British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Abbreviation BC SPCA
Motto Speaking for Animals
Founded 1896 (1896)
Type Charitable organization
Registration no. 118819036RR0001[1]
Focus Animal welfare, education and enforcement
Headquarters 1245 East 7th Avenue
Vancouver, B.C. V5T 1R1
Location
  • 42 Shelters
    • 5 Animal hospitals/clinics
    • Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Area served
British Columbia, Canada
Key people
 Craig Daniell (CEO)[2]
Subsidiaries BC Pet Registry
Revenue (2016)
CA$35,114,749
Expenses (2016) CA$33,183,436
Staff (2017)
551
Volunteers (2017)
Approx. 5500
Website spca.bc.ca

The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is a non-profit animal welfare organization which enforces animal protection legislation, operates animal shelters, and runs educational workshops and public awareness programs throughout British Columbia, Canada.[3][4] Founded in 1896, it is a registered charitable organization and one of the largest such animal welfare organizations in North America. As of 2017, BC SPCA had 36 branches, over 500 staff members, nearly 5500 volunteers, operated 5 veterinary hospitals/clinics and a wildlife rehabilitation centre, and sheltered more than 22000 animals.[5][6]

History

In 1895, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was enacted in British Columbia.[7] The act authorized the establishment of BC SPCA to investigate offences involving cruelty to animals and to take action to rescue captive animals in distress. BC SPCA formally began operating in 1896 and its first meeting was held at New Westminster. By 1901, the organization had more than 10 branches spread across various cities of British Columbia. The first animal shelter of BC SPCA was built in 1955 in Vancouver. The establishment of such no-kill shelters and veterinary hospitals by BC SPCA is considered an important milestone in the history of animal welfare and rehabilitation.

Activities

Being the only animal welfare organization in British Columbia that is authorized to enforce animal cruelty laws, BC SPCA has a Cruelty Investigations Department[8] that investigates reports of cruelty towards animals, rescues animals if they are found to be subject to distress, and if required, initiates legal proceedings against perpetrators of acts of cruelty. Punishments handed out by the court to persons found guilty in such cases may range from revoking permission to own animals to imprisonment. In February 2016, the BC SPCA seized 66 animals from a puppy mill in Langley, one of the largest seizures in the organization's history.[9][10][11]

BC SPCA provides medical care to animals through its veterinary hospitals. It runs several no-kill shelters that house rescued animals, including abandoned pets. Many of these shelters extend their emergency services to injured pets, and may also provide short-term care for pets whose owners are in a crisis situation. The organization runs an animal adoption program wherein eligible animals from its shelters and adoption centres may be adopted by people looking to own a pet.

Funding

BC SPCA operates as a wholly non-profit organization and relies largely on donations from the public and government grants for its funding. All the money it receives through donations is spent on food, shelter and medical supplies for animals. None of the money from donations is used to pay employees, who are paid through a separate organization.

According to its website, BC SPCA spend about $2.5 million per yer on animal cruelty investigations,[12] an activity for which it does not receive any government funding and relies solely on public donations.

Every October, the organizations conducts Paws for a Cause walks throughout British Columbia for fundraising.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Canadian Registered Charities — BRITISH COLUMBIA SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS". Canada Revenue Agency.
  2. ↑ "About us | BC SPCA". BC SPCA. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  3. ↑ "CTV Vancouver News - BC SPCA". CTV News. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "Schedule 6: Detailed financial information — BRITISH COLUMBIA SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS". Charities Register. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  5. ↑ "Stats at a glance". BC SPCA. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  6. ↑ "British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals". Vancouver Foundation. 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  7. ↑ Lands, Ministry of Agriculture and (2008-03-06). "SPCA AMENDMENTS FURTHER PROTECT ANIMALS". archive.news.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  8. ↑ "Cruelty investigations | BC SPCA". BC SPCA. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  9. ↑ "66 dogs seized in one of the largest puppy mill busts in B.C. history, SPCA says". CBC News. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  10. ↑ "Massive Puppy Mill Busted In B.C." The Huffington Post. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "BC SPCA seizes 66 injured, malnourished dogs from Langley puppy mill". NEWS 1130. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "Cruelty investigations | BC SPCA". BC SPCA. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  13. ↑ "BC SPCA 'Paws for a Cause' draws hundreds to Stanley Park". CBC News. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
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