St. John's SPCA breaks ground on new facility for animals in need

The new SPCA facility in St. John's will be the cat's meow, according to SPCA executive director Karen Mahoney. 

On Friday, members of the St. John's SPCA turned the sod for construction of its new location on East White Hills Road.

The building will replace its current facility near St. John's International Airport, which Mahoney says the organization has drastically outgrown. 

"We're at capacity for our dogs and almost there for the cats. If we didn't have fosters, we wouldn't be able to have all the animals in our care that we do," she told CBC.

Mahoney estimates 30 or 40 kittens are currently being fostered through the SPCA, while 15 are up for adoption in kennels at the facility.

There are also a number of adult cats and dogs.

"The shelter's rocking. We've got lots of kittens, lots of dogs. We're blocked solid right now," Mahoney said. 

The St. John's SPCA has been fundraising for a new building since 2021 through its Way Home campaign.

Mahoney expects the new SPCA will open in spring 2026. It will cost more than $6 million and expand the organization's reach with plans to hire an on-site veterinarian. 

"We want to provide low-income spay and neuter clinics directly from the SPCA. We want to provide low-income vaccine clinics to help the community, which keeps giving [to] us," she said. 

WATCH | Even the kittens are excited for the new SPCA facility: 

A new SPCA facility will soon be opening in St. John’s

2 days ago

Duration 1:56

The St. John's SPCA broke ground Thursday at the site of its new facility. The building will replace the current facility near St. John's International Airport, which according to SPCA executive director Karen Mahoney is at full capacity. Mahoney expects the new SPCA will open in spring 2026, but the organization has $1.2 million left to raise as its new building is constructed.

The SPCA's current shelter was originally built as a house. Mahoney said the new building is designed to maintain cleanliness, control disease control, and outlast animal wear and tear.

"If you could look around at our bricks and mortar, it's wood floors. You know, we need vet-grade floors. We need to be able to contain diseases and eliminate them almost, which you can't do with these kinds of floors," she said as an example.

Campaign chair of the Way Home Jim Hynes told CBC animals contribute to people's wellness.

"Animals play a big role in everyone's life, whether you're a senior or you suffer from loneliness, whether you're a person who suffers from mental health and addictions, or you're just having a bad day, you go home, your animals are going to love you," he said. 

The SPCA has $1.2 million left to raise as its new building is constructed. 

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