The BC SPCA is still searching for a new home in Fort St. John.
“We have been actively searching for months for a building to lease while we develop plans for a permanent site, but we’ve faced a number of roadblocks due to the extremely limited inventory of buildings in Fort St. John zoned for our purposes,” says Adrienne McBride, senior director for Community Animal Centres for the BC SPCA. “The community has been incredibly helpful with our search and we have pursued numerous properties but each one has led to a dead end, either because the building has already been leased or it is not zoned appropriately to house animals.” The SPCA had to vacate its existing facility in March after structural issues were identified which made it unsafe for humans and animals to continue to use the building.
“Our situation is urgent and we have now expanded our search parameters to the Peace River Regional District and Taylor in the hopes of leasing a space as quickly as possible,” say McBride. She notes that the BC SPCA is grateful for the assistance of City of Fort St. John staff, who have been working closely with the SPCA to help find a solution.
“While BC SPCA services for animals and pet guardians have continued since March with the help of community partners and the BC SPCA’s South Peace location, we are extremely anxious to have a physical space to work from again where we can welcome people face to face, process adoptions, continue to provide kenneling for stray animals in Fort St. John and the District of Taylor, and provide easy access to community outreach programs such as our pet food bank.”
McBride says that while a short-term lease is the immediate priority, the search for a long-term home in Fort St. John is continuing. “As we have said before, we are 100 percent committed to staying in this community, and we are grateful to those who have reached out to us to help us find a long-term solution for our future here. In the meantime we will continue to work with our partners to ensure animals are safe and warm as winter approaches.”
Updates will be posted as they develop on the BC SPCA website.