Arriving by 2030

unleash the future of animal WELFARE.

Thank you for your support!

Canada's First Animal Welfare Hub is (almost) Here!

We're building the new Animal Welfare Campus. Giving us the capacity to say yes to more animals and more families.

We've turned every corner we have into space for care, and it's still not enough. That's why we're building the new Animal Welfare Campus, giving the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA the room to say yes to more animals and the families counting on us. The new campus will care for pets from birth to death, opening Canada's first non-profit walk-in vet clinic for affordable care without an appointment or along drive, and a compassionate end-of-life space so no one has to saygoodbye in a parking lot or a hallway. Built and run largely by volunteers, it will be a campus made by this community, for this community. This is how we Unleash Love.

Get Involved

Explore the Build

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Enriched Dog Play Yards & Agility Trails

Outdoor zones with agility equipment, shade, and supervised play—supporting both physical wellbeing and adoption readiness.

Education & Community Engagement Hub

A flexible space for school groups, workshops, adoption events, and public outreach—bringing people closer to the pet-first mission.

Conditional Site Plan Approval Secured

With conditions site plan, HBSPCA is now finalizing a submission for building permit to commence construction in 2028

Volunteer-Powered Animal Welfare Team

We'll become Canada's largest volunteer-powered animal welfare organization. 90% of our team will be volunteers.

Canada's First Non-Profit Walk-In Vet Clinic

Supporting every stage of a pets wellness journey, caring for full-time and walk-in clients in our community

6 Million Free Pet Meals Every Year

We're already Canada's largest pet food bank, but we'll more than double our impact upon opening

Compassionate End-of-Life Euthanasia Centre

A 4x increase in our current capacity to provide affordable, accessible, and compassionate goodbyes. Healthy animals are never euthanized for space.

Veterinary Student Teaching Hospital

A learning centre for the public and future veterinarians to learn, with transparent 'Greys Anatomy' style operating room viewing areas

Ways to give

Black and white cat lying on a blanket nursing three small kittens.

Naming Opportunities (i.e. Charlie’s Cafe)

Give Now

Orange tabby kitten with blue eyes lying on a red towel next to a white plush duck toy.

Becoming a Monthly Builder (Donate Every 30 Days)

Give Now

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One-Time Capital Donation or Investment

Give Now

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Fundraising (Starting a Community Fundraiser)

Start a Fundraiser

Group of people standing outside an SPCA building, holding a sign that says 'We had a paw-some day with our pet friends!'

Corporate Sponsorship (Naming, Team Days, & More)

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Black and white dog lying on a purple blanket nursing several puppies in a corner with light pink walls.

Volunteering (Anywhere Across the Charity)

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Legacy Gifts (Planned Giving and Estates Support)

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Brown and white dog sticking head out of a car window on a sunny day.

Tribute Giving (In-Honour and In-Memory)

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Bride and groom petting a happy black and brown dog with its tongue out during an outdoor setting.

Gift-in-Kind (Building and Construction Materials)

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Gift Catalogue

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Pledge

Give Now

Investment Opportunities

You can directly support the future of animal welfare by becoming an investor in the MySPCA Community Bond. These are short-term, partially asset backed, and securely held investments directly into the project. Together, with Tapestry Community Capital and our Trustee, Terry Cooke, you can securely invest in this project.

Visionary

$100,000

Min Investment

7 Years

Annual Interest

Visionary Legacy Recognition

Annual Interest Payments

Principal Repaid at Maturity

Founder

$50,000

Min Investment

6 Years

Annual Interest

Founder Naming & Recognition

Annual Interest Payments

Principal Repaid at Maturity

Builder

$10,000

Min Investment

5 Years

Annual Interest

Builder Naming Opportunity

Annual Interest Payments

Principal Repaid at Maturity

Advocate

$1,000

Min Investment

4 Years

Annual Interest

Best Friends Digital Opportunity

Annual Interest Payments

Principal Repaid at Maturity

FAQ’s

We Know You’re Curious —Let’s Clear Things Up

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Have any other questions?
Every message matters. Reach out and help us put pets first. Contact us: unleashlove@hbspca.com

What is Unleash Love?

Unleash Love is the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA’s bold new vision to transform animal welfare through the creation of a 55,000-square-foot Animal Welfare Hub—the first of its kind in North America. It integrates sheltering, veterinary care, education, community outreach, and social enterprise under one roof to create a Pet-First future.

What makes this Animal Welfare Hub unique?

