The North Peace SPCA have reopened their doors on 89th Ave in Fort St. John, after two years of struggling to provide in-person services, as the old facility was closed in 2022, deemed unsafe for use. 2023 saw a delay due to zoning constraints.
Jamey Blair, BC SPCA Senior Manager of Animal Care Services, Adrienne McBride, BC SPCA Senior Director, and Jeanine Devonshire, the new Manager for the North Peace SPCA presented to Fort St. John city council on March 11, providing an overview on the new Animal Care Centre.
McBride says the new facility has three phases of construction, with phase one complete, which means the lobby and cat adoptions rooms are ready. 63 animals have been brought to the centre in 2024, 32 of them being cats and kittens.
"So we are doing adoptions and other administrative work out of that space," said McBride. Furniture and other touches will be added to the lobby as the remaining phases complete.
Work is being done as part of phase two, building a warehouse space that will be used to kennel dogs, a laundry room, exercise area, accessible washroom, and a food preparation centre.
The SPCA has partnered with the North Peace Veterinary Clinic to meet kennelling needs in the meantime, but they expect they'll be able to welcome dogs in the centre by the end of this summer.
Blair manages centres for the Interior and Northern BC and said she's glad to welcome Devonshire to their team as the centre's manager. Four full-time staff positions have been filled in Fort St. John.
"We have a full complement of staff that are here serving the community, are excited to continue serving the community, and can't wait to open," she said. "So I'm really pleased to see what this team is going to carry forward in the months ahead."
Devonshire said she's excited to work with the BC SPCA and the Fort St. John community, inviting council to take a tour of the new centre. Residents have already reached out to volunteer at the centre, she added.
"We have had people reach out to us, and I'm already starting to get them on board," said Devonshire.
Coun. Trevor Bolin said the new facility is a win for residents, but also hopes to see more communication from the SPCA in the future for the public's peace of mind.
"There was a period in time, which I'm sure you will agree, that it was if the SPCA was not in town," noted Bolin. "And that causes a lot of concern for people. Fort St. John loves the SPCA, they absolutely love the work that you do, I don't think that at any point in time anybody would ever turn their back on the SPCA."
"But I think that people need to hear that this progress is happening," he added.
Coun. and acting Mayor Gord Klassen thanked the trio for their presentation, and commended them for the services the SPCA provides, echoing Bolin's sentiments.
"This community cares a lot about their pets, and that they're taken care of, and that those that don't have a home have somewhere to go, which is you guys, so thank you for providing that, and let's make sure the community knows that you're here and you're doing a good job," he said.
You can read a copy of their presentation below:
BC SPCA Presentation to Fort St. John City Council by Tom Summer on Scribd
