About

A unique model of animal welfare for our region.

The Victoria Humane Society (VHS) is a small community group committed to doing big things – finding homes for animals in need.

Who we are was perhaps most succinctly stated by a veterinarian who faced two dire situations with dogs in her clinic in less than 24 hours, one of whom died while giving birth and the other well could have died along with her puppies without the care her owners would not or could not provide. Dr. Christie said, “I just wanted to thank you for always picking up your phone, even in the wee hours! I cannot express how grateful and appreciative I am of your dedication and willingness to take on some of the toughest cases.”

That is the VHS difference – a dedicated Executive Director and a team of volunteers ready to help when needed, no matter the hour. The Society does not provide any cruelty or prevention services as it is only focused on helping animals.

Many of the stories in animal rescue are heartbreaking. How can someone leave a friend behind just when they need them most? It happens so very often. A new baby, a move, a new job, or maybe a vet bill that is just too big. And those are the best-case scenarios. Chained, shot, and left for dead, tethered in a yard for days on end, crying for food, water, or even just a passing glance, abandoned at the roadside, tossed in a dumpster, or given up simply because they’ve aged. There are so many sad stories.

It’s up to all of us to write new endings for the sad stories, to change them to happy ‘tails’ of rescue and rehoming. Stories that start over with the VHS slogan, ‘let the love begin.’

Since it was formed in 2013, thousands of animals have been adopted through VHS. It has been a Herculean effort led by animal advocate Penny Stone along with a committed group of volunteers. They have faced the challenges head-on, operating without government funding or support, and without a facility.

Today, we have a small facility. It is not perfect as it doesn’t have outdoor space and it is not large enough to house many animals, but it is a space that helps in so many ways. It is a place where animals can find the time and space to settle, to heal mentally or physically if necessary, and to stay for a short period until an appropriate foster home can be found or in some cases, after the initial assessment, be adopted directly into their forever home.

The Victoria Humane Society is located at #5 – 4217 Glanford Avenue, V8Z 4B9. Open from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm daily, excluding holidays.

778-265-0788