Looking Back on 2024
As we look forward to 2025 and the hopes and challenges it will bring, we also look back gratefully on 2024 and all that our community of supporters, staff, adopters, volunteers, and donors have helped us to achieve. It is because of you that the Bow Valley SPCA continues to be able to care for and rehome stray, abandoned and surrendered dogs and cats and spread the message, and reward, of responsible pet ownership in the Bow Valley.
So, thank you! We cannot do what we do without you. You have helped us Make the World a Little Bit Brighter.
We have compiled a heartwarming celebration of all the dogs and cats at the Bow Valley SPCA who have found their forever homes in 2024. This is an exciting time to look back and reflect on all the wonderful animals who found their families and will continue to live happy lives beyond our Adoption Centre.
Click to Watch our 2024 Adoption Reel
But this past year had its noteworthy challenges, too. Our adoption rates over the last several years have ranged from 90-170 cats per year and 40-60 dogs per year. In 2024, we adopted 79 cats and only 6 dogs into their forever homes. This drop in adoptions has not been for a lack of animals or effort!
In particular, our six dog rooms have been full the entire year with some amazing dogs and as a no-kill shelter, our dogs safely stay with us until their well-deserved and suitable forever homes are found. Adoption rates for adult dogs are the lowest we have ever seen at the Bow Valley SPCA, and we are doing everything we can to get the public interested in the wonderful dogs available for adoption.
At the same time, due to many external factors, demands to surrender owned dogs and to accommodate lost/stray dogs in and around the community are at an all-time high. We wish we could do more. We are not alone – this is an incredibly challenging time for the entire animal welfare community in Canada. As a small no-kill shelter, the impact on us is highly visible and acutely felt.
We are working on new strategies and ways to help the wonderful animals in our Adoption Centre find their forever homes so that we have the capacity to continue to help many more dogs and cats in need in 2025. You can help the amazing animals in our Centre by spreading the word: tell your friends and neighbours, share our stories and posts on social media, and encourage others to subscribe to our newsletter for updates about adoptable animals and upcoming events. The more exposure we can create for our furry friends, the faster we will find them the perfect forever family. Rest assured, we are doing our very best, and we are grateful for our community of supporters who continue to stand with us through all the ups and downs.
With that said, this is still a moment to celebrate. Please enjoy our Class of 2024 and celebrate the 85 adorable cats and dogs who found their forever homes this past year thanks to our community of supporters, our volunteers, and the work of the Bow Valley SPCA.
With gratitude,
Lisa McDowell
Bow Valley SPCA President