Stock photo courtesy of the B.C. SPCA website

By Liam Verster

Emergency Animal Boarding

SPCA Domestic Violence pilot expanding to Okanagan, Shuswap

Apr 1, 2025 | 2:57 PM

A pilot program that support the pets of domestic violence victims will expand into the region.

The B.C. SPCA said its Safekeepers program would expand into the Okanagan and Shuswap, including in Vernon and Kelowna.

The program was launched in the Lower Mainland in 2023 with the aim to provide confidential and emergency boarding for pets of individuals fleeing interpersonal violence.

Since its inception, the program has seen 35 people provide over 1,300 nights of care for animals.

The SPCA said this program was needed as data from the National Domestic Violence Hotline showed 97 per cent of domestic violence survivors felt keeping their pets with them was an important factor when determining whether to leave an abusive relationship.

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The data also showed that 48 per cent of respondents feared their abuser would harm or kill the pet if left alone with the animal, while 28 per cent said that had already happened.

As the program will expand into the Okanagan, the SPCA was seeking volunteers to be able to take on the pets of people escaping domestic violence.

Anyone interested in being a foster pet owner through the Safekeeper program can contact the B.C. SPCA through their website.