We rely on an extensive network of private veterinary clinics and hospitals to assist us in our life-saving work.
Veterinarians, technicians and veterinary assistants help care for shelter animals by offering discounts for services, free veterinary checks for newly adopted animals, and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for people in need of assistance.
Many also volunteer at free-roaming cat spay/neuter clinics, and host fundraisers and microchip clinics. Thank you to the vets supporting our work! You are our lifeline!
Our veterinary newsletters below are sent to veterinarians across B.C. and are a valuable resource to help improve the lives of animals in your practice. Other BC SPCA veterinary resources are also available in addition to our research in veterinary science publications.
Shelter medicine program
Shelter medicine balances the needs of individual animals with the needs of the general public. We are currently in the process of updating our shelter medicine protocols and will make them available here to the veterinarians with whom we partner. Sometimes shelter medicine protocols differ from private practice recommendations.
General information about shelter medicine and our shelter medicine program.
Our shelter medicine protocols and veterinary correspondence
- General information about shelter medicine and our shelter medicine program (PDF): Updates for veterinarians who care for BC SPCA shelter animals regarding our pain control, decision-making and humane euthanasia protocols.
- Asilomar and Adoptability Guidelines (PDF): Document describing how the BC SPCA determines treatability and adoptability by species and condition.
- BC SPCA Shelter Medicine Quick Reference Common Infectious Diseases (PDF): This Quick Reference Guide is intended to supplement existing protocols and SOPs and is limited to common bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral diseases that can affect individuals and populations entering shelters or in shelters. Password required.
- BC SPCA Guidelines for Feeding Animals in Care (PDF)
- Management of Suspected Panleukopenia SOP (PDF)
- Prescribing Psychoactive Medications to BCSPCA Shelter Animals (PDF)
- Skin Conditions in Animals in Shelter Care (PDF)
- Vaccine Protocol (PDF)
Hide, Perch & Go™ box
The Hide, Perch & Go™ box acts as both a welfare box and carrier, providing a more comfortable environment for cats away from home. The Hide, Perch & Go™ box can also be used as a bed and rest area in the home, for trips to the veterinarian, and for other transport needs.
Learn more about the Hide, Perch & Go™ box or order boxes for your clinic or hospital today.
Resources and links
Handbook for veterinarians assisting with BC SPCA cruelty cases
Veterinarians are often on the front lines in cases of animal cruelty and neglect. After receiving many requests for more resources, we have developed a comprehensive handbook for veterinarians working on animal cruelty cases (PDF).
Veterinarian’s duty to report an animal in distress
In the course of your veterinary practice, you may on occasion find yourself in a situation where you are dealing with an animal that has been abused, neglected or needs veterinary care due to being in distress and the owner is either unable or unwilling to provide that care. Access our resources on the duty to report animals in distress including dental disease and canine tail docking.
Animal care manuals
Animal behaviour
- AAHA 2015 Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines (PDF)
- AAFP 2004 Feline Behavior Guidelines (PDF)
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour Position Statement on Humane Dog Training (PDF)
- BC SPCA recommended AnimalKind dog trainers
- CVMA Position Statement: Humane Training of Dogs
- West Coast Veterinarian magazine Summer 2023 – Daycare Dilemmas and Grooming Salon Scares: The Quest for Humane Pet Services (PDF)
- West Coast Veterinarian magazine Summer 2022 – Mind your Manners: Why Dog Training Methods Matter (PDF)
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)
- BC SPCA community animal spay neuter grant
- Spay/neuter guide for community cats
- BC SPCA Trap-Neuter Return Guidelines (PDF)
Surgical sterilization and Non-Surgical Fertility Control: Increasing access to Care
- Closing the Spay-Neuter Gap: Exploring Options for Veterinary Fixes (PDF)
- Managing Increasing Companion Animal Overpopulation Using a One-Shot Approach. West Coast Veterinarian Magazine, Winter Issue 2023, Weitzenfeld, H. (PDF)
Pediatric spay/neuter
BC SPCA Pediatric Spay/Neuter Resource Library
- Pediatric Spay/Neuter General Information for Veterinarians (PDF)
- Pediatric Sterilization Primer for Veterinarians (PDF)
- Pediatric Sterilization FAQ (PDF)
- Pediatric Sterilization Brief Literature Review (PDF)
- High Volume High Quality Spay Neuter (HVHQSN) (PDF)
External Pediatric Spay/Neuter Resources
Pet identification
- A to Z guide to microchipping (AVMA membership required to access)
- BC Pet Registry
Shelter medicine
Additional links
- AVMA animal welfare reference guides
- HSVMA continuing education webinars
- International veterinary forensic sciences association
- Carol Morgan Memorial Award for veterinarians – supports continuing education in ethics and/or welfare
Veterinary Newsletters
Shelter Medicine Gazette Spring 2024 (PDF)
Highlights include:
- BC SPCA Shelter Stats and Animal Health Trends
- Treating Behavioural Conditions in Shelter Animals
Shelter Medicine Gazette Spring 2023 (PDF)
Highlights include:
- Dermatology in Shelter Medicine
- Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
- Animal Kind Pet Services Standards