BC SPCA's Five-Year Plan: A Step Forward or a Step Back for Animal Welfare?

Late last week, the BC SPCA released its highly anticipated five-year strategy plan. However, many in the animal welfare community have expressed disappointment, citing a lack of meaningful action or tangible impact. At just five pages long, the plan raises more questions than it answers about the future of non-human animal welfare in British Columbia.

The Decline of Critical Programs

In previous years, the BC SPCA provided grants to non-profit organizations engaged in Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) initiatives, which are crucial in managing and stabilizing community cat populations. One such beneficiary, FCM in Chilliwack while working with the Chilliwack branch, successfully TNR’d 100 local community cats in 2019 thanks to BC SPCA support. The organization also offered assistance to low-income community members by covering the cost of spay and neuter procedures for their companion animals.

However, the 2024 budget eliminated both of these programs—except for organizations working on Indigenous lands or in northern regions of the province. This decision effectively cuts support for approximately 70% of British Columbia’s population, leaving urban and suburban areas with little to no assistance. The impact has been felt deeply by smaller rescues and non-profits, many of which relied on BC SPCA funding to keep up with increasing demand.

Additionally, the BC SPCA has yet to update its grant page to indicate whether these programs will be available in 2025 for the Lower Mainland, including its low-cost spay and neuter program. Currently, their page states that the 2024 period has ended without any mention of the 2025 period. We will be monitoring this closely and will update this page once further information becomes available.

The Growing Crisis of Community Cats and Companion Animal Surrenders

With the BC SPCA stepping back from these crucial programs, the burden of addressing the growing community cat population and spay/neuter needs has fallen on smaller organizations—many of which are already stretched beyond capacity. The situation has worsened due to the economic downturn following the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to an unchecked rise in community cat populations, many rescues have reported a significant increase in surrender requests. Human-animals facing financial hardships are struggling to meet their own basic needs and, in many cases, are being forced to move into housing that does not accommodate companion animals. At the same time, adoption rates have declined, leading to overcrowded rescues and greater pressure on the few remaining resources available.

Hope for Change or More of the Same?

The BC SPCA’s five-year outlook identifies key focus areas, including “Root Cause,” “Early Intervention,” and “Safety Net” strategies. While these priorities suggest a renewed emphasis on prevention, members of the animal welfare community remain skeptical.

A return of the TNR and low-income spay/neuter grant programs would align with the organization’s stated goals of early intervention—helping to prevent the cycle of stray and abandoned litters before it escalates further. However, addressing the root causes of companion animal overpopulation extends beyond the BC SPCA’s scope. The fundamental issue remains deeply tied to broader socioeconomic factors, such as housing affordability and income inequality, which require systemic government action.