When Zoe first arrived at the BC SPCA, she was a little shaken and unsure what to make of her new surroundings. Earlier that day, Zoe and her guardian were involved in a car accident which left him struggling to breathe. Before calling the emergency services for himself, Zoe’s guardian first dialed the number for the BC SPCA Animal Helpline. His love for his cat was so strong that he wanted to make sure she had a safe place to go before focusing on his own care.
Our Animal Helpline operators field thousands of calls each year, and the team goes above and beyond to help animals and their people receive the support they need. After reassuring Zoe’s guardian that a member of staff was on their way to pick her up, the operator, Connor, contacted 911 and stayed on the line until help arrived. It was important to know that both Zoe and her family were safe and looked after.
“I am happy to have this job where I can help animals and people,” said Connor, “anyone in the team would have done the same.”
Thanks to the BC SPCA’s emergency boarding program, Zoe had a safe place to go while her guardian focused on getting better. She spent the first day quietly in her kennel getting used to the new sights and sounds. But it didn’t take long for Zoe to feel comfortable enough to let her true personality shine. Staff quickly learned she was a social butterfly, and she was given full run of the centre. This was a job Zoe took very seriously. Her days were spent greeting staff, inspecting desks, and choosing her favourite sunny spot on top of the cat trees for a nap.
It wasn’t long before Zoe made a new best friend. Someone to fill the space in her heart while her guardian recovered in hospital.
When a new staff member, Sarah, joined the team, Zoe decided instantly that she was the chosen one to be her surrogate human! Every morning, Zoe trotted over to greet her, to the point where a cozy bed was placed on Sarah’s desk so Zoe could sit nearby and “help” her do her morning tasks. The two became inseparable. If Sarah moved, Zoe was never far behind.
Zoe wasn’t afraid to share her strong opinions either. When a few new cats came into the centre, she wasn’t impressed. She wanted all eyes (and all hands!) on her and made that very clear. The staff joked that there always needed to be a minimum of two people caring for the cats, just so someone could be available to give Zoe the attention she felt entitled to.
Even while she charmed the staff, Zoe never stopped missing her guardian. During a check‑in call with her person, Zoe was overjoyed to hear her guardian’s voice as the phone was held close to her. Her ears perked up right away. On the other end of the line, Zoe’s gentle purrs and knowing she was safe, loved, and getting plenty of attention, left her guardian with a warm heart and a wave of relief.
After multiple weeks in care, Zoe and her guardian were reunited when he was healthy and ready to bring her home. Today, they’re back together where they belong.
Many people know the BC SPCA for our rescue stories: the dramatic moments when an animal is saved from danger. But just as important are the quieter programs that protect animals like Zoe every single day. These are the pets whose guardians love them deeply, but who need temporary help during a crisis. Their stories may not have the shock factor, but they are full of heart. They show the steady, compassionate work our frontline staff do to keep families together and help vulnerable animals stay safe. Pets like Zoe, and friendships like the one she built with Sarah, remind us why these programs matter. They change lives in small, meaningful ways that last long after an animal goes home.
While many know the BC SPCA for protecting and caring for animals in need when they don’t have a home, equally important is our work helping pets in the community. These are the pets whose guardians love them deeply, but who need temporary help during a crisis. It could be emergency boarding, a voucher to spay or neuter an animal, or access to vital pet food and supplies. Compassionate work that keeps families together, because all of our lives are richer with animals in them.
Every year, the BC SPCA provides thousands of free emergency boarding nights for pets whose guardians are facing crisis and other unexpected emergencies. By providing temporary support, families can stay together and we can prevent animals from being surrendered when their people simply need a bit of time and support to turn things around.