In response to the provincial government announcing the end of government funding for horse racing, Hastings Racecourse has announced they will stop horse racing effective immediately.
While there is industry pushback to the B.C. government’s announcement to end funding for horse racing, the decision did not happen in isolation.
This change follows decades of decline in revenue and public support and heavy reliance on public funding.
Hastings Racecourse was the last active race track in B.C., meaning there is no more horse racing in the province.
Hastings has seen multiple fatalities in recent seasons, including three known horse deaths in 2025, four in 2024, and eight in 2023. Each loss is a reminder of the inherent risks horses face in the racing industry.
While incredibly grateful for this decision, the VHS recognizes the uncertainty it may create for workers and animals within the industry. The VHS urges the provincial government and industry stakeholders to ensure a just and compassionate transition plan, including:
Support for workers in the horse racing industry faced with this transition;
Safe, secure retirement and rehoming plans for horses.
Join the VHS in extending our sincere gratitude to Minister Nina Krieger for her leadership in making this decision and encourage meaningful support for workers and animals transitioning away from horse racing. Use the VHS’s quick action tool below to send a letter to the Minister and your Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
When Hannah noticed that her beloved dog George had stopped eating and drinking and had developed a large, hard bump on his lip, she was terrified. Firm lumps that cause behaviour changes like this can be a sign of cancer.
George is a rescued dog from Mexico, found abandoned in a dumpster with his brothers as a puppy. Today, he is a 70-pound lap dog at heart who wants nothing more than to snuggle close to his mom. “He’s the most cuddly boy and always wanting to sleep with mom,” Hannah shared.
Living in a recovery house and doing her best to rebuild her life, Hannah was distraught when she realized she could not afford to have George examined. Hannah reached out to the McVitie Fund for help.
Thanks to support from our wonderful community, George was able to see a veterinarian. He received an exam, medication for allergies, and antibiotics to treat the concerning bump. George is now on the road to recovery and back where he belongs, curled up beside Hannah.
“Thank you so much for your help, I seriously appreciate it,” Hannah told the VHS’s McVitie team. She now looks forward to reaching a point in her life when she can give back to help other animals like George.
George’s recovery would not have been possible without the support of generous donors to the McVitie Fund. Could you make a small gift today to help us say yes to more beloved companion animals?
Vancouver Humane Society is partnering with The Happy Herd Farm Sanctuary this Giving Tuesday to make life better for animals!
Between now and December 2, you can donate directly to our joint campaign. We are also looking for businesses and individuals to support this campaign through matched giving donations. Check out our sponsorship package for more details.
Every supporter that donates towards the Giving Tuesday campaign will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a $50 gift card toVegan Supply.
Happy Herd cares for 50+ animals including pigs, cows, goats, chickens, sheep, cats, and one dog! Each cherished animal has their own name and personality, and spends their days enjoying life with their fellow herd family members.
Your generous support of this campaign will support essential daily care costs like food and veterinary treatment, and will have a lasting impact on the lives of the animals who call The Happy Herd home.
The Vancouver Humane Society
Since 1984, the Vancouver Humane Society has been supporting individuals, organizations, and governments to take action for the welfare and rights of animals influenced by human activities.
The VHS is dedicated to ending animal suffering in all forms, including:
Across North America, we’re seeing meaningful progress to protect animals from medically unnecessary procedures. This is a great sign that awareness and compassion are driving real change.
More governments moving away from harmful procedures
Ontario appears set to push ahead with a ban on declawing cats and debarking and ear cropping dogs, a move animal welfare advocates say is years overdue and doesn’t go far enough.
The Province of Ontario is currently considering a ban on procedures such as declawing, debarking, and ear cropping when they are not medically necessary.
These surgeries, often performed for human convenience rather than animal health, can cause lasting physical and behavioural harm. For instance, debarking removes an important way that dogs communicate, while declawing can cause lasting pain, nerve damage, increased aggression, and difficulties walking normally.
The state of California also recently took action to protect companion animals. A statewide ban on medically unecessary declawing came into effect at the beginning of 2026, reinforcing the growing recognition that removing a cat’s claws—which involves amputating part of each toe—is not a humane solution to scratching.. The state joins others such as New York, Maryland, and Virginia, which have passed similar laws.
Where B.C. stands on medically unecessary procedures for pets
For more than a decade, the College of Veterinarians of B.C. (CVBC) has prohibited cosmetic procedures such as tail docking and ear cropping. In 2023, the CVBC strengthened its protections by also banning declawing and debarking when not medically necessary.
