1 minute read
Essential Work
The Regional SPCA St. John’s is an adoption focused non-profit organization—but the oldest and largest SPCA in the province does so much more than connect families with animals who need a loving home. For instance, while not an enforcement agency, it actively reports and advocates against cruelty to animals.
Eight years ago, our region of 215,000 people—including St. John’s, Mount Pearl, Paradise, Conception Bay South, Torbay and communities as far south as Witless Bay— was overwhelmed with cats and dogs needing homes. The numbers were as high as 1,700. Through persistence in public education, establishing a spay and neuter program and making pets affordable, the Regional SPCA St. John’s quarterbacked a gradual decline in animal intake to 1,000–1,200 animals. However, current numbers continue to strain aging facilities that have always been too small. And the region expects an 11.5% population growth over the next 20 years. Even with continued program success, conservative projections see future intake numbers that could reach as high as 1,500 animals.
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Every animal’s journey to a new home is a complex one. Upon intake, each is isolated and examined for contagious disease and other health conditions. Every animal is given medical treatment as required, vaccinated, tested for hereditary conditions, microchipped and spayed or neutered. There is no timeframe for when an animal “must” be adopted. Proper medical treatment, patience, and a strong commitment to socialization ensures that each and every animal is ready to be matched to its “forever home”. This underscores the SPCA’s transitional role, based on the belief that every animal deserves the stability, safety, and companionship of a permanent home.
To do all this, the Regional SPCA St. John’s relies on a committed core of over 400 volunteers!
Adoption and service fees are kept low. Fees exist only to place a value on the service and to help screen for an appropriate commitment from prospective pet owners. This approach has resulted in some of the highest adoption rates in the country. In 2020, the Regional SPCA St. John’s ensured 1,068 animals (99.5% of its intake!) found The Way Home.
