BC SPCA marking 125 years of protecting animals

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — As of this week, the BC SPCA is marking 125 years of protecting abused and injured animals.

Since it was created in 1895, the organization has helped over a million domestic animals, farm animals, and wild animals.

“Often people think of the SPCA as only caring for cats and dogs because that’s what they see in our adoption centres, but in reality, we care for all animals – from hamsters to horses and from owls to otters,” BC SPCA CEO Craig Daniell says.

Over the past 125 years, donations have almost entirely funded programs and services for the BC SPCA.

“It is the kindness, generosity and compassion of our incredible partners – our donors, our 5,500 volunteers, our corporate and community sponsors and our hardworking staff – who make this life-saving work possible,” Daniell says.

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The BC SPCA was launched to protect horses used to haul heavy materials in B.C.’s booming construction economy at the turn of the 20th century.

“A small group of clergy, journalists and businessmen concerned about the abuse of these horses successfully lobbied the government to create laws to protect animals in 1895 and the BC SPCA was created as part of that legislation (later amended to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act) as a body to enforce the laws,” Daniell explains.

Over its time in operation, the BC SPCA has grown to become one of the largest animal welfare organizations of its kind of North America.

It now has 44 locations across B.C.

“We are proud of the widespread improvements that have been achieved in the lives of animals in British Columbia. But there is still much to be done, and we are grateful to all those who share our vision of a world where no animal suffers because of human neglect or violence,” Daniell says.