BC SPGA campaigns for pet-friendly tenancies
BC pet owner and animal hardship help
Political Voice for BC pet owners and their pets
Advocate for animal policing reform
Overview of BC SPGA Programs
BC SPGA is a non-profit, member-funded incorporated society which accepts public donations with a variety of programs and services to meet the needs of BC animal guardians, caregivers and pet owners and their beloved animals. We believe that change begins with dialogue.
BC SPGA urges the BC public to keep up the political pressure for pet-friendly housing. BC's Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC) has confirmed support of BC SPGA's Pet-friendly housing campaign. Other supporters of pet-friendly housing include Pets OK BC, Humane Canada, BC Landlord's Association , BC SPCA and the Canadian Public - 95% of who consider their animals as family.
Access For Animals In BC Tenancies
Working to decrease or prevent barriers and discrimination faced by BC guardians with pets and animals.
BC Residential Tenancies Campaign
In British Columbia landlords are within their rights under the Residential Tenancy Act to prohibit pets in their rental units. BCers are paying higher rents and there are fewer vacancies than ever before yet tenants have no rights to include their furry family members in their residential tenancies. This has led to the destruction of many thousands of animals all over the Province because there simply is nowhere to put them.
Rescues are over-crowded, raided by the BC SPCA animal police for taking in more animals than their premises can hold in the desperation and the animals are the true victims suffering euthanization of healthy pets whose lives are cruelly ended because our lawmakers refuse to put animal famillies first.
Despite having Ontario as a testing ground for pet friendly residential tenancies since 2006 with no unusual challenges, BC stands by blindly knowing that thousands of animals will suffer and their lives ended.
The BC SPGA Pet Owner Survey results unanimously support mandatory pet-friendly residential tenancies for British Columbia.We aim to make accessibility for guardians with pets available in BC residential tenancies. To this extent, we have made suggested revisions to the BC Residential Tenancy Act, are in communications with the provincial government and other stakeholders.
Join the BC SPGA and come together with others who care just like you do.
Take part in the BC SPGA campaign for BC pet-friendly tenancies today!
We advocate that animals who are legally considered "property" be recognized as sentient beings and beloved family members. In this way, guardian and animal rights have a stronger presence in society.
Advocating For Legislative Change
Over 2.5 million British Columbians (that's over half of the BC population) are animal and pet guardians. Yet pet owners have no rights or protection. There is no legislation which assists or protects the lives of ourselves and the animals in our care.
The effects of animal policing in BC currently overseen by the BC SPCA are devastating. Many struggling animal famillies have animals seized because financially they are unable to cope. Many thousands of those animals are re-sold to strangers or euthanized. The victims are the animals and their beloveds. One of the reasons that this is happening is because legislatively animal guardians have no rights and no protection.
The BC SPGA members advocate for change. We know that the burdens of guardians and animals would be lifted with access to pet-friendly residential tenancy housing. In fact, even more domestic animals living desperate lives in captivity could find forever loving homes if residential tenancies were pet friendly since the public could adopt with the ease of knowing that the animal would be able to lawfully reside with their new guardians.
The BC SPGA is also advocating for legislation that will provide animal guardians with protections and rights with proposed legislation, The BC Animal Guardian Act.
Become a member of the BC SPGA and have a Voice to speak for animals and their care providers and guardians. Campaign for pet friendly residential tenancies, animal policing reform and the implimentation of a BC Animal Guardian Act.
Resources For Animal Guardians in hardship
One of our biggest programs for BC's animal and pet guardians who may find themselves in a crisis or hardship situation is the Guardian and Pets In Hardship program. Public donations help the lives of the pets and animals irregardless of the misfortunes or unexpected circumstances of their guardians. Donations are crucial to help us to help others in the Guardian and Pets In Hardship program.
We are currently working on a project (in progress) to make the biggest online directory of resources for guardians with animals and pets in British Columbia. Our online directory will have services and products from 161 municipalities in British Columbia!
