What Hamilton Burlington SPCA does

The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA (HBSPCA) is a Canadian non-profit charitable organization founded in 1887 and headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario, operating the Companion Hospital, Animal Shelter, Adoption Center, Foster Services, Pet Thrift retail store, and Humane Education programming from its 245 Dartnall Road facility, with administrative offices at McMaster Innovation Park and a Pet Pantry distribution center at 395 Anchor Road. The organization serves individual pet owners, vulnerable populations, and partner community agencies through a comprehensive animal welfare service stack including spay/neuter surgery, dental care, microchipping, vaccinations, end-of-life and pet loss support, foster care, adoption, dog training, humane education, and a TNVR Community Cat Program; it is the first animal welfare organization in North America to use Shopify as an adoption platform, reducing average shelter stays from three months to under 8 days.

The HBSPCA is one of only three Humane Canada-accredited animal welfare organizations in the country and is also accredited by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario as a veterinary facility. It runs a Community Partner network of 25+ organizations — including Hamilton Food Share, Feed Halton, YWCA Hamilton, Good Shepherd Centres, Native Women's Centre, St. Matthew's House, and Hamilton Police Service — through which it delivers the Pet Pantry food bank (932,840 meals delivered), Pet Health Outreach Clinics, and remote community veterinary services. The technology backbone consists of Shopify for the adoption storefront, Better Impact for volunteer management, Raiser's Edge NXT for donor CRM, Mailchimp for email, and Google Analytics for web analytics; the organization also operates the Petszel post-adoption support platform.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid non-profit model: donations (one-time, monthly Furever Friends recurring, major gifts, legacy/bequests), fee-for-service veterinary care at the Companion Hospital, Pet Thrift retail sales, program fees for dog training/education/birthday parties/camps, and corporate sponsorships (Hills Pet Foods, PetSmart Charities, Pet Valu, Domino's Pizza). The Unleash Love capital campaign is currently funding construction of North America's first fully integrated Pet Wellness Hub, and the organization has recently launched an Animal Alliance Exchange Program offering professional development to external animal welfare agencies.

Name

Hamilton Burlington SPCA

Legal name

The Hamilton/Burlington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Website

https://hbspca.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA is a 137-year-old non-profit animal welfare organization in Ontario, Canada, operating a Companion Hospital, shelter, adoption center, and 25+ community partnerships to deliver veterinary care, adoption, TNVR, pet pantry, and humane education services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Veterinary Services (54194), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Animal welfare services
• Veterinary hospital
• Pet adoption
• Spay neuter services
• Humane education

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamilton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream including one-time donations, monthly recurring donations (Furever Friends program), major gifts, and legacy/bequest gifts. The organization runs various giving campaigns including Unleash Love capital campaign.
2. Veterinary and Animal Care Services: Revenue from spay/neuter surgeries, dental services, microchipping, vaccinations, and other veterinary services at the Companion Hospital. Services are priced affordably to serve the community.
3. Pet Thrift Retail: Retail operations selling quality toys, treats, crates, and everyday essentials for cats and dogs at affordable prices. All proceeds support animal care and programs.
4. Program Fees: Fees for dog training classes, birthday parties, summer camps, field trips, pet first aid courses, and other community programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA operates an integrated animal welfare organization delivering veterinary care (including high-volume spay/neuter, dental, microchipping, and vaccinations), animal sheltering and adoption services, foster care, end-of-life care, pet loss support, a community cat TNVR program, dog training, humane education, a pet food bank, and a pet thrift retail store. The organization runs the Companion Hospital and Animal Shelter from its main facility in Hamilton, Ontario, serving the Hamilton/Burlington region, and is currently developing North America's first integrated Animal Welfare Hub (Pet-First Campus).

Product overview

Hamilton Burlington SPCA operates a comprehensive suite of animal welfare services centered around its Companion Hospital and Animal Shelter. The organization offers veterinary care (spay/neuter, dental, end-of-life), adoption services, foster care, and community programs including pet health outreach clinics, dog training, and humane education. Additional services include Pet Thrift retail, Pet Pantry food bank, Community Cat TNVR program, Pet Visiting, and Legacy Giving/Planned Giving including Pet Survivorship Program. The organization is building North America's First Animal Welfare Hub through its Unleash Love Capital Campaign. The Ask Our Experts service provides pet health guidance, while the Animal Alliance Exchange Program offers professional development for animal care professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Unleash Love: Brand name for the organization's capital campaign and branding initiative associated with the Pet-First Campus Animal Wellness Hub.

