The BC SPCA operates throughout the province and is always willing and able to take abandoned animals in from the elements, heal them and find their forever homes.
Many animal-related stories occurred on Vancouver Island in 2025, and always involved the BC SPCA and their donors coming to the rescue of helpless animals who required aid.
One of the first memorable rescues came in March when the BC SPCA rescued a cattle-mix dog and her six two-week old puppies on Vancouver Island.
The owner of the animals initially contacted RCMP knowing they wouldn’t be able to properly care for them, who then contacted BC SPCA for assistance.
The mother and six puppies were brought to the Victoria SPCA Animal Centre, with staff expressing gratitude for the owner’s actions.
In April, eight neglected cats and kittens were rescued from a breeder in Nanaimo.
The ragdoll cats and kittens—a highly sought after breed—were discovered living in poor conditions inside the breeder’s home.
An individual who bought a kitten from a breeder tipped off the authorities and BC SPCA after they were refused entry to see the breeding area.
According to the BC SPCA, the seller handed over a kitten which reeked of urine and had fleas crawling into its mouth and eyes.
A veterinary exam revealed the kitten also had a bloated belly, live fleas and thick flea dirt, ear mites, eye discharge, hair loss, scabs on the ear tips and crusting on the tail.
These cats and kittens were taken in by BC SPCA, nurtured back to health and have all found forever homes since being rescued.
Again in Nanaimo, the BC SPCA were called to the rescue of 33 neglected cats and dogs from a resident’s home.
According to the BC SPCA, these animals were rescued at the behest of their owner, who had become overwhelmed by their unchecked breeding and the home’s inadequate conditions.
“This is yet another case where an animal guardian became overwhelmed by the needs of the animals in their care and uncontrolled breeding caused the already large population to grow rapidly,” said Eileen Drever, senior officer, protection and stakeholder relations.
“All the animals, including the puppies and kittens, had flea infestations. There was an inadequate amount of food and water for the animals, and it was obvious they had not received veterinary care. Their basic needs were not being met.”
All of the animals were treated for their fleas, and received additional parasite treatment.
Despite the ordeal, the BC SPCA said that most of the animals remained friendly and social.
BC SPCA came to a kitten’s rescue in Victoria in September after the animal was surrendered due to a concerning eye infection.
The nine-week-old kitten named Lucy had a severe viral infection that nearly cost her an eye.
Lucy was one of eight kittens surrendered to the BC SPCA after their owner in Victoria became overwhelmed with too many animals to care for.
“They were all infected with the feline herpesvirus and a parasite called coccidia, but Lucy’s case was the most severe,” explained Emma Hamill, who manages the Victoria animal centre.
“One of her eyes was seriously affected by the virus, and at first we weren’t sure if it could be saved.”
Lucy and her littermates have since been brought back to full-health and have been adopted from the Victoria animal centre.
The BC SPCA doesn’t just help domesticated animals. Through their Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) program, the organization also treats and rehabilitates wild animals.
In the summer of 2024, two unrelated river otter pups were found in the Greater Victoria area by members of the public after they had both lost their mothers.
They were brought to the Wild ARC sanctuary in Metchosin where they received care for nearly a year before being released.
“The pups were so young when they arrived, they required bottle-feeding with a specialized otter formula four times a day,” wrote the BC SPCA in a media release.
“To prevent the otters from bonding with their caregivers, and associating humans with food and safety, Wild ARC staff wore gowns, gloves, boots, masks and full-face visors.”
The pups bonded with each other, playing and learning how to feed themselves while exploring their specially designed enclosure.
In April 2025, Wild ARC staff diligently identified a release location within suitable habitat that would provide ample access to the resources the otters would need to thrive in the wild.
Wild ARC is the only wildlife rehabilitation facility on southern Vancouver Island and treats over 2,000 wild animals a year.
The BC SPCA relies heavily on donations to help treat the animals in their care and run their many facilities throughout Vancouver Island and BC.
To look into adoption options or to donate, visit the BC SPCA website.
