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Shovels are in the ground, and work will commence next week on the B.C. SPCA’s new large-animal seizure facility in Kelowna.
The barn will house farm animals rescued from abusive or neglectful situations and is expected to be fully up and running by October.
The 2,500-square-foot facility will be located next to the existing Kelowna shelter and will include six indoor-outdoor stalls, a tack room and hay storage.
A crowd of about 50 people turned out for the ground-breaking event, Friday, including MLAs Norm Letnick and Steve Thompson, B.C. SPCA CEO Craig Daniel, Mayor Colin Basran and local councillors, as well as SPCA donors, staff and volunteers.
There is already a large-animal seizure facility in Surrey, but Daniel says the barn is much needed to provide temporary shelter in the Interior.
“Many people think of companion animals when they think of the B.C. SPCA’s work, but farm animals represent a significant focus of our organization’s rescue and advocacy work.”
In 2014, the non-profit took 117 horses and 143 cattle into custody through cruelty investigations and spent in excess of $200,000 for boarding, hauling and other costs associated with their care.
"Having a facility where we can care for these animals ourselves will make a tremendous difference in terms of cost efficiencies and in the direct care we can provide,” he said.
The project is being funded through support from the provincial government, a grant from the Central Okanagan Foundation and SPCA donors. The provincial funding is part of $5 million provided to the SPCA to renovate aging infrastructure in 10 communities, with $250,000 going to Kelowna.
“Animal welfare is a team effort, and we look forward to continuing to work with the B.C. SPCA so all animals in B.C. are treated with the due care and respect they deserve,” said Letnick, B.C.'s agriculture minister.
In addition to horses and cattle, the SPCA rescues a wide range of large animals that can't be housed in traditional shelters, including sheep, goats, pigs, llamas, alpacas and emus.
