is an official Safe&Happy
partner
of DocuPet
The mission of the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is to protect and enhance the quality of life for domestic, farm and wild animals in British Columbia. The BC SPCA is the only animal welfare organization in B.C. with the authority to enforce animal cruelty laws under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
As the largest animal welfare organization of its kind in Canada, the BC SPCA leads the way in animal care and management. They help more than 118,679 abandoned, abused, injured and homeless animals each year and run preventative programs around the province to address the root causes of animal suffering.
North Peace Animal Centre, a branch of the BC SPCA, recognizes that they are part of the community and that the community is part of the animal centre. Their animal care philosophy and practices reflect this community spirit and focus on optimizing pets’ health and welfare within and beyond their animal centre's walls.
As a safety net for animals in the community, North Peace Animal Centre provides various animal support services, including emergency boarding, pet food bank partnerships, and natural disaster response services.
North Peace Animal Centre needs support, and we can make a difference alongside licensing. We proudly recognize the North Peace Animal Centre as the current Safe&Happy Partner for Fort St. John. Join us in supporting this crucial work and help provide the resources needed to make a positive impact.
“When kept up to date, a licence is a valuable form of identification for pets to help reunite them with guardians should they become lost. A lost pet can be a stressful situation for both the animal and their family. With thousands of pets lost in Canada each year due to a lack of registered identification, a licensing program is important for the quick reunification of pets and people.”
-Candace L. Buchamer, Manager of the BC SPCA North Peace Animal Centre
North Peace Animal Centre needs our help
There has been an increase in the demand for support and services due to economic challenges, along with a decrease in pet adoption following the pandemic. Many animals needing services require medical and behavioural support before being ready for adoption.
Adding to this, the cost of daily care, medical procedures, and veterinary care, the average cost for dogs and cats, based on an average length of stay of nine days, is $445.
How to help:
License your pet
Pet licences are crucial because not only is it the law, but a licence provides your pet with the best chance of getting home safely if they ever get lost.
License your pet.
Volunteer
The BC SPCA's lifesaving work is made possible through tremendous volunteer support in all the organization's key functions, including animal care, administration, fundraising and more.
Volunteers provide their time, talent, expertise and love to help them reach the most vulnerable animals. Provincially, the BC SPCA is privileged to have over 3,285 volunteers, 77 of whom are actively making a difference in the North Peace region.
Apply to volunteer.
Make a donation
As an organization, the BC SPCA assists more than 118,679 animals in need every year and is funded by compassionate animal lovers who support their work. Donations allow them to help vulnerable animals needing food, emergency shelter, medical attention, caring homes, and so much more. Give today to help North Peace Animal Centre provide lifesaving care, nutritious food, and safe shelter for the animals in the community.
Donate to North Peace Animal Centre.
Shop DocuPet
20% of every designer tag purchase is given to North Peace Animal Centre.
Shop designer tags to support.
What is the Safe&Happy Fund?
In an effort to provide animal organizations with as much funding as possible, we created our Safe&Happy Fund. We will always donate 20% of every designer tag sale to our Safe&Happy partners to provide additional funding for vulnerable animals and the staff that serves them. Pet owners are also given the option to donate to North Peace Animal Centre during the checkout.
North Peace Animal Centre by the numbers
We hope that by providing residents with as much information as possible, the positive impact pet licences have on the community is not just understood, but valued.
5
Staff
Members
195
Pets
Fostered
98
Pets
Adopted
852
Pets
Served
32
Lost Pets
Reunited
77
Volunteers
*Per year
More than just a shelter
Pet Food Bank
Pet Food Bank
North Peace Animal Centre offers free animal food, litter and other pet supplies to families in need to help them achieve pet food security. By uplifting pet guardians and offering judgement-free, confidential services, the program helps pet owners avoid making the difficult decision to feed themselves or their beloved animals. It can even be the difference between guardians having to make a heart-breaking surrender decision.
