ANIMAL WELFARE ADVOCACY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
RAPS IS A VOICE FOR ANIMALS —
AND THEIR PEOPLE
Caring for animals means more than shelter and medical care. It means standing up for the policies, systems and decisions that shape their lives — and the lives of the people who care for them.
Animal welfare advocacy has been central to RAPS since our earliest days. From our roots in Richmond, BC, we have worked to advance compassionate animal policies, strengthen protections for companion animals and help create communities where animals and their people can thrive together.
Animal welfare advocacy has been central to RAPS since our earliest days. From our roots in Richmond, BC, we have worked to advance compassionate animal policies, strengthen protections for companion animals and help create communities where animals and their people can thrive together.
A HISTORY OF ANIMAL WELFARE LEADERSHIP
Richmond helped lead the country in banning the retail sale of companion animals and requiring spaying and neutering — standards that are now common across North America.
In recent years, we’ve stepped forward on urgent issues affecting animals and their people.
ADVOCATING FOR PET-FRIENDLY HOUSING
RAPS made a major submission to the Government of British Columbia’s Task Force on Rental Housing, highlighting the barriers faced by families with pets when searching for safe, affordable homes. We exposed how discriminatory housing policies harm both people and animals — and can even prolong the suffering of those experiencing domestic violence.
ADDRESSING ECONOMIC EUTHANASIA & VETERINARY AFFORDABILITY
More recently, RAPS released a landmark report on “economic euthanasia” — the heartbreaking reality that families and shelters are sometimes forced to euthanize animals simply because veterinary care is out of financial reach.
The report calls for practical solutions to reduce unnecessary euthanasia, lower the cost of care, and recognize the social, health, and economic benefits companion animals bring to our lives. It offers clear steps for pet guardians, veterinary professionals, businesses, insurers, and governments to take action.
Creating Lasting Change for Animals
RAPS continues to work alongside governments, partners, and communities to advance compassionate policies and build a world where animals — and their people — can truly thrive.
