As of November 25, the BC SPCA’s pet food bank program has already provided a week’s worth of food to a total of 44,320 dogs and cats in 2025, a total of 622,850 meals.
“That works out to the BC SPCA supporting an average of 923 pets per week just through our pet food banks alone,” says Diane Waters, the BC SPCA’s community services specialist. “We distributed the most pet food in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, but it was only slightly more than what we did in the Thompson, Okanagan and Kootenay.”
Waters explains the BC SPCA operates in four regions, the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, Thompson, Okanagan and Kootenay, the Cariboo and North, plus Vancouver Island, Gulf Island and Sunshine Coast. “The BC SPCA’s pet food bank program runs out of every animal centre across the province, through the Society’s community services teams, and with the support of 164 community partners,” says Waters.
Numbers by the Region:
Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley 14,907 pets helped
Thompson, Okanagan and Kootenay 13,324 pets helped
Vancouver Island, Gulf Island and Sunshine Coast 11,770 pets helped
Cariboo and North Region 4,319 pets helped
Waters adds many of the BC SPCA’s animal centres are reporting that cost is one of the top reasons owners are surrendering their pets to the BC SPCA right now. “If we can take some of the financial burden off the owner, by providing pet food and other supplies like cat litter while they need it, our hope is that we can help keep these families together and keep these pets with the people they love.”
In addition to any physical donations received, the BC SPCA also includes a dedicated amount in its annual budget for purchasing dog and cat food and other supplies for the pet food bank program. “This budget line is trying to help make up the difference between what is donated and what is actually needed by the community,” says Waters. “But we always see a need greater than what we can supply, even with a budget that increases each year. Unfortunately, that is no different in 2025.”
The pet food bank run out of the BC SPCA Kelowna is busy and sees a number of people with different financial challenges come through the door. “Many people are living paycheque to paycheque right now,” says Mary Whittaker, BC SPCA Kelowna pet food bank coordinator. “It only takes one unexpected expense like a car repair to make it difficult to put food on the table, or in the bowl, for their family.”
Whittaker recalls one of their clients who said, “The pet food bank has been very helpful to our family when we’ve gone through tougher times and needed a hand. We appreciate not having to worry about the dogs going hungry.”
The BC SPCA Kelowna’s pet food bank, like the others across the province, relies heavily on volunteers. “We could not run our pet food bank program without the dedication of our amazing volunteers,” says Waters. “They welcome our clients, receive donations, hand out the food and help deliver pet food to our partners.”
Waters adds, “They are the first point of contact our pet food bank clients have with the BC SPCA. Our volunteers are such important people who help our clients feel welcome and provide information about other services the BC SPCA offers, like our spay and neuter clinics, emergency boarding and other ways the BC SPCA can help their furry family members.”
The Eldon & Anne Foote Fund at Edmonton Community Foundation, have generously offered to triple match every gift made today to help stock BC SPCA pet food banks across the province, up to $50,000.
