Saskatchewan SPCA building animal emergency care facility

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The SaskSPCA is building first-of-its-kind animal emergency care facility, and is launching a 50/50 campaign to raise money to help do so.

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Construction has already begun on the $2.1-million Emergency Animal Care Centre near near Asquith, Sask., which is approximately 40 kilometres west of Saskatoon. So far, just over $1.2 million has been raised.

The 50/50 campaign, There to Care, aims to raise $300,000. Half will go toward the construction of the building

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The Emergency Animal Care Centre, besides caring for pets seized or surrendered during animal cruelty investigations, will provide animals in need with temporary care including those of families escaping natural disasters like fires and floods, said SaskSPCA sspokesperson Josh Hourie.

“This could be a matter of domestic violence situations, so individuals who are escaping a situation of violence, we would provide safekeeping for their animals,” he said. “It could be someone who is taking an unexpectedly long stay in the hospital, and they just need a safe place for their pets, we would provide care in those situations, as well.

“We do know that there are other shelters or humane societies that have a safekeeping program. There are some rescue groups that may do the hospital care program, but really there’s no facility, as far as we know, that will do all three.”

The care facility will fill gaps in the animal care system to help meet the needs of both animals and people in crisis.

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On March 7, 1928, the SaskSPCA was established by the provincial legislature, with a stated focus on promoting the humane treatment of animals. Since then, as the province has grown and evolved, this idea has remained its guiding, central principle.

For many years, the SaskSPCA were well known for their work enforcing the Animal Protection Act, with a team of officers travelling around the province to investigate and resolve reports of animal cruelty.

In 2015, that branch was discontinued and a new agency, the Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan, was established to continue investigating animal cruelty reports.

Today, the Sask SPCA remains committed to the well-being of animals across the province, providing education, advocacy and outreach.

There are 17 unique and autonomous SPCAs and humane societies in the province.

— With files from Carol Baldwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

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