Nelson Launches BC SPCA's First Storefront Adoption Centre
April 11, 2006. For immediate release. BC SPCA officials, volunteers and supporters gathered in Nelson on April 10th to mark the official opening of a new SPCA adoption centre in a retail space in downtown Nelson. Among those who took part in the April 10th official opening was Nelson-Creston MLA Corky Evans, who dedicated one of the communal cat rooms to the memory of Jessie Fraser, a supporter of the Nelson Branch whose legacy gift made the adoption centre possible.

The Nelson facility marks the first time the non-profit animal welfare society, which operates branches in 36 communities across BC, has ever operated a storefront model to promote the adoption of homeless animals.

Deanne Monroe, chair of the Nelson SPCA Branch's volunteer Community Council, says the adoption centre will raise the visibility and accessibility of dogs, cats and small animals who need loving homes. "Our downtown location makes it very convenient for people to visit and interact with the animals," she says. The centre, situated at 524 Falls Street, is open from 12 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The new SPCA facility features two communal cat rooms, a kitten condo, three dog 'apartments', a section for small animals and an intake room for cats. The large entrance area of the centre is used for retail displays, humane education information and for hosting community events.

While cats and small animals stay overnight at the centre, dogs are there during adoption hours only. "Our foster families drop off the dogs every morning and pick them up in the evening," says Monroe. "It's a great arrangement because the dogs are accessible to the adopting public throughout the day and the rest of the time they are being nurtured and trained in a home environment."

Mary Lou Troman, volunteer president of the BC SPCA and a long-time volunteer with the Nelson Branch, says members of the Community Council and other volunteers spent hundreds of hours transforming the office space into a space suitable for housing the animals. "We really owe our volunteers a debt of gratitude," says Troman. "They have been instrumental in helping to make this vision a reality."

For more than 100 years, dedicated animal lovers in Nelson have operated a successful volunteer-run SPCA branch that has helped hundreds of homeless and abused animals each year without the benefit of a shelter or paid staff. "Animals were cared for in volunteer foster homes and featured for adoption at satellite sites in local veterinary clinics and other locations. The new adoption centre will enable the branch to expand its services to the community," says Troman.

Tim Kenna, manager of the Nelson SPCA Branch, says piloting the storefront concept in Nelson is possible because of the branch's strong tradition of voluntarism. "While the centre operates with part-time staff, the model's success depends on the on-going support of experienced and dedicated volunteers." Volunteers will continue fostering animals, helping out at the centre and will transport animals to and from the facility.

Members of the public are encouraged to drop by the SPCA adoption centre to view the facility, and hopefully, to find a new best friend. To contact the Nelson adoption centre, call 250.352.7178 or 250.304.8850 (emergency calls only), or email the branch at nelson@spca.bc.ca.

Last year the Nelson SPCA Branch cared for nearly 900 animals in need.

Further information:
Mary Lou Troman, BC SPCA Volunteer President: 250.505.5033 or 250.354.9116 (cell);
Tim Kenna, Manager, Nelson SPCA Branch: 250.368.1141;
Lorie Chortyk, Community Relations Manager, BC SPCA:
(604) 647-1316, 1-800-665-1868, or 830-7179 (cell);