A New Chapter This Old Shelter Has to Go! The existing facility is well past the end of its useful life and presents serious risks related to animal isolation and air quality. It is cramped and requires far too much effort to maintain the necessary sanitation and cleaning standards. Maintenance costs have become unreasonable. Although air quality meets the minimum standard, the risk of airborne disease is high. Dog runs and exterior exercise areas are small and not nearly stimulating enough. Closet-sized rooms operate as medical exam spaces, and the cramped basement creates dark offices and bleak staff rooms. Every nook and cranny is used for storage. In short, this facility is busting at its seams! Furthermore, despite the educational strides the SPCA has made, today’s demand is simply too high, resulting in a reliance on too many offsite supports and services. A new facility will take the pressure off intake waiting lists and reduce the stress on our loyal fostering volunteers, who are stretched at times to accommodate the needs of animals.
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THE WAY HOME
ADOPTION LOBBY
NEW VETERINARY CLINIC
The proposed new SPCA facility will be a modern 1,000 m2 (10,800 ft2) single story structure. Situated on a 1.5 acre lot with additional adjacent undeveloped land, the facility will have adequate space for the trails, training and exercise areas envisioned for shelter animals and to host the public. Located near the existing SPCA shelter on the north side of Torbay Airport, this once isolated area is seeing rapid re-development and will soon be connected to the Hebron Way extension and bus routes, maximizing the ability for volunteers and adopters to access the facility.
A play and socialization area where visitors can begin to bond with animals is central to the SPCA vision. The new facility will incorporate a spacious 84 m2 (900 ft2) adoption lobby. This welcoming and open space will mean more room for connection—and that can lead to more adoptions. In the off hours, the lobby will serve as a community room for public activities and engagement.
An in-house veterinarian and clinic with surgery, X-ray, and laboratory testing reduces treatment bottlenecks and costs in both our testing and spay and neuter programs, allowing the SPCA St. John’s to do more for animals and lower-income pet owners.
