SPA de Québec

What SPA de Québec does

SPA de Québec (legal name: Société protectrice des animaux de la ville de Québec) is a non-profit animal welfare organization (OBNL) founded in 1875 and headquartered at 1130 avenue Galilée in Québec City, Canada. It is the exclusive contracted animal protection provider for 41 municipalities across La Côte-de-Beaupré, La Jacques-Cartier, Agglomération de Québec, Portneuf, and L'Île-d'Orléans, collectively serving more than one million citizens. Its core operations cover animal adoption, stray animal management via the Trap-Neuter-Return-Maintain (CSRM) program, microchipping, targeted sterilization, municipal licensing, 24/7 emergency response, cruelty reporting, euthanasia, farm cat adoption, and lost/found animal reunification, supplemented by community modules for foster care, volunteering, annual membership ($50/year), and donations.

The organization is entirely self-funded — non-subsidized and operated independently from other provincial SPAs/SPCAs — generating revenue through adoption fees (ranging from $17.50 for pigeons to over $500 for dogs, with full veterinary packages valued at $650-$980 in private clinic pricing), municipal service contracts, memberships, donations, in-kind material contributions, and CSRM cage rentals. Donations constitute less than 10% of total revenues, well below the 50-70% benchmark of other Canadian shelters, making municipal contracts and operational fees the dominant revenue base.

Technically, the organization runs a WordPress-based website with Google Analytics for traffic tracking and Google reCAPTCHA for spam protection, and uses JeDonneEnLigne as its online donation platform alongside Amazon wishlists for in-kind material donations. With only 14 paid employees and approximately 120-670 active volunteers supported by 550 foster families, the shelter handled 7,800 animals in 2024 and recorded 3,172 adoptions and 781 family reunions in 2025, alongside 2,602 sterilizations, 3,032 microchips, and 1,451 field interventions.

Name

SPA de Québec

Legal name

Société protectrice des animaux de la ville de Québec

Website

https://spadequebec.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1875

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SPA de Québec is a non-profit animal shelter founded in 1875, providing adoption, veterinary, stray-control, and 24/7 emergency services across 41 municipalities serving over one million citizens in the greater Québec City region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Shelter and Welfare Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940), Veterinary Services (54194), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Low-Cost & Community Veterinary Clinics (HLAMAAAE), Spay/Neuter & High-Volume Sterilization Clinics (HLAMAAAC), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs (BPAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption services
• Animal welfare veterinary
• Stray animal control
• Municipal animal licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Québec

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations: Monetary donations from individuals constitute the primary revenue stream. Donations represent less than 10% of total revenues, significantly below the 50–70% benchmark of other Canadian shelters.
2. Animal Adoptions: Fees charged for the adoption of cats, dogs, and other animals. Adoption fees range from approximately $17.50 (pigeons) to over $500 (dogs), which include veterinary consultation, vaccination, parasite prevention, sterilisation, and microchip implantation.
3. Municipal Service Contracts: SPA de Québec serves 41 municipalities and over one million citizens under formal service agreements, providing 24/7 emergency response, animal control, licensing, and stray animal pickup services.
4. Annual Membership: Annual membership at $50 per year, offering benefits including discounts at partner retailers (Létourno and the SPA boutique) and eligibility to attend the annual general meeting and stand for board elections.
5. Material and In-Kind Donations: Acceptance of physical goods such as food, cleaning supplies, and pet accessories, as well as legacy (testamentary) donations and commemorative in-memoriam donations.
6. Trap-Neuter-Return-Maintain (CSRM) Program: Rental of animal capture cages to citizens and municipalities for the management of stray cat colonies, with the SPA providing sterilisation and ear-tipping services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SPA de Québec is a non-profit animal shelter that protects and rehomes companion animals through adoption programs, stray animal management, and veterinary services including microchipping, sterilization, and euthanasia. It also delivers 24/7 emergency animal response, municipal licensing, and CSRM stray cat control across 41 municipalities in the Capitale-Nationale region. Operations are sustained through donations, memberships, municipal contracts, and adoption fees rather than government subsidies.

