HBSPCA, also known as the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, is an animal welfare charity dedicated to creating a better world for animals, pet families, and communities. With a rich history dating back to 1887, their initial mission focused on animal protection and working animals. Today, driven by the human-animal bond, their goal is to keep people and pets united, enable individuals to become the pet parents they aspire to be, and advocate for sentient beings who cannot speak for themselves.

HBSPCA offers a range of services to support animals and their human companions. These include pet visits to students living away from home, children and youth with special needs, and seniors. They also provide affordable spay/neuter services for families who have limited access to such services, veterinary care for pets belonging to vulnerable citizens, ambulatory care for cats to enable them to remain at home, and health checks for at-risk pets belonging to hospitalized senior citizens.

At the heart of their mission is the HBSPCA Companion Animal Hospital (CAH), which has been operating for 11 years. The CAH offers affordable spay/neuter services for over 3500 owned pets annually and provides a continuum of care for shelter animals and those in foster care. Additionally, it offers just-in-time care for emergency and urgent cases and end-of-life support for families who have no other options.

It also serves as a learning site for veterinary trainees and co-op students pursuing careers in animal welfare. The HBSPCA actively works towards creating a humane community every day, and they emphasize the importance of collective effort. By joining forces with donors, supporters, partners, and volunteers, they are able to make a meaningful impact and improve the lives of animals and humans alike.

As a brand, HBSPCA values curiosity, collaboration, integrity, respect, compassion, stewardship, transparency, and accountability. They are proud members of organizations such as the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Humane Canada, OAWN, and AASAO. If you want to learn more about the HBSPCA's annual reports and financial statements, you can view them on their website.

They also provide answers to frequently asked questions about various topics, including cat and dog behavior, pet health, and the services they offer. Please note that the HBSPCA Companion Animal Hospital is not open to the public, except for their Community Assistance Spay/Neuter program. If you need to surrender your pet, HBSPCA will do their best to find it a loving home, as long as it does not pose a severe risk to humans or other animals.

Their animals come from various sources, including owners who surrender them and local animal services. The HBSPCA website is regularly updated with available animals, and they never euthanize animals due to overcrowding. However, animals may be euthanized in cases where they pose a severe risk or suffer from untreatable diseases or significant pain or distress.

If you find a stray animal, the HBSPCA cannot accept it, but you can contact your local municipality's animal services for assistance. To prepare for the possibility of your pet going missing, make sure they have external identification, such as a tag with your contact information, and keep a detailed description and current photos of your pet. Additionally, ensure your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations.

If your pet does go missing but then returns home, schedule a check-up with your vet and consider microchipping your pet for identification purposes. Notify relevant parties that your pet has been found and take precautions to prevent future incidents. HBSPCA is dedicated to promoting responsible pet ownership, delivering optimal animal care, and advancing a more humane community through education, collaboration, and programs.

They invite you to join them in their important work and make a difference in the lives of animals and the community