Better Together: Skedaddle and the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA

Our organizations support animals in different ways, but the values behind our work are closely connected. We believe animals should be treated with care and respect, that education is an important part of animal welfare, and that humane solutions help create safer communities for people, pets and wildlife.

Our shared outlook has formed the foundation of a longstanding relationship focused on education, community outreach and support for the HBSPCA’s work across Hamilton and Burlington.

A Partnership Rooted in Our Community

Skedaddle was founded in Hamilton in 1989, just over a century after the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA began serving the community in 1887. Over the years, our connection has grown through our common interest in animal welfare and humane education.

There is also a longstanding personal connection between our organizations. Barry Dowd, Skedaddle’s current Chief Operating Officer and brother of Skedaddle owner, President and CEO Bill Dowd, previously served as Executive Director of the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA. His experience with both organizations reflects a relationship that has developed over many years around shared values and a commitment to the local community.

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For Skedaddle, supporting the HBSPCA is an opportunity to give back to the community where the company began while contributing wildlife expertise to an organization already doing important work for animals and the people who care for them.

That support has taken many forms. Skedaddle has joined the HBSPCA at community events and fundraisers, where wildlife technicians have spoken with families about local species, animal behaviour, preventing wildlife conflicts and reducing risks such as rabies. Skedaddle has also supported the shelter in other ways, including helping decorate the facility with lights and holiday decorations.

These opportunities give us a way to connect with people outside of our day-to-day work and start conversations about the many animals that share our neighbourhoods.

Bringing Wildlife Education Into the Community

Skedaddle brings decades of firsthand experience with urban wildlife behaviour and humane wildlife management, while the HBSPCA brings extensive knowledge of animal welfare, responsible pet ownership and community education.

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Together, we can help homeowners and pet owners better understand why wildlife may be attracted to their properties, how to reduce opportunities for food and shelter, how to prevent conflicts and what to do when pets and wildlife encounter one another.

Raccoons, squirrels, skunks, bats, birds and other species have adapted remarkably well to living alongside people. Understanding their behaviour is an important part of responding to them safely and humanely.

Putting Animal Welfare First

At the centre of our relationship is a simple shared belief: animals deserve to be treated humanely. For the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, that commitment is reflected through animal care, veterinary services, adoption, humane education and community outreach.

For Skedaddle, it shapes their approach taken when wildlife enters a home or property. Rather than focusing only on removing an animal, humane wildlife control considers why the animal is there, its behaviour and biology, and how the problem can be resolved while protecting both the animal and the people involved.

This is especially important during wildlife baby season, when urban animals may be raising dependent young inside homes and other structures. Understanding species behaviour and life cycles helps prevent unnecessary separation of mothers and babies.

Preventing the problem from happening again is equally important. By identifying and securing wildlife entry points and helping homeowners understand what attracted an animal in the first place, conflicts can be resolved with a longer-term focus on coexistence and prevention.

Better Together

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Our partnership allows each organization to bring a different area of expertise to the same conversation.

The HBSPCA provides trusted animal welfare services, education and support for people and pets throughout the community. Skedaddle supports that work by contributing decades of wildlife knowledge, participating in community initiatives and helping residents better understand the wild animals living alongside them.

Whether we are meeting families at an event, developing educational resources or supporting an HBSPCA initiative, working together allows us to reach more people with practical information that benefits animals and the community as a whole.

We are proud of the relationship our organizations have built over the years and look forward to continuing to support people, pets and wildlife across Hamilton and Burlington together.