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Adoption
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.
The quick answer is yes! However, you still have to meet our four non-negotiable factors and the animal needs to be matched to the person receiving the animal as a gift. Please visit your local BC SPCA animal centre or check out our adoptable animals. Learn more, watch our video on giving pets as gifts:
To view all available adoptable animals, please see our adoptable animal listings. When an animal is adopted, they will be removed from the listing (within 4 hours of adoption).
Please note, even though this website is live and updates frequently, we cannot ensure the animal is still available for adoption when you arrive at the animal centre. There is a chance the animal may have been adopted by the time you arrive, or another party might be going through the adoption process at the time. For more information, please contact the animal centre caring for the animal, as listed on the animal’s profile page.
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.
Every adoption is unique and the time it takes to adopt varies. Some animals can go home the same day if they are successfully matched. Visit our adoptable animals section to start your search today.
Due to the number of adoption queries we receive at our animal centres, we are unable to keep wait lists for certain breeds of animals, puppies or kittens.
However, on our adoptable animals page, you can create an account and then set up an email notification when a certain breed of animal or certain type of animal becomes available for adoption. For best results, we recommend selecting as few criteria as possible when creating the email alert.
Read our position on the sale of pets from pet stores (PDF).
What are the concerns with buying from a pet store?
- You don’t know where the animals came from. What if they were living in filth and their mothers were abused or neglected? They might have costly genetic,  health and behaviour problems their entire lives. Learn more about good and bad breeders.
- Many stores carry animals that they have no expertise or knowledge to care for. These animals are not given the Five Freedoms. Many just want a safe place to hide and rest and enough space and things to do. Often, cramped housing conditions don’t meet even their most basic needs.
- When animals are transported to the pet store, they are often in cramped containers. Many animals, especially small animals like fish and gerbils, will die during transport.
- If you buy from a pet store, you are creating a space for another animal to be brought in, continuing a cycle of pain and suffering.
What happens to pet store animals who aren’t sold?
Just like with inventory in retail, animals go on sale. If the animal is marked down and no one purchases her, the store may give the animal away or try to return her to the breeder. After a very low cost sale of an animal that has high care costs, the store will think twice and will not purchase another, be it a puppy, turtle or gecko.
Are you worried about the well-being of an animal you saw in a pet store?
If you believe an animal you have seen may be in distress, call the BC SPCA Animal Helpline at 1-855-622-7722.
While being an animal guardian is an invaluable experience, there are certain costs associated with adopting your pet. The adoption fee that we charge helps to cover our cost of caring for animals, while we find them loving homes. Find out what’s included and fees per animal type:
Fostering an animal means you take a BC SPCA animal into your home and temporarily care for them for us. While they’re in your home, we provide you with food, supplies and medical care. Foster families help animals recover from illness/ injuries, get ready for adoption, and provide them with socialization and love.
If you are unsure about adopting an animal, or unable to make the commitment at this time, fostering can be a great way to bring animals into your life. You can also multiply your impact by caring for many animals during your time as an animal foster.
While fostering is temporary, many foster families fall in love with animals in their care. If an animal is available to be adopted, fosters can apply to be their forever home. In the case of emergency boarding, fosters feel proud of providing a safe temporary home for animals before they are reunited with their family.
