Community Programs

Pet First Aid Course

Thank you for your support!

HBSPCA Rescue Rangers: Summer Camp

Learning with HBSPCA

Discover Life-Saving Skills with a Pet First Aid Course!

Are you ready to be a hero for your furry friends? Whether you’re a dedicated pet parent, a passionate pet caregiver, or simply a pet lover, our upcoming Pet First Aid Course is for you!

Course Details:

Time: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (30min break for lunch)
Location: Auditorium at the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, 245 Dartnall Road, Hamilton, ON

What You’ll Learn:

Our expert-led course will cover essential skills and knowledge, including:

Emergency Steps: What to do in critical situations with your pet
First Aid Kit Essentials: What you need to be prepared
Head-to-Toe Assessment: How to evaluate your pet’s condition
Injury Types: Identifying and addressing different injuries
Prevention: Key strategies to prevent illness and injury

Bonus: Attendees are welcome to bring their social and dog-friendly dogs with them to be included when practicing skills learned during the course. Please note, the number of dogs welcomed in-class is limited, and will be accepted in order of registration. Owners are solely responsible for their dogs, who should be comfortable being handled and calm during the lesson.

It is recommended that course attendees are 12 years of age or older. There will be a 30min break for lunch, please bring your own lunch.Exam & Certificate Included: At the end of the course, put your new knowledge to the test with a comprehensive exam to receive your Pet First Aid Certificate.

Why Attend?

Gain confidence in handling pet emergencies
Ensure you’re prepared for any situation
Meet fellow pet enthusiasts and professionals

Secure your spot today by registering online. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain vital skills that could make all the difference in an emergency.

Register now and become a well-prepared pet guardian!

For more information, please contact us at 705-574-7722 or humaneeducation@hpspca.com.

Community Programs

Birthday Parties

Thank you for your support!

Paw-some Birthdays at the HBSPCA!

Looking for a birthday celebration that's truly un-fur-gettable?

Celebrate your child's special day with a one-of-a-kind party at the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA! Our unique birthday party experiences are purr-fect for animal lovers ages 6 years and older. It's sure to be an educational and tail-tastic day they'll be talking about long after the party's over.

Let's Get This Party Hopping

Parties are available every Sunday!
We offer two party timeslots every Sunday: 10:00am-12:30pm and 1:00pm-3:30pm. We highly recommend scheduling your child's party at least six weeks in advance for the best date availability.

Choose From Two Exciting Party Packages:

Brown and white dog wearing a shiny teal bow tie looking at a blurred object on a wooden surface.

$250.00

Puppy Pack Party

Base Party Package

Includes:

2.5 hours in our private party room, with all the decorations
10 party guests (1 birthday child + 9 child party guests)
Dedicated HBSPCA staff & volunteer Co-Hosts
Interactive Facility Tour
10 Loot bags
Engaging animal themed craft
Meet a shelter animal (when available)*
Colour-your-own ‘Happy Birthday’ Banner keepsake

Book Now

Fluffy cat wearing a paper party hat with the number 2, sitting behind a small birthday cake with a candle amid scattered decorations.

$350.00

Meow-gical Birthday Party

Premium Party Package

Includes:

2.5 hours in our private party room, with all the decorations
10 party guests (1 birthday child + 9 child party guests)
Dedicated HBSPCA staff + volunteer Co-Hosts
Shelter facility tour
10 Loot bags
Engaging animal themed craft
Meet a shelter animal (when available)*
Colour-your-own ‘Happy Birthday’ Banner keepsake

Plus

Delicious party-sized pizza (cheese or pepperoni)
Personalized ½ slab cake (chocolate or vanilla)
Two 2-Litre bottles of drinks (juice, soda, etc.)
Plates, cutlery, cups and napkins for all 10 party guests

Book Now

Important to Note:

1 adult must remain onsite for the entire party, with a maximum of 4 adults welcome to attend.
All party guests must be 6 years of age or older. Siblings of the birthday child who are under 6 years of age, are welcome to attend the party only if there is a parent or guardian available to provide dedicated supervision for them during the entire party.

