SPCA breaks ground for new-state-of-the-art centre in B.C.

A new state-of-the-art facility is officially under construction for the BC SPCA.

The Community Animal Centre in Kamloops is being built to care for the region’s most vulnerable animals. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on Friday, May 18 for the new facility, located on a 2.2-acre property across from the Kamloops Airport at 2815 Tranquille Rd.

The $6.5 million, 10,500-square-foot facility is being funded through the Province of British Columbia and SPCA donors. The new centre includes a 2,340-square-foot Spay/Neuter Clinic funded in part by PetSmart Charities of Canada to help reduce pet overpopulation.

This new Kamloops & District Community Animal Centre will incorporate modern designs to ensure the highest levels of health and welfare for animals, including 12 shared “apartments” for dogs to encourage natural movement and socialization, five large cat rooms, designated areas for temperament and behaviour assessments, and specialized isolation areas for sick and injured animals.

The new BC SPCA #Kamloops & District Branch Community Animal Centre is officially underway! The #BCSPCA is grateful to the Provincial Government, @PetSmartChariTs and our generous donors for their support of this new state-of-art facility. Learn more, at: https://t.co/0s7tWWTuQU pic.twitter.com/3qH8G4NWbJ

— BC SPCA / BCSPCA (@BC_SPCA) May 18, 2018

The centre will also have a large retail area for pet supplies, a dog-wash station for the public, office space for regional animal cruelty investigators and a multi-purpose space for dog training, SPCA youth camps, workshops and other events for the community.

“We are extremely excited about the new centre and are grateful to the provincial government, PetSmart Charities™ of Canada and all the generous animal lovers in Kamloops and surrounding regions who are helping us make this urgently needed facility a reality,” said BC SPCA CEO Craig Daniell.

The BC SPCA’s Kamloops & District Branch cares for more than 1,500 neglected, abused and homeless animals each year and offers a wide range of outreach, education and advocacy programs to promote the welfare of animals.

Funding for the Kamloops & District Community Animal Centre includes $1.5 million from the provincial government. The BC SPCA has received $10 million in funding from the Government of B.C. towards its $60 million, eight-year Facilities Development and Services Plan to replace aging SPCA shelters in 12 B.C. communities.