Building a Home for Every Heart: The New Vancouver Island Animal Behaviour Centre

As the needs of animals in our communities evolve, so must our approach to their care. We’re seeing a growing number of animals entering our Community Animal Centres who require specialized behavioural support. The needs of these animals cannot always be met within our current animal centres. These animals need dedicated care and resources in an environment that supports their physical, emotional, and behavioural well-being, so they can learn to trust again.

To give these special animals the best chance to thrive and find their forever home, we need your support to build a one-of-a-kind dedicated behaviour centre on Vancouver Island. Our Vancouver Island Animal Behaviour Centre will provide:

  • Specialized Behaviour Care: Staff who are dedicated to taking the time needed to lovingly support the most fearful and under-socialized animals in a quiet, spacious setting.
  • Innovative Spaces: Thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor spaces to promote safe socialization, guided by current animal behavioural science.
  • Training Hub: Our provincial hub for hands-on training, allowing our Animal Centre staff across BC to gain practical experience in animal behaviour management.
  • Relieving other BC SPCA Animal Centres: Free up space in other Southern Vancouver Island facilities so they can focus on finding homes for adoption-ready animals and meeting the needs of their community.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will the construction of the new centre be funded?

The new centre will be primarily funded by animal lovers like you! We also received $1M towards the project from the Provincial Government in June 2023.

What is the campaign goal?

The goal of the campaign is $1.9 Million.

How can I donate to the A Home for Every Heart Campaign?

You can make a one-time donation by clicking here.

If you’d like to donate offline you can mail a cheque and specify ‘Behaviour Centre’ in the memo line or on a separate note. All cheques can be made payable to the BC SPCA and mailed to our BC SPCA Provincial Headquarters at 1245 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 1R1.


You can also call our Generosity Services team at 1-855-622-7722 (toll-free) and make a donation with your credit card over the phone. Or reach out to us by email at behaviourcentre@spca.bc.ca.

Are there naming opportunities available?

Yes. There are many options for naming opportunities available whether you’d like to dedicate a space to your furry friend, past or present, or for yourself or business. To discuss opportunities please contact us at behaviourcentre@spca.bc.ca .

Where will the behaviour centre be located?

This one-of-a-kind facility will be located on the rural grounds of our current BC SPCA Cowichan Centre at 7550 Bell McKinnon Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 6B1. This location offers a peaceful, low-stress environment where high-needs dogs, cats, and small animals can receive the care they deserve.

What kinds of animals will the centre help?

The centre will have dedicated spaces to support dogs, cats and small animals with behaviour needs beyond what our typical BC SPCA Animal Centres can provide.

My dog/cat/guinea pig has behaviour challenges, can the behaviour centre help them?

No. The centre will be dedicated to helping animals in the BC SPCA’s care who require specialized behavioural support before being adopted. For more resources on pet care and behaviour, check out our website here.

What is the timeline for the build?

Construction will begin in the Fall of 2024, and we anticipate completion in early 2026.

What support will be in place for the community during construction?

The BC SPCA will continue to serve communities in the Cowichan Valley during this closure: 

  • We have leased an office space in Duncan to serve as the temporary ‘homebase’ for staff providing service to the community and as a hub for our community outreach programs, like the pet food bank. We anticipate this office will be open to the public on October 15, more details to come.
  • Our Animal Helpline (1-855-622-7722) will continue to be the first point of support for anyone needing assistance with emergency boarding, animal surrender, stray animals or animal cruelty concerns. 
  • Animals coming into our care from the Cowichan Valley during the temporary closure will be transferred to other BC SPCA Community Animal Centres, primarily those in Nanaimo and Victoria.  
  • In the event of an emergency requiring animal assistance during the temporary closure, please continue to follow normal processes for requesting BC SPCA support

As the new centre focuses on behavioural support, what will happen to Cowichan animals that need regular sheltering?

Once opened, the Vancouver Island Animal Behaviour Centre will continue to serve the Cowichan and Salt Spring Island communities with local animal welfare services, in addition to supporting animals with greater behavioural needs from Vancouver Island communities.