BC SPCA restarts in-person adoption viewing after 2 years
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the BC SPCA has restarted in-person adoption viewing and public access to its branches.
During the pandemic, people who were interested in adopting a furry friend had to do "'virtual meet and greets" when previously they could walk into an SPCA facility and view the animals for themselves.
"Throughout COVID, we continued to provide our full range of services, including adoptions, but we had to be creative about how we could continue to serve animals and their guardians while also ensuring that everyone was safe," said Adrienne McBride, BC SPCA senior director for community animal centres, in a release Friday.
As of Oct. 1, people can once again visit BC SPCA branches in person during regular business hours, and branches have restarted walk-in adoptions.
The SPCA notes that masks are still required when visiting any of its centres in B.C.
"Even though our services carried on throughout COVID, we missed the level of one-on-one interaction we’ve always had with members of our communities," said McBride.
"We are very excited about connecting with our supporters and friends in person again," she said.
The BC SPCA says it saw record numbers of adoptions during the pandemic, despite closing its branches to drop-in adoptions.
The organization also saw an increase in demand for support services over the past two years.
In 2021, roughly 34,000 meals were given to pets through the SPCA's pet food bank program, and a combined 12,418 nights of free emergency pet boarding were provided in B.C.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.