Embedded Files
A long history in the community.
Since 1971, the SPCA Swift Current has been a vital entity in southwest Saskatchewan, providing respite and protection to thousands of dogs and cats.
The current shelter was built with community support and has served us well for 35 years. However, we are at a critical point in our history as the building can no longer be adequately maintained.
Our shelter is dedicated to serving several municipalities and rural communities in the southwest, accepting surrenders without judgment and offering microchipping services and a foster care program. We also provide city pound services, reunite lost pets with their families, and, most importantly, help animals find their furever homes.
A growing need for animal shelter in the Southwest.
The limited capacity to comfortably house 14 dogs and 56 cats is severely impacting our ability to deliver adequate care. We've seen a significant increase in the number of animals entering our shelter, from 362 in 2022 to 539 in 2024. In that same period, the number of stray animals entering our care rose by 80%. Compounding our intake challenges, we've maintained a waitlist for the last year and a half, averaging 80 cats and 40 dogs.
Our current shelter is no longer adequate.
It is undeniable that we are facing challenges of insufficient space for animal care, quarantine, and in-facility storage, along with facility issues such as poor ventilation, crumbling floors, rust, mold, and an outdated mechanical system. The current building falls far short of meeting the country's standards for animal care, and an engineering assessment has determined that it cannot be renovated to meet those standards.
"As you can see, the conditions in our current facility are awful. The building is falling apart; chipped paint, lots of rust, dented dog doors, and extremely poor ventilation. All these combined makes appropriately housing and quarantining impossible. The structure of the shelter is simply not up to standards. With only two small sinks in the entire building to wash everything, sanitization becomes a challenge. The trenches in the dog run are a huge hazard and we trip in them more than you’d think, they are almost impossible to keep from getting clogged and hard to keep sanitary. We don’t have enough room to meet the demand of the communities we serve, resulting in constant substantial waitlists for both dogs and cats.
Space is not only an issue when it comes to kennels and dog runs; a lack of ample storage room results in chemicals kept in the bathroom, pet carriers placed in overhead areas, and scales placed in the middle of the hallway—all safety hazards for staff, pets, and the public. We need a new facility to ensure the safety and well-being of both the animals and the people who care for them”
– Amy Dixon
Shelter Manager, SPCA Swift Current
Making a
pawsitive impact.
Boss: Young, energetic, and full of joy for life - that’s how staff at the SPCA Swift Current would describe 5-month-old Boss when he came to us. Almost overnight, he became ill, and the dramatic change in his persona made it clear he needed urgent medical care. Our team rushed him to the vet where tests and x-rays revealed that he needed emergency surgery. Through the support of our Hope Fund, replenished by our generous and caring supporters, we were able to say “yes” to the care he needed, spending nearly $2,000 in lifesaving medical expenses.
Google Sites
Report abuse