Want to invite more party animals?

Add up to 5 additional guests for just $20.00 (+HST) per child. When booking your party online, look for ‘Additional Guests for Birthday Parties’ near the bottom of the booking pop-up, click the circle then select the number of additional guests from the drop down, before confirming your party booking.

A Purr-fect Day They'll Never Forget!

Our parties last for 2.5 hours, with the following schedule:

5 Minutes:
Welcome + Introductions
‍
30 minutes:
Interactive Shelter Tour
‍
20 minutes:
Animal Themed Craft or Enrichment Activity
‍
30 minutes:
Animal Interaction (subject to availability) + Photos
‍
60 minutes:
Food + Cake (Meow-gical Premium Party Package) and/or guardian-led activities (opening presents, distributing loot bags, additional games, etc.)
‍
5 minutes:
Wrap up + Goodbyes

Don't miss out on this paw-some experience—sure to delight children of all ages!

Beyond the excitement of a birthday party, your child and their guests will enjoy engaging activities and crafts, explore the shelter with a guided tour, and even get the chance for animal interaction*.

*Please note, that while we do our best to include animal interactions during each party, animal interactions cannot be guaranteed. We aim to have at least one adoptable pet interact with the party guests, but pet availability depends on the animals in our shelter the day of the party. Our Animal Care team will select the most suitable animal for group interactions, prioritizing the pets' and party guests' comfort, safety and well-being.

Ready to Book

Click here

For more information, check out our FAQs below, or contact the Humane Education Department:
‍
Phone: 905-574-7722
Email: humaneeducation@hbspca.com

Frequently Asked Questions:

How will children be supervised?

A dedicated HBSPCA staff party host and up to two volunteer co-hosts will be present for the duration of the party, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all the party guests. One parent/guardian is also required to be present at the party at all times, with a maximum of four adults are allowed to attend. Parents/guardians, and adult guests are expected to supervise their children as well as the other children in the group.

How many children can come to the party?

Both of our birthday party packages include up to 10 children (1 birthday child and 9 guests). For just $20.00 (+HST) per child, you can add up to 5 additional children to your party.

What is inside the loot bags?

Who doesn't love a loot bag? Each child's loot bag will contain 2-3 pieces of candy, an animal-themed item (pencil, pen, or eraser, etc.), 1-2 animal stickers, 1-2 temporary animal tattoos, a one-of-a-kind HBSPCA keychain, a treat or toy for their pet at home, and our Humane Education flyer. Birthday party loot bags are open at the top, so you can add anything else to the bags that you’d like!

What age are the parties appropriate for?

Parties are appropriate for children 6 years of age and older. We have different activities and experiences suitable for every age! Younger siblings of the birthday child are welcome to attend the party and are considered part of the 9 party guests only if they receive a loot bag.

‍

Please note, a parent/guardian must remain onsite to provide dedicated supervision for any siblings under 6 years of age who are attending the party.

What upgrades can we add to the party?

Our Meow-gical Birthday Party (Premium Party Package) includes a choice of one cheese or pepperoni party-sized pizza and one vanilla or chocolate ½ slab cake, as well as two 2L bottles of soda or juice, and plates, cups and cutlery for every child guest.

Will we get to meet an animal during the party?

We do our best to include animal interactions during each party, but animal interactions are not guaranteed. We aim to have at least one adoptable pet interact with the party guests, but this depends on the animals available at the shelter the day of the party.

‍

Many of the animals in our care stay in foster homes, offsite from our shelter facility, and the type and number of animals in our care can change quickly. Our experienced Animal Care Team will select the most suitable animals for group interactions, prioritizing the pets' and party guests' comfort, safety and well-being.

‍

Though you might not be able to choose which animals visit your party, our team ensures a safe and positive experience for everyone involved.

What does a typical party schedule look like?

