Dogs come to Ontario SPCA and Humane Society animal centers for a variety of reasons. Not everyone needs the same kind of support. While the dogs stay with us, we provide them with the care and attention they need, including addressing any behavioral challenges. TThe Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center (PDRC) program provides individualized training strategies to help VIP dogs in our care become comfortable with their environment, and meet their needs. Special care needs should be identified. Our rehabilitation program is available at all Ontario SPCA animal centers across the province. VIP status indicates animals within the rehabilitation program.
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VIP – Very Important Paws.
What is a VIP animal? These are animals in the care of the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society that may need a little extra help. This program allows our Animal Behavior Coordinators to work with dedicated animal care teams across the province to set these friends up for success in our animal centers using evidence-based training and Fear Free® techniques. gives
Animals with VIP status may include a dog needing help learning new behaviors and getting used to the world around them, a teenage dog going through a scary teenage period, or an adult friend who has a new role in their life. Not sure about new and difficult changes.
What does it mean to bring a VIP friend home? Our animal center staff will offer a more individualized care plan, including an information sheet and a training and enrichment plan that has been implemented and proven to be successful. Our goal is to empower new adopters to set their adopted animal up for a long, happy life. Some of our VIP friends will need extra training and extra love after being adopted into a home. Others may just need a comfortable and supportive environment. Very important paws mean very important people and a very important place for these animals.
Please note: The Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center does not accept dogs directly from the public. This specialized facility focuses on the rehabilitation of dogs that are part of the Ontario SPCA’s care network. If you need home again Your dog, we encourage you to contact your local Ontario SPCA Animal Centre. There our dedicated teams can provide guidance and support.
VIP puppies available for adoption.
Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre
Located within the Peterborough Humane Society’s Animal Care Centre, the Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center is custom-built to help dogs who need help with adoption to provide more individualized care than a typical animal center. is required. Run by the Ontario SPCA’s animal behavior team, the center supports dogs from animal centers across the province. It has several unique features:
- An underwater treadmill for enrichment and low-impact exercise
- Arlo Gatso-Slight Dog Living Room helps dogs learn proper behavior in the home environment.
- Training rooms to help dogs learn to overcome behavioral challenges and socialize
- Dedicated animal behaviorists focus on the unique needs of each dog.
Together, we can turn things around for dogs in need of behavioral rehabilitation to give them the second chance they deserve.
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Learn more about the effects of dog rehab:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a provincial dog rehabilitation center?
The Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center is one of the first facilities of its kind in Ontario. The center is custom-built to help dogs that need more individualized care than a typical animal center can provide for adoption.
What makes this facility unique?
The Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center is customized to support dogs that require more individualized care than a typical animal center. Run by the Ontario SPCA’s animal behavior team, it provides evidence-based behavioral support to help dogs overcome challenges so they can find a loving home.
The Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center has a number of unique features, including:
- An underwater treadmill for enrichment and low-impact exercise
- Arlo Gatso-Slight Dog Living Room helps dogs learn proper behavior in the home environment.
- Training rooms to help dogs learn to overcome behavioral challenges and socialize
- Dedicated animal behaviorists focus on the unique needs of each dog.
Does this facility help dogs with behavioral and physical challenges?
The facility currently focuses on rehabilitating dogs with behavioral challenges. Behavioral assistance is commonly requested at our animal centers and we strive to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
Where is the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center located?
The Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center is run by the Ontario SPCA’s animal behavior team and is located within the Peterborough Humane Society’s new Animal Care Centre.
What difference will a provincial dog rehabilitation center make in the lives of dogs?
Like people, dogs are unique and some dogs need a little extra help to overcome challenges that can get in the way of finding a loving home.
Some dogs are afraid of people. Others are afraid and anxious to be alone. Whether it’s a dog that chews the carpet or has accidents in the house because it’s spent its entire life outside, or a puppy that barks a lot, dogs with special needs can easily overwhelm animal centers that are already stretched within their limits.
A provincial dog rehab center is a place with dedicated staff and resources to help these dogs and prepare them to find loving homes.
What are some features of a provincial dog rehabilitation center?
The Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center has a number of unique features, including:
- An underwater treadmill for enrichment and low-impact exercise
- Arlo Gatso-Slight Dog Living Room helps dogs learn proper behavior in the home environment.
- Training rooms to help dogs learn to overcome behavioral challenges and socialize
- Dedicated animal behaviorists focus on the unique needs of each dog.
How can people support this project?
To donate and give young people a second chance, visit This link. As a registered charity that does not receive annual government funding, the Ontario SPCA depends on the generosity of donors to change lives.
Who supervises the center?
The Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center is run by the Ontario SPCA Animal Behavior Team.
Why Peterborough?
The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society were able to lease space within the Peterborough Humane Society’s Animal Care Center, a 24,000-square-foot complex that is also home to their adoption center and a regional spay/neuter clinic. is Because the building was being designed from the ground up, it allowed us to custom design the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center to meet our unique needs.
What makes this center different from a regular animal center?
Managed by the Ontario SPCA’s animal behavior team, the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center supports dogs from animal centers across the province. It includes several unique features, including:
- An underwater treadmill for enrichment and low-impact exercise
- Arlo Gatso-Slight Dog Living Room helps dogs learn proper behavior in the home environment.
- Training rooms to help dogs learn to overcome behavioral challenges and socialize
- Dedicated animal behaviorists focus on the unique needs of each dog.
How are dogs selected to receive rehabilitation?
The Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center supports dogs from animal centers across Ontario. Candidates will be determined on a case-by-case basis to ensure we have the ability and resources to meet this dog’s unique needs.
Can the public send dogs to the center?
At this time, the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center is not open to the public. It supports dogs from animal centers across Ontario. The Center is still in its early stages and we will continue to evaluate how we can best meet the needs of the communities we serve.
Is it open to other SPCAs and humane societies?
We are currently supporting dogs from 12 Ontario SPCA animal centers as we assess our ability to bring in dogs from other partner organizations.
On average, how much does dog rehabilitation cost?
Costs will vary based on staffing resources and the length of treatment required, but average between $2,500 and $5,000 per dog.
Once the dog is rehabilitated, how will it find a home?
Once a dog is ready to find a loving home, it is posted on the Ontario SPCA adoption site, ontariospca.ca/adopt. You can view animals from our animal centers across the province, or filter through provincial dog rehabilitation center graduates. These special friends are marked with our VIP designation, which means Very Important Paws.
How many dogs can be helped at the center at any one time?
The Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Center has eight kennels. We expect to be able to help about 70 dogs each year.
What is a VIP dog?
VIP stands for Very Important Paws, and these are the animals in our care that may need a little extra help. Animals with VIP status might include a puppy who needs help learning new behaviors and getting used to the world around him, a teenage dog going through a scary teenage period, or an adult friend. Who is not sure about new and difficult changes in his life.
Our animal behavior team creates an individualized plan for each dog based on their needs. These projects are designed to build confidence, overcome challenges and implement appropriate enrichment and socialization.
