Peterborough, ON (May 6th, 2021) – The Peterborough Humane Society will be breaking ground on their new facility that will be the first of its kind in Canada devoted to advancing the well-being of animals.

This unique space will bring together three facilities under one roof at 1999 Technology Drive in Peterborough. Sitting on 20 acres of land, the Peterborough Animal Care Centre will be home to the Peterborough Humane Society’s Adoption & Education Centre, a publicly accessible Spay/Neuter Clinic and through partnering with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, a Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre.

“After almost a decade of planning, we are ecstatic to announce we are breaking ground!” says Shawn Morey, Executive Director, Peterborough Humane Society. “This Centre is going to be a huge resource for the community. A great deal has changed in the animal wellness world since our current building was constructed over 65 years ago. This new purpose-built facility will not only serve our community through providing accessible spay/neuter services, but also allow the animals under our care to experience less hurdles in getting healthier & happier, thereby setting them up to meet their new family that much sooner.”

The Spay/Neuter Clinic will bring a greatly needed service to Central and Eastern Ontario through providing publicly accessible spay/neuter surgeries. The on-site clinic will allow up to 25 animals per day (over 5,000 per year) to receive their spay/neuter surgery.

The Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre will be custom built to help dogs who need more support and individualized care than an animal centre can provide. It will contain a number of unique features, including hydrotherapy equipment such as an underwater treadmill for physical rehabilitation and exercise.

“To see shovels in the ground is a cause for celebration as it means we are one step closer to making this state-of-the-art animal wellness facility a reality,” says Daryl Vaillancourt, Chief, Humane Programs & Community Outreach, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. “This unique partnership with the Peterborough Humane Society is a major step forward for animals, particularly dogs who have experienced challenges that we can help them overcome at this new facility.”

While thrilled to have begun construction, Peterborough Humane Society still needs the community’s support to reach their fundraising goal. To date, $7.5M of $10M has been raised. Community members are encouraged to make their own impact on the future of animal wellness and help build the new Animal Care Centre by visiting ourpetproject.ca / ontariospca.ca/dogrehab or contact Alex Tindale, Campaign Manager at a.tindale@ptbohs.com.