377,620.

That’s how many animals have been raised according to BC SPCA standards of care under the SPCA Certified label on six individual farms celebrating milestones this year.

Sunworks Farm, Campbellton Farm, Second Nature Farm, Vale Farms Grassroots and Little Qualicum Cheeseworks are celebrating their fifth anniversary in the SPCA Certified program, while Rockweld Farms is marking eight years in the program.

“Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that most of the animals raised and cared for by people – a full 95 per cent in fact – are not dogs or cats but farm animals,” says Alyssa Bell Stoneman, SPCA Certified program supervisor for the BC SPCA. “We owe it to them to ensure they, too, have good welfare.”

The SPCA Certified labelling program strives to provide farm animals with freedom to express behaviours that promote well-being.

In stark contrast to the environment experienced by their counterparts crowded into battery cages, chickens on SPCA Certified farms stretch their wings inside free-run barns and on free range.

BC SPCA standards also mean pigs have plenty of room and ample bedding in which to root; dairy cows can graze in lush fields; and animals are not given drugs to enhance growth or production.

See our position statement on farm animal welfare. Learn how farms are validated to BC SPCA standards of farm animal welfare, and how these standards are developed.

SPCA Certified products are available at a number of grocery stores, including Choices Markets, IGA, Save-On-Foods, PriceSmart Foods, Quality Foods and Thrifty Foods.

The BC SPCA offers a complete list of where to buy SPCA Certified products and some direct farm sales are also available. If you’re not satisfied with the availability of SPCA Certified in your local grocery store, download and fill our Customer Request Card and give it to your store manager. With your help, we can let grocery stores know that animal welfare is an important issue!

If you would like to help us advocate for farm animals, support the Monty Fund for Community Education & Outreach, which provides support for prevention of cruelty to animals through education, awareness, and advocacy programs. Please donate today.

Photo caption: Campbellton Farm pigs enjoy fresh green grass.

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.