Ontario remains the only province without restrictions on cosmetic procedures for pets; but that could soon change. These developments reflect a broader shift away from practices rooted in convenience and toward policies grounded in the science of animal well-being.
Close up photo of a woman hugging an older brown dog outdoors on the beach
The Vancouver Humane Society is proud to be part of a new province-wide collaborative: the Humane Societies of British Columbia. This initiative brings together seven independent humane societies to make it easier for people across BC to find trusted, local support for their animal family members, all in one place.
HumaneSocietiesBC.ca is a new resource hub that aims to help connect people to local services like veterinary assistance, pet food programs, behaviour support, and emergency care when they’re needed most.
We’ll also be joining together to share timely, life-saving information on pet health and care.
This Valentine’s Day, choose to send an e-card to someone you love when you donate to the VHS on their behalf! Your thoughtful donation will go towards improving the lives of animals, while letting someone special know you’re thinking of them.
When you donate below, choose to make a donation in honour of someone special and pick a thoughtful e-card that will be sent directly to their inbox. Simply tick the “Yes, I want to dedicate my donation”boxin the “Want to dedicate your gift to someone special?” section of the online donation form.
Scientists hope understanding coyote widowhood will someday help humans in their own grief.
New research around coyote bonds and behaviours shows that coyotes experience grief over the loss of a partner.
A 2012 study previously found that coyotes select one mate for life, offering more evidence of complex social relationships between these animals.
A new study from Rachel Tong and Sara Freeman finds even more evidence of complex emotions tied to these social bonds: coyotes who experience the loss of a partner show the same stress signals in their brains that we see in human grief.
Though it may seem clear to many through common sense and observation that animals experience strong bonds, scientific research like this helps to grow public awareness of animal sentience, which can in turn support stronger protections for animals.
According to the National Geographic article on the study, “Freeman hopes her work can help build compassion for coyotes, which are often regarded as pests and targeted in wildlife killing contests and by frustrated landowners.”
Season one of Fear Factor: House of Fear has ended, and a new special is set to air in May. Please scroll down for current actions and stay tuned for additional news. See the Current Campaigns page for more ways you can help animals.
A recently released Fear Factor: House of Fear episode was filmed in Metro Vancouver and involved local animal handlers.
The episode has raised serious animal welfare concerns and prompted the VHS to file cruelty complaints.
In futureepisodes yet to air, further incidents of stressful and inhumane treatment of animals are depicted.
The first episode involved putting contestants in enclosed containers and dropping rats, pigeons, geckos, and snakes onto them from above.
The chaotic conditions presented a clear risk of significant stress, suffering, and injury for the animals.
Other episodes show further concerning treatment of animals, including a contestant in a closed container with snakes and a dead rat in the contestant’s mouth.
The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) has filed a cruelty complaintwith the BC SPCA, and has written to various decision-makers, including the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC); the show’s production company, Endemol Shine North America; and the show’s Canadian broadcaster, CTV.
The VHS is calling on CTV to stop airing Fear Factor: House of Fear.
TAKE ACTION: Join the VHS in filing complaints the show’s production company, Endemol Shine North America, and urge the show’s Canadian broadcaster, CTV, to stop airing Fear Factor: House of Fear.
Please see the update below regarding episode complaints submitted to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC).
Update from CBSC website: “The CBSC has received a large number of complaints concerning an episode of Fear Factor on CTV. To ensure that all complaints are dealt with efficiently and in a timely manner, the CBSC limits the number of complaints it will accept in respect of the same broadcast. The CBSC process does not vary based on the number of complaints made. The same consideration is given to one single valid complaint as to multiple complaints on the same matter. The CBSC is now dealing with the episode on CTV under its normal process. As a result, no further complaints will be accepted by the CBSC on this issue.”
Depicting animals as props in entertainment sends the wrong message about animal welfare.
Putting animals in stressful, high-risk situations is cruel and normalizes using animals for human entertainment at the expense of their welfare.
Credit: ‘Fear Factor: House of Fear.’
The practices shown contradict humane handling.
Animals are dropped into containers and onto frightened contestants and other animals, escalating panic and risk of injury. This does not model calm, careful, welfare-first handling, and it undermines the animals’ complex care needs. It’s especially troubling that local handlers would participate in, or endorse, this treatment.
Credit: ‘Fear Factor: House of Fear.’
The principles of One Health, One Welfare recognizes that human, environmental, and animal health and well-being are interconnected.
Fear Factor: House of Fear fails to uphold standards for:
Welfare: Animals and contestants are placed in highly stressful conditions without knowing what will happen next. One contestant is filmed repeatedly saying they want to leave the enclosure and is ignored, while animals cannot consent to their involvement in filming.
