York Region Animal Centre marks 35 years of compassion, care

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is also celebrating a milestone this year -- 150 years of caring for animals in need across the province

Newmarkettoday.ca
April 3, 2023
Julia Galt

Founded in 1873, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is celebrating a milestone this year -- an incredible 150 years of providing comfort, care and compassion to animals in need across the province.

More than 1,000 animals have found their forever homes from Ontario SPCA shelters in the first three months of 2023 alone, with nearly 600 volunteers working tirelessly to make happy endings possible every day.

York Region has its own stalwart voice for animal welfare: the Ontario SPCA York Region Animal Centre, once called the York Regional Shelter and Clinic, which has been a voice for pets in the area since the region’s original building -- which also acted as the provincial office headquarters -- was built in 1988.

Today, the York Region branch -- renamed the York Region Animal Centre in 2022 -- is home to the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society Provincial Office and the Ontario SPCA Centre Veterinary Hospital. It has been located at 16586 Woodbine Ave., in Stouffville on the border of Newmarket, since relocating from Yonge Street and Mulock Drive in 2002.

The York Region Animal Centre has provided animal control and pound services to municipalities across York Region since the late 1980s.

That’s 35 years of reuniting families with lost pets, 35 years of providing rehabilitation to abused animals, and 35 years of getting animals off the streets -- and into the homes of families who love them.

To best serve a growing community, the York Region Animal Centre has expanded its services several times throughout the years. In 2009, it opened up to the public with a high-volume spay and neuter service, and in early 2023, the branch expanded again with the launch of a new in-building wellness clinic.

This new clinic acts as a lifeline for families without the means to take their animal to a veterinarian, offering affordable preventive animal care such as vaccinations, parasite treatment and examinations.

While the Ontario SPCA York Region Animal Centre provided investigative services into animal welfare for the Ontario government up until 2019, this service now resides with the province, which operate its own Provincial Animal Welfare Services team to enforce provincial legislation.

“This is an exciting time for the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society as we celebrate our 150th anniversary in 2023 and continue to grow and expand our community support services,” says Elizabeth Westover, manager of the centre. “As we continue to develop partnerships with local community support services to address animals’ welfare needs, we will continue to listen to the community to determine what is needed and how we can help. Our goal is to keep animals with the families who love them.”

York Region residents can support the Ontario SPCA York Region Animal Centre by purchasing tickets to the Draws for Paws 50/50 Lottery.