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SPCA concerned about cuts to N.B. veterinary services

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Backlash to the Holt government’s decision to phase out provincial veterinary field services and laboratory services continues.

The New Brunswick SPCA issued a statement expressing concern about the plan.

“We have questions about how this change will affect the cost and availability of these critical services for New Brunswickers,” said NBSPCA board of directors president Scott Elliott.

Elliott said the NBSPCA is responsible for investigating and enforcing agricultural codes of practice under the province’s SPCA Act.

“We rely on the specialized expertise of provincial veterinarians and on the support of provincial veterinary laboratory services to fulfil these legal responsibilities on behalf of the provincial government.”

Elliott said the NBSPCA depends on the provincial services to support animal protection investigations, provide care for animals in need, perform necropsies and offer expert testimony in court cases.

“In 2025 alone, our animal protection officers seized 50 agricultural animals from unsafe situations, up from 28 the previous year,” Elliott said.

He said that highlights the increasing need for specialized veterinary support.

There are currently five ongoing court cases stemming from NBSPCA investigations related to agricultural animals.

The NBSPCA also relies on the provincial lab services, which conduct necropsies to determine cause of death in all their cases.

That includes cases involving agricultural animals.

Elliott said without the service, they would face significant delays with the nearest alternative facilities in Truro and P.E.I.

New Brunswick is one of only two provinces – the other being B.C. – where the SPCA is responsible for protection of agricultural animals, and already operates in a unique system.

“Access to specialized expertise could become increasingly difficult due to the absence of a local veterinary or agricultural college and the limited number of private providers trained to treat agricultural animals,” Elliott said.

The organization encouraged the provincial government to further engage with stakeholders to ensure a complete understanding of the system-wide considerations related to the decision, including any potential impact on the welfare of agricultural animals. “The NBSPCA is concerned that these changes could affect our ability to effectively fulfil animal protection responsibilities on behalf of the provincial government and respond to cases in a timely manner, particularly as operational costs continue to rise.” Elliot

orange kitten inside cage

Record for response, but fewer animals seized, NBSPCA

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The number of complaint calls to the New Brunswick SPCA rose in 2025.

They responded to 4795 complaints in 2025, which is four percent higher than the previous year. That’s the highest volume of calls in the history of the organization.

Executive Director Lesley Rogers says the continued increase is a result of the cost of living, particularly affordable housing and low incomes.

“Particularly with the continued rise in the cost of living, difficulty in a tight housing market for low-income pet families trying to find affordable housing that accepts pets continues to be a challenge,” said Rogers.

She says the aging population of pet owners also contributes to these statistics, as their circumstances can sometimes change without warning. Some of those animals are coming into the SPCA’s system because they need someone able to care for them.

“The public is more aware of animal protection issues and concerns. We applaud them for making calls for us to follow up on to make sure that the animals they have concerns about are safe,” Rogers said.

The number of domestic animals seized from unsafe situations totalled 1,111, roughly 100 fewer seizures than the year prior.

Rogers says the SPCA’s system cannot sustain a never-ending upward trend in complaints and animals being seized. However, she says her team is encouraged to see some positive impact resulting from the first full year of their Happy Tales prevention program.

Happy Tales is a program designed for low-income pet families to access support for events such as emergency veterinary care costs, vaccinations and spay/neuter. The program has been a huge success, according to Rogers.

“We are really keen to keep moving in that direction so that we can slowly bend the curve in terms of the growth in calls down because more people have other paths to get good resources for their pets.”

The program is funded entirely by donations and provided almost 1,300 pets from low-income families with essential care in 2025.

The NBSPCA enforces provincial animal protection laws under the SPCA Act. The organization’s involvement resulted in 23 convictions in 2025.

The number of agricultural animals such as horses, goats, pigs, and cows that were removed from unsafe conditions rose from 28 in 2024 to 50 in 2025, an increase of roughly 78 percent.

222 pet establishment inspections were performed in 2025, which are done to ensure that animal breeders, shelters, kennels, and pet stores that sell animals meet animal welfare standards.

“At any time, we will investigate a complaint against a breeder from the public if they have concerns about the environment the animals are raised in or the treatment of the animals,” said Rogers.

She noted one incident in the spring of 2025, where over 42 shih-tzus were seized from a breeder due to a public complaint, where someone had bought a puppy from the breeder. “Unfortunately, the puppy died within 7 or 8 months. [The complainant] was living in another province, but she was concerned about the well-being of animals at that facility. So, she made the complaint and that led to the charges that were made.”

Rogers says the owners of the operation pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing later in March. The owners were operating without a valid pet establishment license and were selling animals without an attached veterinary certificate of health.

