Are you in need of pet food to continue caring for your pet? Contact our Animal Helpline at 1-855-622-7722 to learn about how to access pet food bank services close to you.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous BC SPCA locations informally offered food if those in need came in and asked for help. Since April 2020, we have significantly increased our food bank outreach services to meet the needs of people in challenging times.
Currently, our animal centres offer local food bank support through the following distribution streams:
- Delivery to community partners: The SPCA provides pet food and supplies to established community food banks or other social services / community partners to meet their needs.
- Direct distribution at BC SPCA locations: The SPCA distributes food and supplies to clients who come to their location during open hours or on an appointment basis.
- Pet supply drop-off to identified communities: The SPCA drops of food and supplies with remote or Indigenous communities if there is a need.
- Off-site food bank: the SPCA sets up a community food bank in a targeted low-income area, or at a partner organization’s distribution site. An example is Charlie’s Pet Food Bank in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, a flagship program for the BC SPCA that has been running for over 20 years.
Our BC SPCA locations offer distribution streams based on needs, resources and partnerships in the community, and often it’s a combination of the options above. We now have over 80 social services and community partners throughout the province who we provide pet food and supplies in order to support their clients.
As accessibility and requirements vary, we ask that anyone in need contacts our Animal Helpline 1-855-622-7722 as they will provide the details on what is available in your community.
This program is made possible thanks to the generous donations of pet food and supplies from our supporters. We are able to accept unopened and unexpired food donations. Contact your nearest animal centre to find out what supplies are needed to support your community.