By Jill Sperling

Work begins on BC SPCA’s new Community Animal Centre in Kamloops

May 18, 2018 | 4:06 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s a dream that is finally becoming reality for the Kamloops branch of the BC SPCA. 

“It’s pretty surreal,” said interim branch manager Alyssa Kyllo. “It’s something that we’ve been waiting for for years. It’s one of those elusive things, you know you’re always expecting ‘the new shelter’s coming, the new shelter’s coming, we’re going to get a new shelter,’ and finally it’s here.” 

Construction began about a week ago on the $6.5 million Community Animal Centre, located at 2815 Tranquille Road. 

In about 12 months time animals and staff will be relocating from their current facility on 8th Street, a space that was never intended to house animals. 

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“Renovations have only taken us so far,” Kyllo said, “and then as animal welfare practices and best care practices have developed obviously we need more from our building, and our building has given us everything that it can, and everything that it is able to give us, so the next step is just to start from fresh. Purpose-built, state of the art, it will be really good.” 

The 10,500 square foot building will have 12 ‘apartments’ for dogs, 5 large cat rooms, assessment rooms, and a large multi-purpose room. 

“The multi-purpose area is really our way of engaging the best with community,” said BC SPCA CEO Craig Daniell. “We know ultimately the only way we change behaviour is through youth education. We have some amazing youth education around the province. We simply couldn’t run those programs in our current facility.

“In this new facility we’re going to have an amazing opportunity to connect with youth, but also to connect with adults, to introduce things like dog training, and birthday parties, and so that’s the real way that we feel we can affect long-term change.” 

The ground breaking on Friday morning was a major celebration for the BC SPCA. While construction had already begun there was still plenty of work to be done on the fundraising side of things. 

“We’ve had quite a bit of support up to this point that’s been done a little bit behind the scenes and privately, both with the provincial government donating $1.5 million and then other donors working on the project,” said manager of community development with the Kamloops branch Lisa Fuller, “but now is really when the public capital campaign starts and start to close that gap and finish off that final $700,000.” 

Through the High Five Building Campaign the BC SPCA is hoping the community will play an important part in completing the new facility, and saving countless animals in need. 

Anyone wishing to donate can contact Lisa Fuller at 250-572-3297, or lfuller@spca.bc.ca, or visit the High Five donation web page.