“Our job is when we receive a complaint to investigate it and hold people accountable based on what we find. More important, we want to educate the public so that they know the signs to make sure they don’t inadvertently support those kinds of enterprises,” said Rogers.

white dog and gray cat hugging each other on grass

NBSPCA’s Happy Tails program aids nearly 1,300 pets

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The NBSPCA says its focus on prevention is keeping more pets in safe homes across New Brunswick.

The organization reports that its Happy Tails program supported 1,295 animals with essential veterinary care during its first full year of provincewide operations.

Executive director Lesley Rogers said the program is designed to remove financial barriers that often prevent people from getting help for their pets.

“Thanks to the generous support of our donors and veterinary partners, we have been able to keep hundreds of animals safe at home with their loving families,” Rogers said.

She said the NBSPCA is beginning to see the impact of that support.

“We are starting to see the impact of a greater focus on prevention, as our animal protection officers removed about 100 fewer pets from unsafe situations in 2025 than in the previous year,” she said.

The Happy Tails program has supported 551 spay and neuter surgeries, along with vaccinations and parasite treatments.

Another 744 animals received emergency veterinary assistance for issues such as injuries, infections or sudden health complications.

The organization said the care provided last year totalled $451,000, funded entirely by donations.

Rogers said many families hesitate to seek help because they fear the cost of treatment, and some have limited or no access to credit.

“These animals have good homes,” she said.

“They don’t need to be in a shelter, and it’s certainly not something that we think is appropriate to punish someone for.”

Reaching rural and underserved communities

Rogers said access to veterinary care remains a challenge in many rural and northern regions of the province.

She said some communities have few clinics, and some clinics are not taking new patients.

“It’s not just the cost,” she said.

“It’s about finding a veterinarian taking new patients and being able to schedule in a timely way.”

She said the NBSPCA is exploring ways to bring services closer to families who struggle with distance or availability.

“As we move forward, we’d like to be able to bring community‑based medicine to areas of the community that are chronically underserved,” Rogers said.

She said the organization is looking at options such as community clinics, vaccine events and outreach in First Nations communities.

She also noted requests for support from groups such as 12 Neighbours in Fredericton, and said the NBSPCA hopes to expand these efforts as resources allow.

Support from veterinary partners and donors

The NBSPCA now partners with 56 veterinary clinics across the province.

Rogers said clinics often refer clients directly when cost is a barrier, and some veterinarians reduce fees to help the program’s resources go further.

The organization also received a $100,000 donation from the Blue River Foundation to support the continued expansion of Happy Tails.

“This investment will help ensure more low‑income pet families can access the care their pets need,” Rogers said.

She said the grant will be delivered in $20,000 annual installments over five years, allowing the NBSPCA to help up to 50 additional animals each year.

Rogers said long‑term expansion will take planning and continued donor support, but she emphasized that the need for accessible veterinary care remains high across the province.

Don Metcalfe_NBSPCA media release

New NBSPCA chief focuses on prevention, outreach

The New Brunswick SPCA has a new chief animal protection officer.

Don Metcalfe says he wants to put more focus on prevention and community outreach as the organization responds to rising call volumes.

Metcalfe moved into the role after the retirement of longtime chief Tony Porter, who served eight years in the position.

He spent more than three decades in policing, including 29 years with the Saint John Police Force.

Metcalfe said the position lets him combine his enforcement background with his commitment to animal welfare.

“I’ve been an animal lover my whole life. We’ve been dog people since I was young, and I am truly all about the protection of animals and their welfare. It’s really important to me,” he said.

He also spoke about the role pets have played in his own life, including his Airedale terrier, Baxter, and his late pug, Bella.

Don Metcalfe with his Airedale terrier, Baxter. Image: Submitted by Don

Metcalfe said animals have always been a source of comfort during stressful days and a reminder of why the work matters.

Metcalfe said his years in community policing shaped how he approaches the job.

He said he wants to build stronger partnerships with residents, schools and local organizations to help prevent neglect before it occurs.

He pointed to the NBSPCA’s Happy Tails program as an example of early support that can keep pets in their homes.

The program offers financial help to owners who are struggling with basic veterinary costs.

Metcalfe said call volumes have increased in recent years, especially in Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John.

He said officers often cover large areas and manage heavy workloads, which can limit the amount of proactive education they can provide.

Shelters across the province also play a key role in the NBSPCA’s work.

“They go above and beyond to help us. I truly don’t know what we would do without them,” Metcalfe said.

He said he hopes a stronger focus on education and community engagement will help reduce calls over time while supporting officers in their day‑to‑day work.