BCSPCA hopes to expand services to rural communities

Programs aimed at closing gaps in pet care services are seeing success

The BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is working to fill gaps in pet care services across rural and remote communities in northern BC. One recent success came in Terrace, where a pilot project expanded the organization's community spay-neuter program through the Spay/Neuter Your Pet (SNYP) initiative. The program provided surgeries for 13 animals.

Jamey Blair, senior manager of community services for the BC SPCA, told The Citizen that access to veterinary care remains one of the biggest challenges in northern communities. “Throughout the province, but especially in the North and more rural communities, access to veterinary care can be challenging,” Blair said. “Distance, financial barriers, pet-friendly housing and even the cost of feeding a pet can all make it difficult.

We've been focused on expanding supports to help pet guardians and their animals thrive.” Blair said the BC SPCA hopes to continue expanding services into communities that do not have permanent spay-neuter facilities. “Over the past year, we've focused on developing our community spay-neuter program,” Blair said.

“We've offered vouchers through our community animal centres and BC SPCA spay-neuter clinics, and this year we're expanding that support to communities where we don't have a physical location.” So far this year, BC SPCA community animal centres and spay-neuter clinics have issued 96 vouchers to help pet guardians across the northern region access spay-neuter services. Blair said those efforts also help reduce pet overpopulation, an issue that can affect both communities and local wildlife.

“One of our biggest priorities is addressing pet overpopulation,” Blair said. “That's an issue across BC, not just in communities where we have an animal centre.” The BC SPCA also plans to expand the program into additional communities in the Thompson-Okanagan region and on Vancouver Island.

Another program seeing success in the North is the BC SPCA's pet food bank initiative, which has operated through community partners since October 2025. The program has provided about 68,000 pet meals throughout the Cariboo and North region. Blair said the organization works with a growing network of local agencies to distribute food.

“Here in Prince George, people can access the program through our spay-neuter clinic,” Blair said. “We also partner with organizations including the Salvation Army, the Prince George Native Friendship Centre and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Across the Cariboo and North, we have nearly 25 community partnerships, and we're continuing to expand into communities such as Houston and Terrace.”

In addition to food assistance and spay-neuter services, Blair highlighted the BC SPCA's education programs, which provide resources and information to communities that may have limited access to pet care services. The organization also provides animal protection services, helping vulnerable animals receive care or, when necessary, removing them from abusive or neglectful situations. Alex Schare, regional manager for the North Region of the BC SPCA Animal Protection Service, said protecting animals in northern BC presents unique challenges.

He said distance is one of the biggest obstacles, with officers often travelling long distances to investigate complaints or transport animals for veterinary care. The other challenge is the type and number of animals involved. Northern officers frequently respond to livestock cases or situations involving large numbers of dogs, cats or other animals.

“It can be very challenging,” Schare said. “Our primary goal is always to work with people. We don't attend files intending to remove animals.

We want to help owners relieve the animals' distress whenever possible. Sometimes, though, owners recognize they have more animals than they can care for and choose to surrender some or all of them.” Schare said large animal surrenders can place significant strain on the BC SPCA's resources, particularly transportation and shelter capacity, as animals often need to be transferred to adoption centres elsewhere in the province.

He added that while northern BC presents unique logistical challenges, affordability and access to resources are issues across the province. “I think across the province we're seeing challenges with access to resources and people's ability to afford them,” Schare said. “Even where veterinary services are available, people may not have the means to access them.

In the North, especially in very remote communities, problems can also go unnoticed for longer.” Schare said his team has responded to 670 animal protection cases across the northern region this year.