The Saskatchewan SPCA’s “There to Care” campaign has launched with the goal of raising $2.1 million to build an Emergency Animal Care Centre currently under construction near Asquith. Spokesperson Josh Hourie says to the best of his knowledge there is no other service like this in Saskatchewan and possibly in the country.

The Emergency Animal Care Centre will be available for situations like interpersonal violence where a family is trying to flee but there is nowhere that accepts pets. The EACC can be a temporary home for their beloved animals, and they can then be a continued source of emotional support for their families. Hourie points out that women fleeing domestic violence will often stay in the home out of concern for their pets and in a recent survey, 80 per cent reported their pets had been abused.

The Care Centre could also be for emergency response situations like wildfires and floods and it will also be for animals that have been seized or surrendered under the Animal Protection Act. There are also times when shelters, humane societies and other organizations don’t have enough room for all of the seized or surrendered animals. The EACC could then become an option for temporary housing. Hourie adds that some people who need a stay in the hospital don’t have a place for their pets to go and may delay their care out of concern for their pet. Once again, the Emergency Animal Care Centre could be another option. This service will be available for everyone across the province.

Hourie says the Care Centre will operate year-round with the capacity to handle the influx of large numbers of seized and surrendered animals at one time, which helps animal law enforcement agencies to do their work more efficiently, while also reducing the strain on other shelters and rescues. To date, over $1.25 million has been raised, including a generous donation from the Estate of Janice Binkley. The There to Care Capital Campaign will help to raise the remaining $850,000 to complete the building.

Hourie explains the slogan is There to Care because the Saskatchewan SPCA and the Emergency Animal Care Centre are there to care for the animals, their people, and the organizations who care for them, including social services agencies, interpersonal violence organizations, law enforcement, animal welfare and animal protection agencies.

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