Their services are available at the animal centre and community partner, the Fort St. John Women's Resource Society. This program is made possible thanks to generous donations of pet food and supplies from supporters. Unopened and unexpired food donations are accepted.
Learn more about this program.
Emergency Boarding
Emergency Boarding
North Peace Animal Centre is proud to provide resources to enable people and companion animals to stay together. Emergency boarding is a free service (as space permits) for pets displaced by natural disasters or impacted by some other life emergency. In addition to victims of wildfires, floods and other natural disasters, the program is available for individuals escaping interpersonal violence or who may be hospitalized with no one to care for their pet. Animals are sheltered at the animal centre or in their specialized foster homes.
Learn more about this program.
Your pet's licence fees at work
Millions of pets enter shelters each year. The critical care, compassion, and love that shelter workers and volunteers show these animals are unlimited, but unfortunately, the same can’t be said for their budgets. When you license your pet, it isn’t just a fee – but a lifeline – for animals like Sunshine, Láska and Baffi.
Sunshine
This young feline was found stray on the side of a highway and in need of urgent help. Thanks to the quick thinking of some Good Samaritans, Sunshine was brought to North Peace Animal Centre to get the medical attention she needed.
Once in their care, Sunshine was rushed to the vet for an exam and x-ray. They found that she had had extensive muscle and nerve trauma, shredded nails, abrasions, and was emaciated. Sunshine was put on a physiotherapy and pain management plan to help her regain nerve function, but unfortunately, she started to chew at her limb, causing even more damage. After careful consideration, her veterinary team decided that the best course of action was to amputate the limb, which gave her the best chance at a full recovery.
Despite her recent hardships, she remains a bundle of affection and snuggles.
Láska & Baffi
When Láska and Baffi ended up at the BC SPCA North Peace Centre, little did they know they would soon find a forever home – and each other! The two tabby girls were brought into the shelter as strays within weeks of each other and waited patiently, soaking up love from staff and volunteers, until one wintery day when their new guardian walked through the front door.
Now safe and sound with their new family, the two young cats are living the life always wished for them. Here’s what their new family had to say:
“These two kitties hit it off from the start, although quite different in personality. Baffi is a talker, and Láska is ridiculously affectionate. Both have settled into their new home.
Láska has quite a personality; she is confident and adventurous. She goes for walks on her leash and, like all cats, loves to roll in the dust. She is heavy-footed enough to announce her presence.
Baffi has warmed up and is gradually becoming less skittish. She isn't a fan of being picked up for too long yet. She does, however, melt like butter in a hot pan for her morning brushing and demands more. She is light-footed and prefers to surprise rather than announce.”
More about North Peace Animal Centre
We sat down with Candace L. Buchamer, BC SPCA North Peace Centre Manager, to learn more about the important work being done for local animals in need.
What is most rewarding about being a part of your organization?
The most rewarding part of my work is when someone returns after several years of loving pet guardianship to let us know that their adoptee is the best companion. I love the joy they have reliving their life of adventures or speaking of life's trials that nearly beat them down if it weren't for the connection they had with their pet. That is why I continue to do what we do.
In your words, why is it important for residents to license their pets and what impact does that have on your organization and community as a whole?
Licensing pets provides a safety net for those unexpected getaways. Accidents happen, and pets can be resourceful escape artists! Being prepared with a properly registered ID helps ensure speedy communication in reuniting pets with their guardians.
What is something that makes your shelter unique?
Our organization is unique due to the vast number of locations throughout the province that come together as its community in the name of animal welfare.
What is the best piece of advice you have for pet owners?
My best advice for pet guardians is to consider your animal in your family emergency planning. In highly stressful situations and events (like an emergency), animals behave differently and perhaps unexpectedly but don't worry; there are many helpful and realistic resources to help you prepare. Pet identification, a "to go" emergency bag, and the BC SPCA Emergency Checklist are key tools to giving pet guardians the confidence to navigate emergencies.