Our members will also have access to savings and special offers on products and services throughout BC with our Working Together program.
Members also have a lot of fun and variety with our social get-togethers and fundraising efforts. My Doggy Stroll is a way to meet other guardian members and their dogs in your area for a stroll together in a nearby park.
Guardian memberships are only $5.25 a month during our Membership Launch Special and include
- Socials and activities
- Product and Services Savings
- eNewsletter
- Access to all programs
A donation of over $125 includes a Guardian membership and member programs for our Guardian and Pets In Hardship program.
Animal Enforcement reform
Protecting BC Animal Guardians and their furry family members
The first Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was organized in England in 1824, primarily to prevent the abuse of carriage horses in the days before automobiles.
Today the BC SPCA has charitable status operating an animal policing section. The Society has a surplus of over $86 million dollars (Charity Intelligence Canada) as a result of public donations for the care of animals and continues to solicit more funds from the public claiming that the donations are needed to care for animals despite a burgeoning financial surplus.
The BC SPCA has spent many hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting the BC animal guardian public in the courts and the BC animal appeal custody Tribunal during its existence.
The BC SPGA has developed a set of animal enforcement reforms which includes transferring animal policing to the provincial government to restore the rights and protection for BC's animal guardians and their pets.
With provincial government in charge of animal cruelty investigations BC's animal guardians will have fairness, Freedom Of Information rights, the Charter Of Human Rights respected, accountability, lawful eradication of animal cruelty and full transparency.
BC animal guardians need responsible animal enforcement that can be trusted and will act in the best interests of BC pet owners and their beloved furry pet famillies.
BC SPGA RESCUE & SANCTUARY PROGRAM
Making British Columbia's animal lives the best that they can be.
"No-kill Shelters are a type of animal shelter with an anti-euthanasia policy for the animals they house. The most widely accepted definition of a no-kill shelter is a place where all adoptable and treatable animals are saved and where only unadoptable or non-rehabilitatable animals are euthanized.
Humane societies and SPCAs often euthanize pets because they cannot find homes for them."
- Wikipedia
BC SPGA supports only NO-Kill rescues, shelters and sanctuaries in British Columbia.
The BC SPGA Rescue & Sanctuary Program helps NO-kill rescues struggling to meet the needs and strain of the many animals that end up in their care.
On some occasions, BC SPGA provides assistance for one animal in care in a BC rescue, shelter or sanctuary when there is an urgent need.
Where an animal can be saved and live a comfortable life BC SPGA endeavours to assist with resources which may include easing financial challenges.
Read more on the BC SPGA RESCUE & SANCTUARY PROGRAM.
Networking
Animal and pet guardians represent over half of the British Columbia population.
By networking BC SPGA communicates with guardians who have special family members to share views, hear suggestions, ideas, feedback and participate in surveys.
Networking is used to widen our animal and guardian interests and to increase our awareness of news and trends.
We participate with business owners in networking to develop relationships with people and companies who represent animal and pet guardian interests, products or services.
Professional networking on behalf of animal and pet guardians on various platforms provide an awareness of the interests that we represent and for people to engage and share information.
Members also enjoy our social get-together events as networking opportunities and the BC SPGA fundraising events - where everyone is part of a big family!
Awards Gala The "Circle Craft" of Galas
Once a year the BC SPGA Awards Gala is held for outstanding service and contributions in our community.
Every year we hold an Awards Gala featuring outstanding contributions in our community. Participants are encouraged to dress casually and comfortably for an evening of celebration.
Animal guardians are welcome to bring their pets who will be warmly greeted and treated to healthy treats and goodies.
There will be Outstanding Service awards, Outstanding product awards and most of all lots of fun and exhibition tables of vendors supplies and produce. The "Circle Craft" of Galas!
We welcome suggestions and event volunteers.
Read more about BC SPGA's galas and the Awards catagories.
Join Today!
The BC SPGA is the Voice for British Columbia animal and pet guardians.