The Society For British Columbia Public Guardians And Animals (BC SPGA) continue to make positive change for people with pets in British Columbia.
December 31, 2025
In 2025, the Society for British Columbia Public Guardians and Animals (BC SPGA) achieved significant milestones in protecting both vulnerable individuals and animals across the province. The organization expanded its outreach programs increasing public awareness about the importance of guardianship and animal welfare.
Helping Struggling Guardians With Pets
British Columbians with pets are struggling to meet basic necessities as never before. The society's Guardian and Pets In Hardship Program is open to all residents of the province who find themselves in a crisis situation that affects their ability to care for or keep their pets.
"Of all the programs that we launched in 2025 or even before, the overwhelming need comes from people with pets desperate for help under the Guardian and Pets In Hardship Program. Since the society does not receive outside funding such as the government or foundations, there is a great need in the pet guardian public population that just is not being met."
The society
relies on public support for its volunteers to carry out the programs that help people with pets.
Running the society with volunteers and no paid staff means that the public's donations
go directly to the society and its programs. The Society has some nifty types of donors such as
a Rescuer, Star, Angel or Saint, recognizing the importance of those that help with a donation.
BC SPGA Campaigns For Change
2025 was a year
for implimenting some very impactful campaigns. The Voice of people with pets was not a shadow any longer, the
BC SPGA put the needs of people with pets in the forefront.
Campaign For A B.C. Pet Bonus and provincial Pet Tax Credits
Recognizing the financial struggles for many people with pets, the society proposed a Pet Tax Bonus and Pet Tax Credit for those with pets and animals. Both proposals to the provincial government were not of interest.
"People with pets in the province are good enough when it comes to votes, paying taxes and being over-policed. That's about all the provincial government showed us that they value from the majority of the population who have pets and animals in the Province." "
Campaign For Justice For Animals And People With Pets In Veterinary Care
One of the more questionable actions of animal enforcement in the province was to seize pets and animals from their pet guardians while the animals were in the care or receiving treatment by a licensed veterinarian. The method used by the BC SPCA is to hire an untreating vet to assess the animal and seize the pet, bypassing the guardian's veterinarian.
The B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma, who is also the Deputy Premier, oversees the administration of the justice
system in the province of British Columbia. Despite many angry emails from the public to Sharma she ignored
the public's concerns. A volunteer with the BC SPGA decided to file a constitutional challenge under the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms.
"People should not have to fear animal enforcement for seeking veterinary care for their pets. There is no independent oversight of animal enforcement, particularly the enforcement of the Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals legislation and that is a big part of the problem."
Campaign for Animal Policing Reform in British Columbia
The reality is that people with pets in BC are subjected to an overwhelming level of scrutiny and policing at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars to tax payers.
In 2023, British Columbia recorded a total of 393,928 Criminal Code offenses. Of these, only 21 offenses were related to animal cruelty. That’s just 0.005% of all offenses and over half of the population have pets and animals!
People with pets are policed by the Province's 161 municipalities, the RCMP, the Surrey Police Services (SPS), the BC SPCA, the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, the BC Agricultural Ministry, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), with the 2nd tier of policing administered by a Tribunal and the Courts.
The BC SPGA raised an important question: Why is the Province paying hundreds of millions for over-policing people with pets? In view of the Province's highest deficit in its history, the BC SPGA basically are saying 'cut costs where it is not needed' such as policing people with pets so that important issues like health care and education can benefit.
Campaign For BC Pet-friendly Tenancies Legislation
Of all the campaigns in 2025, the Campaign For BC Pet-friendly Tenancies Legislation has been a thorn in the
BC NDP's side. Going into the 2024 election, the B.C. premier Eby promised the public that he would end
pet discrimination in pet rentals in the province. At the end of 2025, the recently appointed Minister of Housing,Christine Boyle
made it clear that she had no intention of abiding by the Premier's promise to the public.
BC's rescues and sanctuaries crushed by the BC SPCA animal raids
The BC SPGA exposed the BC SPCA's raids on British Columbia's animal rescues and sanctuaries resulting in financial ruin for many and the loss of the animals in their care. The many hundreds of animals taken by the BC SPCA were either euthanized or sold for profit while the affected rescues and sanctuaries were imploded by the public stigma that BC SPCA animals raids bring.
"The exorbitant amounts that the rescues or santuaries have to pay the BC SPCA as a result of the raids should have been used for the animals in their care. Instead the funds are pure profit to the BC SPCA whose costs are already fully publicly funded as well as replemishing their animal stock in their shelters. Some of the animals that don't meet the BC SPCA's standards for re-sale in its pro-kill shelters end up dead. That's unacceptable for the richest private animal charity in the country."One of the reputable dog rescues was run by the Dogway Dog Rescue Society, a rescue dedicated to saving the lives and rehoming dogs in distress and need. The Dogway Dog Rescue is located in Mission on five acres. Dogway has rescued upwards of 4,000 dogs in its 15 years of operation. The non-profit society is in debt to the BC SPCA over $75,000 who seized 63 dogs in the rescue's care. The Dogway Dog Rescue has 8.8K likes and 9.4K followers on Facebook.
“We have five staff and some of them have been here for 10 years,” Cherry LaTour, a director of the Dogway Dog rescue society said. “These people are exquisite dog lovers, and they’re not going to stand by while dogs are not treated well.”
BC SPGA launched educational programs in 2025
BC SPGA's new programs for 2025 included educational programs and more resources for people with pets.
The Pets & Kids Club is full of fun and educational field trips and events for children.
An online, inexpensive puppy training program provides people with pets the comfort of training with an experienced dog trainer from the comfort of their home.
The Voice For People With Pets
Although in its third year since inception in 2023, the voices and volunteers of the BC SPGA are here to stay. As 2025 concluded, the BC SPGA reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the vulnerable, celebrating a year of impactful changes and community empowerment.
