Joining Paws: Updates to the Ontario SPCA’s Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre (click to read more!)
We have some exciting news to share! The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre (PDRC) is now able to support dogs from other SPCAs and Humane Societies to help give them the extra TLC they need to find loving homes.
The Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre opened in 2023 in Peterborough and was custom-built to help dogs who need more individualized care than a typical animal centre can provide to help them get adopted.
Operated by the Ontario SPCA’s Animal Behaviour team, the centre has been supporting dogs from Ontario SPCA animal centres across the province. In January 2025, we began welcoming dogs from external organizations through an application process.
“We’re so happy to be able to expand the behavioural support provided to dogs through the PDRC to dogs from other organizations,” says Tracy McElman, the Ontario SPCA’s Provincial Operations Manager. “We’re giving them the chance to gain foundational skills and confidence to thrive in their new homes and build lasting, positive relationships with their new families.”
About the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre
Located inside the inside the Peterborough Animal Care Centre, the PDRC contains several unique features:
- An underwater treadmill for enrichment and low-impact exercise
- The Arlo Gattuso-Slaight Dog Living Room to help dogs practice appropriate behaviours in a home environment
- Training rooms to help dogs overcome behavioural challenges and learn to socialize
- Dedicated animal behavioural experts focused on each dog’s unique needs
Dogs at the PDRC receive multiple out-of-kennel enrichments per day and are provided with ample activities that meet their needs, such as shredding, scavenging, sniffing, brain games, and more. Each dog also spends time in the living room, as well as participating in office enrichment and training sessions, which help to reduce fear, anxiety, stress, and frustration related behaviours that can occur in a typical shelter environment.
“The dedicated team at the PDRC has had such a wonderful and profound impact on dogs within our organization,” says Kassie Dickson, Animal Behaviour Coordinator with the Ontario SPCA. “I’m very excited to see how many more friends the PDRC will help with this initiative.”
Any organization that would like more information on the PDRC programming, or how to submit a Behavioral Support Request, can contact the PDRC team at pdrc@ontariospca.ca
As a registered charity that does not receive annual government funding, the Ontario SPCA depends on the generosity of donors to provide services, such as the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre. Please consider donating today.
Dogs come into the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s animal centres for a variety of reasons. Not all require the same type of support. While the dogs stay with us, we provide them with the care and attention they need, including addressing any behavioural challenges. The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre (PDRC) program provides individualized training strategies to help VIP dogs in our care become comfortable with their surroundings, and identifies special care requirements to meet their needs. Our rehabilitation program is available in all Ontario SPCA animal centres across the province. A VIP status indicates animals within the rehabilitation program.
Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre (PDRC)
Located inside the Peterborough Humane Society’s Animal Care Centre, the Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre has been custom-built to help dogs who need more individualized care than a typical animal centre can provide to help them get adopted. Operated by the Ontario SPCA’s Animal Behaviour team, the centre supports dogs from animal centres across the province. It contains several unique features:
- An underwater treadmill for enrichment and low-impact exercise
- The Arlo Gattuso-Slaight Dog Living Room to help dogs practice appropriate behaviours in a home environment
- Training rooms to help dogs overcome behavioural challenges and learn to socialize
- Dedicated animal behavioural experts focused on each dog’s unique needs
Together, we can turn things around for dogs in need of behavioural rehabilitation to give them the second chance they deserve.
VIP Dogs Available for Adoption at PDRC
VIP – Very Important Paws
What is a VIP Animal? These are animals in the care of the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society who may need a little extra help. The program allows our Animal Behaviour Coordinators to set these buddies up for success in our animal centres using evidence-based training and Fear Free® techniques in conjunction with dedicated animal care teams across the province.
Animals with a VIP designation could include a puppy needing help learning new behaviours and getting acquainted to the world around them, an adolescent dog going through the terrible teens, or an adult buddy who may be unsure of new and difficult changes in their lives.
What does this mean for bringing home a VIP friend? Our animal centre staff will offer a more individualized care plan, including information sheets and a training and enrichment plan that has been implemented and proven 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 still need additional training and extra love once adopted into a home. Others may just need the relief of a comfortable and supportive environment. Very Important Paws means Very Important People and a Very Important Placement for these animals.
Please note: The Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre does not accept dogs directly from the public. This specialized facility focuses on rehabilitating dogs that are part of the Ontario SPCA’s care network. If you need to rehome your dog, we encourage you to contact your local Ontario SPCA animal centre. Our dedicated teams there can provide guidance and assistance.