Health & safety: Both humans and animals are visibly distressed. Stressed animals are more likely to bite and scratch and to shed contagious viruses and pathogens that can pose a health risk to people. Concerningly, the contestant in the container with rats is filmed stating that the the rats were urinating and defecating in the enclosure, highlighting this risk. When people are in distress and afraid, they may throw or harm animals in attempts to get away from them.
Credit: ‘Fear Factor: House of Fear.’ Photo by Serguei Bachlakov VIA RealityBlurred.com
Around the world, meaningful progress is being made to end the practice of operating horse-drawn carriages on busy city streets.
In Cartagena, Colombia, where the city’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, horse carriages are being replaced with electric ones amid growing concerns about horse welfare and safety.
In New York, the city’s new mayor has announced support for removing horse carriages from Central Park and working with stakeholders to end the practice.
Locally, the VHS’s campaign to remove horse carriages from high traffic streets in Vancouver has gathered more than 3,000 signatures and was recently featured in the Daily Hive. The campaign has been seen more than 330,000 times on social media.
TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition urging Vancouver City Council to prohibit horse carriages from busy city streets, and if you’ve already signed, please share it to help build momentum.
Below is a template message that will be sent to Mayor Sim & Vancouver City Council. Tip: personalize the subject and message for added impact, or send a message directly to: mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca
Horse carriages & traffic don’t mix
Horses are sensitive prey animals, not suited for navigating the increasingly crowded, noisy, and unpredictable streets of a modern city. Yet, Vancouver bylaws still allow horse-drawn carriages to operate on busy roads in high-traffic commercial areas throughout the city.
These urban environments are filled with loud noises, fast-moving traffic, hard pavement, vehicle exhaust, and crowds that can easily startle horses, no matter how experienced or well-trained they are.
Previous horse carriage incidents
Below are a few previous incidents that show how quickly things can become dangerous for the horses and the public when horse carriages operate in busy urban spaces.
Victoria, 2024: A horse is spooked after an equipment malfunction, resulting in the driver losing control of the horse, who proceeds to run and buck through an intersection. Passengers jumped out of the carriage before the horse collapsed on the concrete.
Victoria, 2023: A spooked horse flees for three blocks before tripping and falling over a bike lane curb. The incident resulted in the driver being thrown from the carriage and both the driver and horse suffered minor cuts.
Victoria, 2018: In downtown Victoria, a horse-drawn carriage rolled back and bumped into a bus that was following too closely. The impact caused both horses to fall, blocking traffic and requiring an emergency response. The horses remained on the ground for more than five minutes, during which members of the public attempted to assist. Those assisting were not directed to stay clear of the horses’ legs, putting themselves at risk of serious injury.
Victoria, 2018: A second incident occurred only a few months later, when horses were spooked and veered off course and crashed into a parked vehicle. Witnesses reported that the horses smashed the vehicle’s windows and even climbed onto its roof with their front hooves.
Vancouver, 2016: A loud car horn startled a team of horses pulling a carriage, causing them to bolt along Stanley Park’s seawall with passengers on board. The horses left the road, crossed a bike path, and smashed a park bench with the carriage before continuing for approximately 100 metres. The driver fell from the carriage, and several frightened passengers leapt off as it sped along. Multiple people were injured, and there were concerns that the horses could have plunged over the sea wall and into the water.
Holiday event observations in Vancouver
In recent years, the VHS has documented horse carriages at holiday events in busy commercial areas, such as Kerrisdale and Commercial Drive.
The footage shows recurring welfare concerns and safety risks, including:
Horses working in close proximity to moving vehicles;
Horse carriages turning across oncoming traffic at busy intersections;
Horses exposed to loud, sudden, and unpredictable noises and movement, such as sirens, car alarms, music, dogs, and bicycles;
Members of the public approaching and interacting with horses without supervision;
Horses showing possible signs of stress or agitation, including head shaking, bit chewing, and pawing.
Sign & share the petition
Join the VHS in urging Vancouver City Council to protect the well-being and safety of horses and the public by prohibiting horse-drawn carriages from busy city streets.
This new year brings new opportunities to make meaningful change for animals! As we prepare to build on last year’s momentum in 2026, here is a look back on how your support saved lives and built progress for a kinder world.
