The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is setting its sights on a bold future for animal welfare in the province with the launch of its new 2025-2030 strategic plan. With an emphasis on tackling the root causes of animal suffering, while continuing to act as a safety net for the province’s most vulnerable animals, the BC SPCA aims to work towards a world where animals and people thrive together.
“With animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation facilities across North America consistently operating at or beyond capacity, the heartbreaking reality is that there is no end to the cycle of animal suffering unless we invest more heavily in addressing the bigger issues at play,” says Craig Daniell, CEO of the BC SPCA. “When an animal comes into our care, or an animal protection officer investigates a case of cruelty, that one animal is relieved of its suffering but there are many more who still need help. By focusing on preventing the actual root causes of animal suffering, we can stop some of these cycles of distress before they start, ultimately helping more animals and reducing the burden on our animal centres.”
Daniell continues “There is growing recognition across the animal welfare sector that when people are suffering, their animals suffer too. In British Columbia right now, there are so many families facing challenges with the rising cost of living and other societal issues, which are having a direct impact on their animals. People are having to choose between feeding themselves or their pets. Loving families are struggling to find places to live with their animals after losing pet friendly accommodation. In a lot of these situations, it can feel like the only option is to surrender their animal.” 
The BC SPCA approached its new strategic plan with these growing societal challenges in mind, placing special focus on stopping animal suffering before it begins. An extensive, 18-month planning process helped determine a long-term vision for animal welfare in British Columbia and, importantly, the BC SPCA’s role to play in it.
The 2025-2030 strategic plan was designed to have the most impact in three key areas over the next six years: addressing the root causes of animal suffering to create the conditions for animals and people to thrive together, strengthening the safety net to prevent suffering and reduce the vulnerability of animals, and nurturing the long-term organizational health of the BC SPCA so the Society can be here for the animals for as long as they need us.
From 2025-2030, the BC SPCA will be focused on:
- Continuing to provide care and protection to animals that are vulnerable but also looking for opportunities to reduce this animal vulnerability through proactive community-based approaches.
- Identifying opportunities to address the root causes of animal suffering in our society by influencing systems change for companion, farmed and wild animals alike and ensuring animal welfare concerns are always top of mind for decision makers across the province.
- Strengthening relationships with the public and other partner organizations so we can all be stronger advocates and champions for animal welfare in British Columbia.
- Amplifying the BC SPCA’s impact by working with partners and allies to make our communities stronger and broadening our capacity to build a humane future.
As part of its strategic planning process, the BC SPCA has also evolved its vision and mission statements to better reflect this long-term goal of animals and people thriving together across the province.
Vision: Animals and people thriving together
Mission: Protecting vulnerable animals and mobilizing communities so animals and people thrive together.
“The BC SPCA has always evolved to meet the changing needs of animals in our community, beginning in 1895 when we were a small group advocating for laws to protect animals from abuse and neglect,” explains Daniell. “Addressing the root causes of animal suffering in British Columbia is a complex challenge that won’t be solved in the next five years, and likely not even in the next 25. This is not a task the BC SPCA can tackle alone—we will need the ongoing support of our volunteers, community members, and strategic partners to make meaningful progress. However, we remain steadfast in our commitment to live up to our name—the BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. By focusing on preventing animal distress before it happens, we can help a greater number of animals and build a compassionate future for all.”
To learn more about the BC SPCA’s new 2025-2030 strategic plan, visit spca.bc.ca/strategicplan
