Farm animals
The BC SPCA believes that all animals should enjoy, as a minimum, five essential freedoms, which were first described by the Farm Animal Welfare Council of the UK:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from pain, injury and disease
- Freedom from distress
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom to express behaviours that promote well-being
What does animal welfare mean?
The objectives of the BC SPCA are to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals. Animal welfare means an animal’s quality of life, and it is affected by animals’ physical health and the feelings they experience.
Animals experience good welfare when they are able to experience positive feelings (arising from pleasurable activities and the fulfillment of behavioural needs) and when they are free from poor physical health and negative feelings (such as pain, discomfort, hunger, thirst, fear and frustration).
Animals that are healthy, pain-free, comfortable and unstressed are said to have good welfare.
Horses and farm animals come into the BC SPCA’s care through our Animal Protection Services. Sadly, these horses are usually in poor condition. In many cases they require extensive nutritional, medical, and behavioural rehabilitation due to starvation, neglect and abuse.
The BC SPCA cares for these horses in one of our three barn facilities: the Good Shepherd Barn in Surrey, the Kelowna Recovery and Adoption Barn, and the Nanaimo Seasted Stables, or places them in the care of an experienced foster home. The BC SPCA provides the care, treatment and time these horses need to recover before being adopted to new homes.
To adopt a horse or any other animal from the BC SPCA, please visit our adoptions page. The BC SPCA does not have the resources to take in surrendered horses and farm animals at this time.
We rely heavily on donations and our dedicated foster homes and boarding facilities to provide for the horses in our care.
Our Science & Policy team advocates to protect and enhance the quality of life for all animals in British Columbia, including horses, through education and advocacy initiatives. We work to increase awareness of animal welfare issues, promote individual actions that lead to positive change, and press for evidence-based changes to standards, policies, and legislation to improve the lives of horses.
Yes, you can adopt horses from the BC SPCA. Horses come into the care of the BC SPCA through our Animal Protection Services work. These horses are rehabilitated on-site at the Surrey Good Shepherd Barn, the Kelowna Recovery & Adoption Barn, the Nanaimo Seasted Stables, or in foster homes across the province. Interested in fostering horses? Apply to become a foster home online.
Horses that are available for adoption are listed on our adoptions page. Viewings are by appointment. A completed adoption application and a home check are required as part of the adoption process.
Adoption fees vary from $250 to $750, or more. Basic medical exams are performed by a veterinarian when horses are in our care; however, it is recommended that potential adopters carry out pre-purchase exams when considering horse adoption.