Products and services

• Animal Shelter and Adoption Services Provides animal adoption services connecting pets with families, featuring animals available for adoption with post-adoption support via the Petszel platform. For individuals and families seeking to adopt a pet.
• Companion Hospital (Veterinary Care) Full-service veterinary hospital providing expert medical care, including spay/neuter surgeries, dental services, microchipping, vaccinations, preventative care, and end-of-life care. Accredited by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario.
• Spay and Neuter Program High-volume spay/neuter program offering affordable all-inclusive surgeries including core vaccines, microchip, pain medication, and e-collar for cats. Over 50,000 surgeries performed in 18 years.
• Pet Health Outreach Community wellness programs providing affordable pet health care including community clinics (70 annually), microchip clinics, nail trimming, and flea/tick prevention. Delivered through mobile/community locations.
• Foster Services Foster care program allowing community members to provide temporary homes for animals in need. Foster network delivered 53,320 animal foster hours.
• Community Cat Program (TNVR) TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return) program managing free-roaming cat populations humanely. Supported by a network of 200+ community cat caregivers.
• Dog Training Interactive dog training classes (100+ classes offered) covering commands such as sit, down, heel, stay, impulse control, and hand signals at multiple levels (Level One, Level Two).
• Pet Thrift Retail thrift store offering affordable pet supplies including toys, treats, crates, and essentials. Proceeds support animal care programs. Diverted over 2 tonnes of waste.
• Pet Pantry Pet food bank providing food and supplies to pet families in need, delivered via 25+ partner organizations (including Hills Pet Foods as sponsor). 932,840 meals delivered.
• Humane Education Educational programs including summer camps, birthday parties, field trips, and tours promoting animal welfare awareness for children and community groups.
• Pet Visiting Program Volunteer program allowing pet owners to visit community spaces such as schools, care facilities, and preschools with their animals.
• Pet Loss Support Grief support services and end-of-life care counseling for pet owners experiencing loss, including humane euthanasia and pet grief support groups.
• Pet Rehoming Services Services helping pet owners safely rehome their animals when they can no longer care for them. 955 animal surrenders supported.
• Remote Community Vet Services Mobile veterinary services bringing animal care to underserved and remote communities.
• Microchip Services Microchip implantation and registration services to help identify and reunite lost pets with owners. 7,310 pets microchipped.
• Legacy Giving / Planned Giving Planned giving program including bequests, beneficiary designations, life insurance gifts, stocks & securities donations, and the Pet Survivorship Program. Includes a free legal will creation partnership with Willfora.
• Pet Survivorship Program Program ensuring pets are cared for and placed in loving homes if their owners pass away, designated through the legacy giving program.
• Ask Our Experts (Kevin and Steve) Q&A service where pet owners can ask questions answered by the HBSPCA medical team, represented by mascot characters Kevin (dog) and Steve (cat). Topics include flea/tick prevention, litterbox care, spay/neuter, indoor cat entertainment, grooming, and annual exams.
• Animal Alliance Exchange Program 7-day immersive professional development program for animal care professionals to learn best practices through hands-on experience at HBSPCA facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced average shelter stay from 3 months to 8 days
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hills Pet FoodscoreOthersCorporate sponsor of the Pet Pantry program. Has generously donated to help support pet families in need. Provides ongoing support for community pet nutrition programs.
• PetSmart Charities CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting pet adoptions and animal welfare programs through funding and promotional support.
• Hamilton Food SharecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank network partner for the Pet Pantry program. Helps distribute pet food to families in need throughout the Hamilton community.
• Feed HaltonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity food bank partner serving the Burlington area with pet food distribution support.
• SacajaweaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the community support network.
• The Kibble ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPet-related community organization partnership for supporting pet owners in need.
• Hamilton City HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing services partnership supporting pet owners experiencing housing instability.
• WillforacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstate planning partnership allowing supporters to create a free legal will online. Part of the legacy giving program.
• Pet ValuminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail partner supporting pet supplies and fundraising initiatives.
• Domino's PizzaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting community events and programs.
• Good Shepherd CentrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services partner supporting vulnerable populations including pet owners in need.
• Native Women's CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Indigenous women and families with pet-related services.
• YWCA HamiltoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's shelter partnership providing pet support services for women escaping violence.
• St. Matthew's HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless shelter partner providing pet support services for homeless pet owners.
• Hamilton Police ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement partnership for animal welfare enforcement and community animal protection.
• McMaster UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partnership; administrative offices located at McMaster Innovation Park.
• Humane CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational animal welfare organization. HBSPCA CEO serves as Vice Chair of Humane Canada Board of Directors, helping shape animal welfare policy nationally.

Scale indicators24 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BC SPCA: Large provincial SPCA operating shelters, veterinary hospitals, and community programs across British Columbia; comparable in mission scope, accreditation status, and integration of vet + welfare services.
• Ontario SPCA and Humane Society: Provincial umbrella SPCA/humane society operating across Ontario; directly comparable as another Canadian animal welfare nonprofit providing adoption, veterinary, and community education services in the same regulatory and donor environment.
• Toronto Humane Society: Major Canadian humane society running shelter, veterinary, adoption, and community programs in Ontario; similar nonprofit funding model, scope of services, and reliance on donations and bequests.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): Founding U.S. animal welfare nonprofit operating shelter, veterinary, and advocacy programs; analogous mission and operating model but at significantly larger scale and U.S. regulatory context.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): National-scale U.S. animal welfare advocacy and shelter-support organization; broader geographic scope and more advocacy-focused, but directly comparable on shelter operations, fundraising, and policy leadership.

Others

• Maddie's Fund: U.S.-based animal welfare foundation that funds shelter innovation, pet adoptions, and veterinary care programs; thematically relevant funder and ecosystem influencer rather than a direct operating peer.
• PetSmart Charities of Canada: Major animal-welfare grantmaking funder and HBSPCA's confirmed grant source; not an operating peer, but a key ecosystem participant that shapes funding flows across the Canadian shelter sector.
• Humane Canada: National federation for humane societies in Canada; not a direct operating peer but a membership/standards body of which HBSPCA is one of only three accredited members — relevant for benchmarking and policy influence.

Regional players

• Calgary Humane Society: Alberta-based humane society offering adoption, vet care, and community programs; comparable service portfolio and nonprofit operating model in a different Canadian region.
• Montreal SPCA: Quebec-based SPCA providing shelter, veterinary, and advocacy services with a similar nonprofit model; comparable on services but serves a different provincial/regulatory environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheHBSPCA
• Facebookfacebook.com/HBSPCA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hbspca
• Instagraminstagram.com/hamiltonburlingtonspca
• TikToktiktok.com/@hamiltonburlingtonspca
• Xx.com/hb_spca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hamilton Burlington SPCA