More space for animals and the community: Squamish SPCA family will grow this fall

By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: May 4, 2018

The Squamish SPCA family is all set to grow this fall.

After over 16 years in a small trailer in the Squamish work yard, the SPCA will be moving into a bigger space in the business park.

The SPCA would have the ability to take in small animals like hamsters and Guinea Pigs and birds which it hasn’t been able to do before because of lack of space. There will also be a multi-purpose space that can be used for classes, kids camps, birthday parties, and even rented by the public for events.

The new SPCA manager, Krista Unser, said this year will be a big year for SPCA as the new facility will enable the organisation to do much more for people as well as the animals in the community.

Unser is excited about a unique reading program for kids that will be introduced, where children can go to the facility after school and read to the cats or other small animals. “It’s a great way for kids to practice their reading with a non-judgemental audience and have a calming effect for children who might have reading anxiety or who are struggling,” she said.

Unser joined the local branch in February after the former manager Marika Donelly took a job with the Sunshine Coast branch. She has nearly two decades of experience in the field of animal welfare. She started out as a volunteer at a Birds of Prey sanctuary and eventually opened up a wildlife rehabilitation center with a group of six other people near Mt. Baker in Washington State where she has lived for 28 years.

She has also worked at the West Vancouver BC SPCA branch for three years. Unser said goal is to strike new positive relationships with community organizations. “I would very much like to be able to support other non-profits like helping hands and the food bank with pet food donations and supplies and to eventually be able to have a wellness clinic in further Northern communities like Darcy where they is such a need,” she said.

She also said the BC SPCA is a non-profit organisation and all money comes from public donations. “We get no operational funding from the Government. The people in this area are generous but there is always a need for more funds,” she said.

She said the SPCA is planning a new summer event, and is excited to be part of the community and the growth of SPCA.

“Community is so important to the success of a shelter and Squamish is a great community. We do have pet food for people who are struggling to feed their pets but I am not sure it is well known and we also have a grant from the District of Squamish to help with low cost spay and neuter,” she added.