with RAPS running a hospital.”

Hlus added that she hopes to resolve the issue soon, claiming that she wasn’t aware of the financial commitments of RAPS until Dec. 25.

“I am optimistic that we can find a resolution in January,” she told Global.

Those comments are puzzling for Lichtmann, who says the college is well aware that RAPS is fully committed to opening its own animal hospital, which, ultimately, will employ four veterinarians.

As well as treating the myriad of animals in RAPS care – from its burgeoning shelter in Ironwood to its bulging cat sanctuary – the hospital is allowed to generate a revenue stream from 30 per cent of its operations by allowing the public to admit their pets.

But setting up such a facility requires a great deal of cost, including hundreds of thousands of dollars on the likes of lead-lined doors and walls for X-rays, a separate ventilation system for isolation of sick animals, surgical flooring throughout and a dedicated laboratory for diagnostics and blood tests.

Eight months ago, RAPS changed its name to “Regional” instead of “Richmond” and Lichtmann said changing it back would take just as much time and cost as it would to fighting the college on the naming issue through the courts.

“Even if we got this sorted out next week, we wouldn’t be able to open until about the middle of February,” Lichtmann added.

“We have equipment still to go in, staff to get trained, software to be installed. None of that can happen until we get this sorted out. We can’t sign contracts for supplies or anything.

“Where do we turn to here? Legally, for provincial and federal (CRA) reasons, we need to open as a ‘regional’ facility. We either fall foul of them or the college.”

RAPS decided about 18 months ago to set up its own hospital, citing the “crippling” cost of out-sourcing veterinary care for the thousands of animals it cares for annually.