Humane Societies of BC launch collaborative to address growing need for support for animals and the people who love them
British Columbia, Canada, May 19, 2026 — Following a year of sharply increased demand for animal services across Canada, a new province-wide collaborative aims to make pet support more accessible to British Columbians. The Humane Societies of BC is bringing together seven independent nonprofit humane societies with a shared mission: to prevent animal suffering and keep human-animal families together.
This first-of-its-kind initiative creates a central access point for people across British Columbia to find trusted, local support for their companion animals. By connecting animal lovers with the life-saving local services and resources they need, Humane Societies of British Columbia aims to ensure that no one has to navigate challenges alone when caring for a beloved pet.
“People across B.C. deeply value their relationships with their animals, but many face barriers to accessing the support they need,” said the Vancouver Humane Society’s (VHS’s) Communications Director, Chantelle Archambault. “The Humane Societies of BC aim to strengthen the safety net across the province while addressing the unique needs of each local community to make sure no animal is left behind.”
The network includes seven independent humane societies across the province, each bringing unique expertise and local knowledge about the communities where they live and work:
- Clearwater Humane Society
- Kitimat Humane Society
- Lower Mainland Humane Society
- Okanagan Humane Society
- Prince George Humane Society
- Vancouver Humane Society
- Victoria Humane Society
Together, they offer a range of essential services, including:
- Financial assistance for life-saving veterinary care
- Pet food programs and essential supplies
- Behaviour support and training resources
- Emergency and crisis support for pet guardians
- Rehoming and adoption services when needed
“This project comes at a time when support for human-animal families is more needed than ever,” Archambault added. She shared that the VHS assisted almost twice as many animals with life-saving veterinary care in 2025 compared to 2024, and there were 11 times as many applications last year compared to 2020 due to rising costs of living. Program applicants noted widespread challenges balancing costs for pet care and other essentials like food and rent.
A recent study from researchers at the University of British Columbia and two Colorado universities found that many pet guardians tried to access support before surrendering or rehoming their pets, while others may not seek support due to a lack of knowledge about or access to the resources available. These findings suggest that prompt, locally relevant, and accessible animal services are vital in keeping animals in their loving homes and out of the already-overcrowded shelter and rescue system.
“We hope this collaborative will help human-animal families get the support they need most, when and where they need it,” Archambault concluded.
British Columbians can find the resources relevant to their needs and region at HumaneSocietiesBC.ca.
– ends –
Source: Humane Societies of BC
For more information, contact:
Chantelle Archambault
Communications Director
Vancouver Humane Society
chantelle@vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca
604-416-2903
Romany Runnalls
Director of Operations
Okanagan Humane Society
romany@okanaganhumanesociety.com
250-448-8554 x 1
Angela McLaren
Executive Director
amclaren@pghumanesociety.ca
778-349-3111
Penny Stone
Executive Director
pennystone@shaw.ca
250-588-4524
Yuana Hexamar
President
lowermainlandhumanesociety@gmail.com
604-585-7575
Maryann Ouellet
Executive Director/Shelter Manager
maryann@kitimathumane.org
250-632-7373