Our parties last for 2.5 hours, with the following schedule:

5 minutes:
Welcome + Introductions

30 minutes:
Interactive Shelter Tour

20 minutes:
Animal Themed Craft

30 minutes:
Animal Interaction (subject to availability) + photos
‍
60 minutes:
Food + Cake (Meow-gical Premium Party Package) and/or guardian led activities (opening presents, distributing loot bags, games, etc.)

5 minutes:
Wrap up + goodbyes
‍

We offer two party timeslots every Sunday (10:00am-12:30pm and 1:00pm-3:30pm) and often book up weeks in advance. This means there will most likely be another party before or after yours. Please remind guests to arrive on time but no more than 15mins prior to the start of your party timeslot. As well, please be prepared to leave promptly after your party timeslot so our staff and volunteers have enough time to reset the party room.

My child wants to raise money to support the animals. What do you need?

That is amazing! Thank you so much! We can assist you in setting up a birthday fundraising page for your child's party on our website, which they can share with friends and family. By setting up a birthday fundraising page, they'll help us provide much needed food, and supplies, to care for animals in need while also spreading kindness and compassion for our furry friends.

Allergy Notice

We aim to do our best to accommodate any allergies, food intolerances or specific diets during our birthday parties. Please let us know what we should and should not include for your child’s special party when booking your party.

*Please note, that while we do our best to include animal interactions during each party, animal interactions are not guaranteed. We aim to have at least one adoptable pet interact with the party guests, but this depends on the animals available at the shelter that day. Our Animal Care team will select the most suitable animal for group interactions, prioritizing the pets' and party guests' comfort, safety and well-being.

Additionally, please be aware that we cannot guarantee that our animals have not been exposed to allergens before or during their care at the shelter. Safety is our priority, but we encourage you to take extra precautions if allergies concern you.

Refund Guidelines:

15 Days Notice or More:
If you cancel 15 days or more before the event, you are eligible for a full refund minus a 10% admin fee.
‍
14 Days to 72 Hours Notice:
Cancellations made between 14 days and 72 hours before the party will receive a 50% refund and supplies and decorations have already been ordered.
‍
Less Than 72 Hours Notice:
No refund will be issued for cancellations made less than 72 hours before the event.
‍
Once the Program Has Begun:
No refunds are available once the party has started.‍

HBSPCA Cancellations:

If the HBSPCA is required to cancel the party due to extreme weather or an emergency, you will receive a full refund or be given the option to reschedule the event at no additional charge.

Extreme Weather Conditions:
Birthday parties will typically proceed regardless of weather conditions. However, in the case of severe weather that could compromise safety (such as a winter storm), our team will notify parents/guardians on the morning of the event. You will have the option to reschedule to the next available date or receive a full refund.
‍
Changes to Guest List or Add-ons:
Any changes to the guest list or additional requests, such as extra guests or special food options, must be made and paid for at least 15 days before the event. This allows us to ensure that all supplies are available, and food orders are submitted on time.

Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or need assistance with booking your child’s birthday party at the HBSPCA.

Thank you for supporting the HBSPCA and choosing to spend your child's special day with us!
‍
Humane Education Department
Phone: 905-574-7722
Email: humaneeducation@hbspca.com

Days

Hours

Minutes

seconds

Seconds

Support Humane Education

Help us bring people and pets together, to build a compassionate community.

Make a Donation

Book cover showing a smiling girl with blonde hair sitting on grass, playfully interacting with a brown dog in a colorful park with trees and flowers.

The Gift of Adoption

A Good Read for Pet Loving Kids

When Kristi meets a lonely dog looking for a home, adoption becomes the most loving and life-changing gifts of all.

$23.99

Buy Now

Humane Education is Supported by Hills

Thank You to Our Corporate Sponsor Hills Pet Foods who has generously supported our Humane Education program

Learn More

Emergency Vet Care

Report Abuse & Neglect

Emergency Surrender

Pet First Aid Course