By Jill Sperling

Construction right on track for new Kamloops SPCA facility

Sep 19, 2018 | 4:21 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been four months since the official ground breaking on a brand new BC SPCA facility in Kamloops. 

Since that time fundraising efforts have continued, and the building is taking shape. 

On Wednesday the CEO of the BC SPCA visited the worksite to view the progress on the new building, which will be the largest SPCA facility in the province once completed. 

The 10,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art animal welfare facility being built at 2815 Tranquille Rd. has been a long-time dream for the BC SPCA

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“I’ve been with the BC SPCA for 16 years now and I remember very clearly coming up to the branch 16 years ago, and seeing it for the first time and saying, ‘man, you guys need a new facility,’” said CEO Craig Daniell. 

The Kamloops SPCA has outgrown its current building on 8th St. 

“Our current building is about less than half the size of our new facility,” said Branch Manager Charleen Holloway. “So what that will allow is for us to offer welfare to the needs of the animals that they need. Our current housing is not adaptable to what the needs are. So, our cages aren’t big enough to provide proper welfare for the cats. Our dog kennels are small and don’t have outside access.”

The new facility will provide indoor and outdoor access for the dogs, as well as much larger rooms for cats. 

In addition to the community animal shelter, the building will contain a spay and neuter clinic. 

“Right now we operate a spay and neuter clinic from a separate location,” said Daniell. “So we’re combining our sheltering operations, our spay and neuter clinic into one location and we’re going to be able to provide better services for the community. I’m really also excited about having a fantastic multi-purpose room, which we can use to really promote humane education in the community.” 

The construction of the new facility is a $6.5 million project, and the High Five fundraising campaign was amped up in May to raise the final $740,000 needed. 

“We have a fundraising goal of $460,000 approximately left to go, so hoping to drive that home this fall,” said Lisa Fuller, manager of community development for the BC SPCA facility. “So, we’re going to be re-engaging after summer the capital campaign and just really getting to the finish line so we can cross that finish line by the time we do our opening in early 2019.”

Staff are eager to begin moving in to the new facility upon scheduled completion in December. 

“By the time the snow flies they’re hoping to be able to hand over the keys and for us to be able to start looking at moving and things like that,” said Holloway, “but it’s a long time overdue so it’s not just for us seeing that, but for the community as well.”