The BC SPCA is barking with joy after the B.C. Government announced an additional $5 million in funding.

The money is set to support the society’s eight-year Facilities Development and Services Plan to replace or renovate aging shelters throughout the province.

“We are grateful to the Province of B.C. for their ongoing support of homeless, abused and vulnerable animals,” said Craig Daniell, chief executive officer of the BC SPCA.

“This $5 million contribution provides a valuable boost as we move forward with the initial stages of fundraising for the second phase of our capital building plan, which will include new community animal centres in Vancouver and Prince George.”

Since 2015, the government has contributed a total of $10 million towards the BC SPCA’s $53.8-million Facilities Development and Services Plan to replace aging SPCA shelters in 12 B.C. Communities

In the first phase, work was carried out in several B.C. communities, including the new large animal adoption and recovery barn in Kelowna, a similar one in Surrey, a separate specialized facility for seized cats in Surrey and a state-of-the-art Community Animal Centre in Nanaimo.

Advanced planning for new facilities in Kamloops, Castlegar and Dawson Creek was also completed, as well as initial planning in Vancouver.

Other areas highlighted for future development in the plan are the Fraser Valley, Shuswap and Campbell River as well as further refurbishments to the Kelowna, Surrey and Cowichan SPCA locations.

“We are extremely grateful to the Province of B.C. for their partnership in our capital plan and to all those who have supported our work,” says Daniell.

“Having updated facilities that can accommodate large numbers of incoming animals is critical to the SPCA’s ability to respond quickly to the thousands of domestic, farm and wild animals who are victims of violence and abuse every year in B.C.”