The Ontario SPCA unveils new five-year plan

This year, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is celebrating its 150th anniversary! As we reflect on this milestone anniversary, we are excited to share with you our new strategic plan for 2023-2028. 

We have a new purpose statement that will serve as a beacon, guiding who we are as an organization and shaping our actions: “We provide care, comfort and compassion to animals in need; we value all animals and engage our communities to treat them with respect and kindness.”  

Our priorities are centred around ensuring the best support for our animals in care, inspiring healthy bonds between pets and people, and partnering to influence and advocate for the welfare of animals in Ontario and beyond. Read on to learn how we plan to grow over the next five years. 

Focus on our facilities  

The Ontario SPCA is implementing 10-year facilities plan to identify major repairs and new capital projects to ensure that our animal centre buildings meet the needs of our communities, now and in the future. This will guarantee that buildings are safe and reliable for staff and animals in our care.  

A new Central Ontario Regional Animal Centre is also part of the plan. Once built, this new facility will serve  Central Ontario, as well as support our work in Northern communities.  

Enhance Community Support  

Community outreach and humane education is a large priority in the years ahead. We will be expanding services to support our communities and have begun implementing the resources needed to carry out those plans.  

Through our AnimalSmart™ Humane Education program, we are instilling empathy and compassion and teaching students about the care animals need to thrive. As our future generation, empowering them to advocate for animals will help create a brighter future for our furry friends. 

Develop a plan for animal advocacy  

The Ontario SPCA advocates on behalf of our furry friends. To help make our voice heard, we will collaborate with Ontario shelters and other like-minded organizations to engage government and communities to influence policy change and increase awareness about animal welfare issues.  

Pet population management in our communities  

Pet overpopulation and a lack of access to wellness services isn’t an issue limited to the North. We will continue to bring wellness and spay/neuter services to underserved areas of the province. As part of that work, the Ontario SPCA has launched a new wellness clinic at its Ontario SPCA Centre Veterinary Hospital in Stouffville. It will help families referred through social services who don’t have the means to take their animal to a local veterinarian for routine care.  

As part of our ongoing efforts to reach underserved populations, we will continue to deliver spay/neuter and wellness services to these communities across the province. For some people, it may be the first time their animal has ever seen a veterinarian due to factors like financial challenges, accessibility, and the availability of services. Remote Northern communities particularly struggle with a lack of access to basic animal wellness services.  

Enhance our impact and influence in animal welfare through collaboration  

Collaboration is key in everything that we do, and the Ontario SPCA continues to partner with other SPCAs and humane societies to enhance resources in communities across Ontario.  

Northern Outreach  

For many years, we have been raising awareness about the challenges facing Northern communities. We will continue to partner with Northern communities and organizations, with a focus on distributing pet food where it’s needed most, scheduling regular spay/neuter programs to support population management, and developing partnerships to support Indigenous communities as they develop their animal care strategies.  

We look forward to sharing updates with you as we embark on this next milestone in our organization’s history. Read our full Strategic Plan, here.