The Unleash Love Hub will be the first fully integrated animal welfare centre in North America, combining: a) Shelter housing with species-specific design, b) A walk-in public veterinary clinic, c) High-volume spay/neuter and surgical suites, d) Education and community spaces, e) End-of-life and aftercare services, and f) Social enterprises (grooming, daycare, thrift, cafés). All designed with transparency, efficiency, and compassion at the core. What makes it truly unique is the ability to provide affordable, accessible services for all animals in our community from birth to end-of-life.

How much will the project cost, and how is it being funded?

The total project cost is approximately $35 million. Funding will come from a blend of philanthropy, institutional financing, community bonds, and social enterprise revenue. This diversified model ensures financial sustainability while allowing the community to directly invest in the future of animal welfare.t

How will this project help address animal welfare challenges?

Humane Canada projects by 2030: 40% more shelter overcrowding, 20% fewer veterinarians, and a 50% rise in surrenders due to financial hardship. The Hub directly tackles these issues by expanding shelter capacity, increasing access to affordable veterinary care, and launching programs that keep families and pets together.

How will the new Hub impact the community?

The Hub will support tens of thousands of animals and families annually, create local employment and volunteer opportunities, expand training for veterinary students, and provide accessible services for families of all income-levels. It will serve as a regional centre of excellence for animal welfare, education, and humane leadership.

Why is HBSPCA building a new facility?

Our impact is palpable, but we’ve hit a ceiling. We have the capacity and track record to scale our operations alongside hundreds of volunteers, but we are out of space to do so. EVERY square inch of our current hospital and shelter have been maximized to support the animals. We’ve done everything we can, with everything we have, to create a more humane community - but there’s still so much more to do! Overcrowding and outdated infrastructure restrict HBSPCA’s ability to meet growing needs. The new Hub will triple dog housing, quadruple cat housing, and triple surgical capacity, ensuring the organization can meet the demands of 2050 and beyond.

What will happen to the current HBSPCA location?

We're building our new hub directly beside our current location. Upon construction completion, all operations will be transitioned over to the new hub, and the existing shelter will be renovated to plan for future capacity increases. The site plan connects these two buildings together, creating a 6+ acre master-planned pet-first community.

When will construction start and finish?

Conditional site plan approval has already been secured, and HBSPCA is moving toward building permit submission. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with the new Animal Welfare Hub opening to the public in 2028.

What are the MySPCA Community Bonds?

A community bond is an interest-bearing loan that a non-profit, charity, or co-operative can issue to support a project they are undertaking. Individuals and organizations can purchase bonds and earn interest, and their investments support projects that generate social, cultural, and/or environmental returns. Community bonds have been used successfully by many types of organizations, typically in conjunction with other forms of financing like mortgages and lines of credit. The MySPCA Community Bond is your opportunity to invest directly in HBSPCA's new 55,000 SF Animal Welfare Hub.

Can anyone invest in the project?

Yes, investments start at just $1,000. Investments can directly to the project.

How can I support the project?

You can invest, donate, or volunteer. Investors can purchase community bonds through Tapestry Community Capital. Donors can contribute directly or sponsor naming opportunities. Volunteers can help with campaigns, animal care, or community outreach. Community members can support us by spreading the news with friends, families, and businesses

Have community bonds had success before?

Many other social enterprises and charities across Canada have used community financing and community bonds successfully. Tapestry Community Capital have supported other organizations as they raised over $110 million dollars from nearly 4000 investors. Many other not-for-profit and co-operative organizations have financed their projects using Community Bonds, including the Centre for Social Innovation, Guelph Trillium Waldorf School, Argonaut Rowing Club, Places for People Haliburton, SolarShare, Earth Day Canada, Habitat for Humanity Guelph, 10C, and YWCA Toronto.

How will the bonds be repaid?

HBSPCA has gone through extensive financial planning to ensure that bond principal can be repaid to investors upon maturity, and interest on all bonds can be paid annually. The Offering Statement which includes the Business Plan with all of these details will be sent to you when you complete the purchase request form. HBSPCA has a recent history of social enterprise revenue, paired with large real estate assets and conservative revenue projectionss for the hub - all of which partially back the bonds and provide a pathway for repayment of the bonds.

Are the community bonds taxed?

Interest earned from a community bond is taxed as regular Investment Income from Canadian Sources. Consult with a tax accountant for your individual case. Tapestry Community Capital will support HBSPCA in preparing, filing and issuing T5/RL-3 Statements of Investment Income and will send them annually to investors via a secure electronic PDF on our behalf.

What if something happens and I need my investment back before maturity?

Bondholders may request a repayment of bond principal in times of hardship, subject to the availability of replacement capital and/or funds within the organization and at the discretion of the Board of Directors.