• News

• News Archives

• Press Releases

• Media Enquiries & Kit

• Anim@ls E-Bulletins

• AnimalSense Magazine

• Public Service Announcements

Media Enquiries

Media enquiries for the BC SPCA should be directed to Lorie Chortyk, General Manager, Community Relations, at 604-647-1316 (office) or 604-830-7179 (cell). In addition to information and interviews regarding SPCA activities and services, the SPCA can provide experts to speak on a wide range of animal-related topics.

Media Kit:

• About the BC SPCA
• Craig Daniell, CEO - Bio and Photo
• Stats at a Glance
• Photo Gallery
   

Are you on our mailing list?

The BC SPCA issues regular news releases and updates on animal welfare activities and issues. If you are not on our mailing list and would like to be, please email us with your contact information. You may also be interested in signing up to receive our Anim@ls e-bulletins.

About the BC SPCA

The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the quality of life for domestic, farm and wild animals in BC. Through its 36 branches located around BC and its provincial office in Vancouver, the BC SPCA provides a wide range of services for nearly 42,000 homeless, abused, injured and abandoned animals around the province.

The BC SPCA was created under the auspices of the provincial Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and is the only animal welfare organization in BC which has the authority to enforce laws relating to animal cruelty and to prepare cases for Crown Counsel for the prosecution of individuals who inflict suffering on animals.

< back to top >

Craig Daniell, Chief Executive Officer, BC SPCA

Craig Daniell joined the BC SPCA in November, 2002 as General Manager of Cruelty Investigations. In June, 2003 the Board of Directors appointed him as Acting CEO and his official appointment as CEO was confirmed in December, 2003. Before joining the BC SPCA Daniell served as Director of Cruelty Investigations for the Ontario SPCA for four years.

Prior to coming to Canada he earned a Bachelor of Laws degree in his native South Africa and worked in a corporate law firm. He then joined the diplomatic service, serving as a legal and policy advisor for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pretoria before accepting a post to the United Nations in New York, where he worked on matters related to animal protection, marine life and the environment. Daniell lives in Langley with his wife, three children, one well-behaved cat and three unruly dogs.

• Click here to download a 300 pixels/inch high-resolution photo in .tif format, 879 KB

< back to top >

Stats at a Glance

The Society has 375 staff members (full-time, part-time and auxiliary) and 4,000 volunteers throughout the province.

Our staff includes 54 Special Provincial Constables, who are trained and authorized to investigate complaints of animal cruelty and neglect.

In 2007 the BC SPCA:

• Operated 36 branches, including Wild ARC, a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Metchosin on Vancouver Island;

• Opened the Society's first Education and Adoption Centre, located in Richmond. The centre, which provides store-front adoptions and animal-related programming for youth and adults, has proven to be a successful alternative to standard sheltering models;

• Rescued 41,884 injured, homeless, neglected and abused animals (companion, farm and wild);

• Reunited 5,911 lost animals (including 4,681 dogs, 1,111 cats and 23 rabbits) with their anxious families;

• Transported 3,739 animals (1,850 cats, 1,645 dogs, 244 rabbits and small animals between shelters to maximize adoption. 1,183 of these animals were transported through the Pet Express, an animal transport vehicle provided by Petcetera.

• Found new, loving families for 20,067 homeless animals;

• Helped 1,864 injured and orphaned wild animals (1,361 birds, 502 mammals and one reptile at Wild ARC, the BC SPCA's wildlife rehabilitation centre in Metchosin on Vancouver Island.

• Conducted 4,647 cruelty investigations;

• Removed 1,501 animals from dangerous or neglectful situations through cruelty investigations and rescued an additional 4,007 injured animals;

• Executed 103 warrants under the Criminal Code of Canada, the PCA Act and the Offense Act;

• Submitted 57 charges of animal cruelty and neglect to Crown Counsel;

• Offered humane education programs for thousands of children, youth and adults in BC;

• Provided a wide range of programs to reduce pet overpopulation, including low-cost spay/neuter services and the operation of a Spay/Neuter Clinic in Prince George, which provides 4,000 low-cost spay/neuter operations annually;

• Helped thousands of injured homeless animals through the BC SPCA Hospital in Vancouver. The hospital offer full-service medical care, including low-cost spay/neuter and extensive charitable work for low-income pet guardians and local animal rescue groups;

• Received 182,657,764 hits to our website from users seeking information on animal care, advocacy and SPCA programs and activities.

< back to top >

Photo Gallery

• Currently being updated - please check back

< back to top >