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BC SPCA celebrates millionth adoption

Orgaqnization calling for photos of people with their adopted pets to post on the B.C. SPCA Facebook page.
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The BC SPCA is about to hit a milestone later this month.

Trevor Crawley

The B.C. SPCA is about to hit a milestone later this month.

The organization is coming up to it's one millionth adoption in a few weeks and is planning to celebrate by calling for photos of people with their adopted pets to post on the B.C. SPCA Facebook page.

Anyone can post photos of their pets to the page and those who do will automatically be entered into a contest to win an iPad Air, donated by Telus.

At the local B.C. SPCA East Kootenay branch, based just outside Cranbrook, pet adoptions are continuing at a brisk pace, according to manager Brenna Baker.

"Last month in October, we adopted out a total of 58 cats and kittens in one month and four dogs, and one rabbit," she said. "So it's been good. We're still getting way more surrender and stray animals than what we're adopting out.

"Last month, we took in over 89 animals in the month of October, so we get a lot more than what we adopt out."

Baker notes that even though intake is high, the SPCA is always available to take in animals, either with wait lists or transfers to the Lower Mainland.

“The other success for our branch is being able to transfer to the Lower Mainland, so we do transfer animals out of this area, so last month we transferred 21 animals out and they’re usually adopted within 48 hours, they have a really high success rate in Richmond,” Baker said.

With the adoption rate high in Richmond, that can help open space at the local branch, however, sometimes it can be a balancing act to take in as many pets as they do.

“Last week, we didn’t have an empty kennel in the shelter and we had people at the door that we were turning away and putting them on a wait list just to get their animals in, so we’re happy to take people’s pets, though,” Baker said.

“I do believe this is the best place that you can bring your pet if you’re unable to care for it anymore, just because it does get re-homed, we make sure they get their health checks, any medical needs and their vaccinated and we try to make sure they go to a good home and a forever home.”

Baker says that the campaign is a great way to acknowledge the adoptive success of the SCPA and notes that she hears great things from people who take an animal into a forever home.

“We get lots of follow up calls and pictures from people who couldn’t be happier with their animals,” she said. “They know that they’re shots are up to date, that they’re spayed and neutered and you get to know the animals that come in here too, so we try to match up persons looking for a certain type of cat, we can give people a idea of what they’re personalities are like. We do get, especially surrenders, we get people to fill out a form to tell us about their animals, so we do get really good feedback that way.

“There is the odd time where an adoption doesn’t work out and we just ask people to bring them back to us rather than try to re-home it. We understand, sometimes it’s just not the right fit. We don’t judge people and say don’t bring it back here; we definitely want it back here and try to make sure we match it up with another home.”

While the contest is in recognition of past SPCA adoptees, there are hundreds more beautiful animals awaiting adoption in the province right now.  With more than 28,000 animals taken into BC SPCA care each year, there are always furry friends waiting for their forever homes.

To enter the #oneinamillion photo contest, simply go to the BC SPCA Facebook page from Nov. 3-20 and click on the ‘photo contest’ tab near the top.  Follow the steps to upload a picture of the animal you adopted from the BC SPCA or better yet, of you and the animal you adopted.