The North Peace SPCA hosted an open house on Thursday to mark the opening of its new centre in Fort St. John.
“We invited the community in for tours of the center, to meet the staff, and to learn about the programs we offer,” said manager Sara Hamanishi.
The old North Peace centre was closed in 2022 after it was deemed unsafe to occupy. Construction on the new location began in November 2023.
The centre is now fully operational, and Hamanishi said it offers animal protection and adoption services, a pet food bank program, and a driver transfer.
The building cost approximately $1.26 million to renovate and was mostly funded through a provincial grant.
Hamanishi said the new centre can accommodate up to 12 dogs, 14 cats, and two rabbits. She expects it will fill up rapidly as winter approaches.
During the open house, Hamanishi said community members could also learn how to volunteer with the SPCA. “Volunteers are super important, and we always need them,” she said.
The SPCA is inviting everyone to join in the fight against animal cruelty.