Learn more about the impact of Dog Rehabilitation:
- No More Shying Away: Rex’s Rehabilitation Story
- Learning to trust again: Ham Ham’s rehabilitation story
- Rebuilding trust: O’s rehabilitation story
- Mending a broken spirit: Bandit’s story of rehabilitation
- Korean dog finds second chance and forever home
FAQs
What is the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre?
What makes this facility unique?
The Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre has been custom-built to help dogs who need more individualized care than a typical animal centre can provide. Operated by the Ontario SPCA’s Animal Behaviour team, it provides evidence-based behavioural support to help dogs overcome challenges so they are able to find a loving home.
The Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre contains a number of unique features, including:
- An underwater treadmill for enrichment and low-impact exercise
- The Arlo Gattuso-Slaight Dog Living Room to help dogs practice appropriate behaviours in a home environment
- Training rooms to help dogs overcome behavioural challenges and learn to socialize
- Dedicated animal behavioural experts focused on each dog’s unique needs
Does the facility help dogs with behavioural and physical challenges?
Where is the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre located?
The Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre operated by the Ontario SPCA’s Animal Behaviour Team and is located inside the Peterborough Humane Society’s new Animal Care Centre.
How will the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre make a difference in the lives of dogs?
Just like people, dogs are unique and some dogs need a little more help to overcome challenges that may be a barrier in finding a loving home.
Some dogs are afraid of people. Others are fearful and anxious to be left alone. Whether it’s the dog who chews the carpet or has accidents in the house because he’s lived his whole life outdoors, or the puppy who barks too much, dogs with special needs can easily overwhelm animal centres that are already stretched to their limits.
The Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre is a place with dedicated staff and resources to support these dogs and help prepare them to find loving homes.
What are some of the features of the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre?
The Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre contains a number of unique features, including:
- An underwater treadmill for enrichment and low-impact exercise
- The Arlo Gattuso-Slaight Dog Living Room to help dogs practice appropriate behaviours in a home environment
- Training rooms to help dogs overcome behavioural challenges and learn to socialize
- Dedicated animal behavioural experts focused on each dog’s unique needs
How can people support this project?
To donate and give an underdog 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 a life.
Who oversees the centre?
The Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre is operated by the Ontario SPCA Animal Behaviour Team.
Why Peterborough?
The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society had the opportunity to lease space within the Peterborough Humane Society’s Animal Care Centre, a 24,000 sq. ft. complex that is also home to their adoption centre and a regional spay/neuter clinic. As the building was being designed from the ground up, it allowed us to custom design the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre to meet our unique needs.
What makes this centre different than a regular animal centre?
Operated by the Ontario SPCA’s Animal Behaviour team, the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre supports dogs from animal centres across the province. It contains a number of unique features, including:
- An underwater treadmill for enrichment and low-impact exercise
- The Arlo Gattuso-Slaight Dog Living Room to help dogs practice appropriate behaviours in a home environment
- Training rooms to help dogs overcome behavioural challenges and learn to socialize
- Dedicated animal behavioural experts focused on each dog’s unique needs
How are dogs selected to receive rehabilitation?
The Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre supports dogs from animal centres across Ontario. Candidates will be determined on a case-by-case basis to ensure we have the capacity and resources to meet that dog’s unique needs.
Can the public send a dog to the centre?
At this time, the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre is not open to the public. It supports dogs from animal centres across Ontario. The centre 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?
The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre (PDRC) is now able to support dogs from other SPCAs and Humane Societies to help give them the extra TLC they need to find loving homes. Any organization that would like more information on the PDRC programming, or how to submit a Behavioral Support Request, can contact the PDRC team at pdrc@ontariospca.ca
On average, how much does it cost to rehab a dog?
Cost will vary on a case-by-case basis based on staff resources and duration of treatment required, but averages between $2,500 and $5,000 per dog.
Once a dog is rehabilitated, how does it find a home?
Once a dog is ready to find a loving home, they are posted on the Ontario SPCA adoption site, ontariospca.ca/adopt. You can view animals from our animal centres across the province, or filter by Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre graduates. These special friends are marked with our VIP designation, which stands for Very Important Paws.
How many dogs can be helped at the centre at any given time?
The Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre has eight kennels. We anticipate being able to help about 70 dogs each year.
What is a VIP dog?
VIP stands for Very Important Paws, and these are animals in our care who may need a little extra help. Animals with a VIP designation could include a puppy who needs help learning new behaviours and getting acquainted with the world around them, an adolescent dog going through the terrible teens, or an adult buddy who may be unsure of new and difficult changes in their lives.
Our animal behaviour team creates an individualized plan for each dog, depending on their needs. The plans are created to build trust, overcome challenges and implement appropriate enrichment and socialization.