Product overview

SPA de Québec is a non-profit animal shelter organization operating as a single integrated service platform offering comprehensive animal welfare services. The core offering centers on animal adoption and stray animal management, complemented by veterinary services (microchipping, sterilization, euthanasia), regulatory services (municipal licensing), and emergency response. The organization also provides community engagement modules including foster care, volunteer programs, membership, and donation programs. All services are delivered through the shelter at 1130 avenue Galilée in Québec, with 24/7 emergency availability. The organization services 41 municipalities across the Capitale-Nationale region, handling approximately 7,800-7,880 animals annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animal Adoption Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,172 adoptions in 2025; 781 families reunited; 7,800 animals taken in per year; 2,602 sterilisations and 3,032 microchips implanted annually.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LétournocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLétourno is a business partner providing 10% discount to SPA de Québec members. Their logo appears on the SPA's website footer as a recognised partner. The partnership supports member benefits and cross-promotion of services.
• DaubignycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDaubigny is listed as a partner on the SPA de Québec website, with its logo displayed in the partners section. The nature of the partnership is promotional/marketing co-branding.
• 1st Choice NutritioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner1st Choice Nutrition is a partner of the SPA de Québec, appearing in the partners section. The partnership likely involves promotional support and/or in-kind product contributions for animal care.
• Association québécoise des SPA et des SPCA (AQSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPA de Québec is a member of the AQSS, the Québec-wide association of animal protection societies. Membership provides advocacy, standards, and peer network support for the organisation.
• Hôtel Le Bonne EntenteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEco-responsible partnership where Hôtel Le Bonne Entente donates surplus linen (towels, bathmats, and other textile formats) to the SPA de Québec. These materials are used for veterinary care and the comfort of vulnerable shelter animals.
• Québec-Linge service d'uniformesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEco-responsible partnership where Québec-Linge donates surplus textiles and linens no longer meeting hotel quality standards to the SPA for use in animal care and shelter operations.
• Hôtel ALTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEco-responsible partnership with Hôtel ALT (part of Germain Hotels) donating surplus linen and textiles to the SPA de Québec, contributing to the shelter's material supply for animal care.
• École des UrsulinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerÉcole des Ursulines conducted a fundraising initiative on behalf of the SPA de Québec. Students raised funds and the donation was presented to the SPA's General Director Karina Painchaud at the school.
• Stéphanie (individual fundraiser)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerStéphanie, a volunteer at the SPA de Québec, launched a GoFundMe campaign during the holiday season to raise funds in support of the organisation.
• Jérémy (individual fundraiser)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerJérémy, an individual supporter, raised $660 by participating in the Demi-marathon de Rimouski 2025 to support the animals at the shelter.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): US-based national animal welfare organization providing shelter, adoption, veterinary, and advocacy services. Comparable in mission and service breadth, though operating at a much larger scale and in a different geography.
• Toronto Humane Society: Large urban animal shelter providing adoption, veterinary care, and advocacy. A larger incumbent in the same Canadian animal welfare space with overlapping services but a broader urban footprint.
• BC SPCA: Provincial animal welfare organization with multiple branches across British Columbia offering adoption, veterinary care, and cruelty investigation. A larger incumbent peer with a multi-branch operating model.

Others

• Royal Canin Canada: Pet nutrition company that partners with shelters via in-kind donations and educational programming. Relevant as an ecosystem supplier that supports similar shelter operations.
• Humane Canada: National federation of Canadian SPCAs and humane societies. Provides advocacy, standards, and peer-network support to member shelters including SPA de Québec (which is a member of the related AQSS).
• PetSmart Charities of Canada: Major funder of Canadian animal welfare organizations through adoption and spay/neuter grant programs. Comparable as a partner/funder in the same ecosystem, not a direct operator.
• Association québécoise des SPA et des SPCA (AQSS): Quebec-wide association of animal protection societies. SPA de Québec is a member; comparable as an ecosystem participant offering advocacy and standards to the same network of shelters.

Direct peers

• Ottawa Humane Society: Non-profit animal shelter offering adoption, veterinary, animal control, and community education services to a regional Canadian municipality. Directly comparable in scope, revenue model mix, and municipal contract structure.
• Calgary Humane Society: Western Canadian non-profit animal shelter offering adoption, veterinary services, and animal control under municipal agreements. Closely comparable in operating model and shelter-based service delivery.
• SPCA de Montréal: Quebec's largest animal welfare organization providing shelter, adoption, veterinary, and enforcement services for companion animals. Directly comparable in mission, service mix, and Quebec-based municipal contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/spadequebec
• Instagraminstagram.com/spadequebec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spadequebec

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about SPA de Québec