The Medicine Hat SPCA will soon cease operating as the city’s pound. The SPCA had been contracted for the service since 1995. Officials say they are too overcrowded and with the fundraising efforts to build a new shelter, something had to give. SPCA president Marilyn Crisp said the change is for the best, and city council agreed too with the motion was passing unanimously at last night’s Council meeting. Crisp says that 60 per cent of the animals the Medicine Hat SPCA handles are related to pound service, but the yearly contract with the City covers only 40 per cent of the expenses. Medicine Hat is required by provincial law to provide pound services , and will look at contracting those services privately or through local veterinarians. The SPCA will continue handling city pound services until the end of the year.