Delilah received support through the McVitie Fund in 2025
Keeping pets safe and healthy
More than 1,300 pets received life-saving care
Last year was tough for many animal guardians. A growing number of British Columbians struggled to keep up with the cost of living and save for emergencies for their animal family members. Meanwhile, shelters and rescues in Canada saw more rescued and surrendered animals flooding through their doors, leaving many organizations at or over capacity. For guardians who had nowhere else to turn, the VHS’s McVitie Fund was a lifeline offering emergency financial assistance for veterinary care.
Last year, 1,372 animals received life-saving care through the McVitie Fund. That’s nearly double the number of animals helped in 2024!
Demand for the program has exploded, with more than eleven times as many applications in 2025 compared to 2020. The surge in demand was featured on CTV News Vancouver in November. Still, despite demand outpacing all expectations, the support of generous animal lovers enabled the program to stay open until mid-December and distribute a record-breaking $642,000 in emergency funds.
Rafiki at the vet
Rafiki back home safe
Thanks to caring people like you, beloved companion animals like Rafiki were able to get the urgent veterinary care they needed to return home to their loving families. After several attempts to resolve an issue with urinary crystals, Rafiki needed life-saving surgery. Thanks to the McVitie Fund, Rafiki was able to get his surgery and return to recover his adoring guardian, Sarah. “If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know what I would have done. Thank you SO much!” Sarah told the VHS. “He’s my baby boy. He means everything to me.”
The VHS’s Executive Director, Amy Morris, spoke to Vancouver City Council in support of two motions to create a kinder city for companion animals, both of which were passed unanimously.
Vancouver City Council voted to push for more pet-friendly housing by asking the Province to eliminate no-pet clauses, and reviewing local housing policies to make sure renters aren’t punished for having a companion animal.
Council also passed a motion to formally consider funding for essential stray cat services, which have been pioneered by the Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA).
Outreach helped pets in Vancouver’s vulnerable communities
At the VHS’s annual Because They Matter event, staff and volunteers met in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside community to share veterinary support resources, pet toys, leashes, harnesses, and more essential supplies with animals and their guardians who spend their days on the streets.
The team handed out thousands of pet supplies and hundreds of pamphlets sharing life-saving information about the VHS’s veterinary support programs!
Calling for a more pet-friendly Canada through federal policy change
In 2025, the VHS joined Humane Canada, MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, and advocates across Canada in calling for companion animals to be included in emergency planning. A federal e-petition, which aimed to ensure no animal is left behind in emergencies such as wildfires and floods, was signed by almost 7,300 Canadians, including more than 3,000 in B.C.!
The VHS also supported the Protecting Victims Act, which moves to criminalize the distribution of animal sexual abuse images while recognizing animals as victims and tools of coercive control.
For years, the VHS has been raising awareness about the inherent welfare concerns around horse racing and the risk of injury and death to horses. In particular, the VHS has tracked the high fatality rate at Hastings Racecourse, which was almost double that of the average death rate at tracks with higher safety standards in 2024, and shared reports of tragic horse deaths with local media.
3,374
messages to decision-makers supporting an end to horse racing in 2025
In June, the VHS submitted a report to the City of Vancouver asking that the City not renew the operating agreement at Hastings when it was set to end in 2026, citing welfare concerns, declining attendance, and the track’s reliance on public subsidies to remain operational.
Following declining public support, both of B.C.’s racetracks announced their closure in 2025, saving thousands of horses from being bred into this risky and stressful industry!
Chantelle Archambault from the Vancouver Humane Society discusses the closure of Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver, which was announced this past Friday. Originally aired on The Early Edition from CBC News; shared on The Informed Animal Ally podcast.
Following the track’s closure, the VHS supported the step away from the use of animals in entertainment and called on decision-makers to support a safe retirement for the horses and a transition out of the industry for workers.
Last summer, the VHS’s advocacy around the Stampede rodeo made a stir in Calgary. After support for funding of rodeo events dropped by 16% over the course of the previous year’s campaign, 2025’s messaging about animal welfare was met with stiff corporate opposition.
Three of the VHS’s Calgary Stampede ad campaigns were cancelled by advertising companies after the contracts were signed, leading to media coverage on the censorship of animal welfare messages.
The VHS team ensured animal voices were heard around the Stampede by providing outreach materials at local protests and events around the city and running an in-depth online ad campaign.
The team shared with Calgary and national news outlets about the tragic death of Rider, a horse used in chuckwagon racing and the 110th animal known to have been killed in the Calgary Stampede’s events since the VHS began tracking fatalities in 1986.
A new Mayor and Council were elected in Calgary late last year, opening a new avenue to advocate for change with the municipal government.
Meanwhile, the VHS’s advocacy for animals used in rodeo continued in our home province. In B.C., for the second year in a row, the VHS filmed inhumane and potentially illegal use of electric prods and rough handling of animals at the Coombs rodeo. A cruelty complaint was again filed, leading to a BC SPCA investigation.
5,332
actions calling for an end to inhumane rodeo events
Calling for an end to horse-drawn carriages on Vancouver’s busy streets
In 2025, the VHS shone a light on the risks faced by horses used in carriage rides on busy city streets, and the conversation shifted because of it. Through sustained public outreach, media engagement, and direct advocacy to decision-makers, more people in Vancouver learned why noise, traffic, hard pavement, and constant stimulation from carriage rides are not compatible with horse well-being.
3,063
petition signatures calling to end horse-drawn carriages on busy city streets
While a ban wasn’t achieved last year, the issue stayed firmly in the public eye, building awareness, compassion, and momentum for change.
Thanks to the dedication of animal allies, carriage horse welfare is part of an ongoing, growing movement toward safer, more humane cities.
In 2025, our community came together in powerful ways to protect exotic animals. With the support of thousands of advocates, the VHS ran multiple campaigns calling for stronger protections for exotic, undomesticated animals kept as pets and those used in travelling animal programs.
Advocating for crucial policy changes for farmed animals
In January 2025, the VHS and supporters across B.C. spoke up for stronger provincial regulations to protect farmed animals after shocking footage led to an animal welfare investigation at a Chilliwack slaughterhouse.
1,689
messages sent to protect farmed animals
The VHS also supported calls for a national ban on the production, import, and sale of foie gras, which relies on painfully force-feeding ducks and geese. The federal e-petition received more than 7,200 signatures.
Calling for an end to fur farms
The Vancouver Humane Society joined The Fur-Bearers, MP Gord Johns, and other organizations in urging the federal government to end fur farming across Canada through two federal e-petitions in 2025. Together, the petitions received more than 17,800 signaures, almost 10,000 of which were from B.C. residents!
Photo: We Animals
Speaking up for pigs in Canadian codes of practice
The National Farm Animal Care Council’s Pig Code of Practice provides guidance for the care and handling of pigs raised for meat and breeding on farms across Canada. Last year, this code of practice came under review.
VHS supporters shared crucial feedback during the public input period for the code, using the VHS’s tips sheet to ensure animal well-being is considered in the review process.
Giving Tuesday donors helped farmed animals today and in the future
On Giving Tuesday, the VHS once again partnered with The Happy Herd Farm Sanctuary to raise funds for vital animal supplies to care for rescued animals in a loving forever home, life-saving veterinary support, and advocacy to create meaningful changes for animals.
Incredible allies helped keep animals safe and healthy by donating or shopping at participating businesses, and the first $8,000 in donations were matched by generous local animal lovers.
With the support of the community and matching donors, an amazing $21,612 was donated to help animals in need. Supporters of the Vancouver Humane Society and the Happy Herd’s Giving Tuesday campaign helped provide funds…
…to cover food for all the chickens of the Happy Herd for two years
…AND to reach 100,000 animal allies to advocate for meaningful policy changes to improve animal lives
…AND to cover 12 medical appointments for the cows at the Happy Herd
…AND to feed all the pigs of the Happy Herd for a year and a half
…AND to fund the life-saving veterinary care for 18 pets in need through the VHS’s McVitie Fund.
Saving animals through plant-based advocacy
Helping a new generation of diners choose kinder foods
In fall 2025, the VHS updated the long-running PlantUniversity project to reach a new audience: postsecondary students in the Lower Mainland. The fresh focus of the program aims to make plant-based eating more accessible to young people, many of whom are making their own food purchasing decisions for the first time.
Choosing plant-based more often is one of the most effective ways to reduce suffering while also supporting our planet and personal health.
The PlantUniversity team trained student leaders on how to break down barriers to plant-based eating with their peers, conducted in-class guest lectures, hosted outreach events for students, displayed informational materials on campuses, and created an online resource designed to help students across Canada advocate in their school communities.
A cost-benefit analysis created by the VHS for the City of Vancouver was used to support a recommendation to explore more plant-based options in Burnaby.
This recommendation from the city’s Environment committee prompts municipal staff to explore more plant-forward food options at City facilities, and report back with new ways to promote these sustainable options.
Did you know: If each person in Burnaby ate plant-based just one more day per week, nearly 1.6 million land animals’ lives could be saved each year?
A kinder future for all species
Thank you for making a difference for animals in 2025! Your support is helping to build a more compassionate and humane future. Will you keep the momentum going by taking action on current campaigns to end animal suffering or contributing to vital animal programs and advocacy?
