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October 2015
 The fall
issue of Bark! magazine is now
available in your school library. Students
will enjoy this colourful, informative magazine which they can reference for
projects or read at their leisure.
This
issue is full of information on pigs, cats, dogs and rabbits, along with the cover story, a special feature
on fish. Fish are often sold at the pet store as a starter pet, but all too often their welfare is not properly considered. Siamese fighting fish, also known as Betta fish, are kept in small containers in stores and sold as easy
and cheap to care for. With a little research into their natural
habitat, we can soon learn that a small bowl or cup is not enough. Think fish don't care? Scientists that study fish are finding that
they have much more going on “under the surface” than we thought; “Fascinating fish” looks at some of their unique behaviours.
Look for
this issue in your library or order a class set of this issue by email*. Include your
name, number of students, grade, school name and address and we’ll package them
up and send them off to your class.
*This offer is only available in B.C.
 By Cindy Howard
Illustrated by
Nancy Lane
Reading level:
Grades 3-5
When twins Kate
and Zack reluctantly move to the suburbs, they feel certain the change is for
the worse. All seems hopeless until they meet Paityn and Marijane, the quirky
cousins who live next door. Happily for the twins, the girls share their love
of animals and sense of adventure. Together, they are drawn into the secretive
world of abandoned rabbits in the park across the street. Seeing firsthand just
how dangerous this world can be convinces the new friends to form a club to
help the rabbits.
The story is
both gripping and heartwarming, strengthened by the fact that the setting is a
real-life park and the rabbit characters are loosely based on real-life rabbits
and their harrowing experiences. By giving abandoned rabbits a voice, the
author brings into focus the plight of pet rabbits everywhere who have been
left outdoors to fend for themselves.
Read more BC SPCA book recommendations.
 Exclusive
BC SPCA School Club offer!
We are
offering a selection of posters to any new or renewing club. If you are
thinking about starting a club but need a way to grab attention or want
incentives for club members, just fill out our poster request form and return it to pneuman@spca.bc.ca.
We have
four posters to choose from. With the new hockey season
started, promote your club with our Henrik Sedin poster. Do you know some cat people
or maybe someone on the more exotic side? We have posters for them, too: “Fix Before Six,” “I’m Lost Without You” and “Wild Lives.”
Order
one, some or all. We’ll do our best to fill all of the requests but posters are
limited. Act now!
 The BC SPCA Community
Animal Spay/Neuter Legacy Grants program has chalked up another success.
The BC
SPCA, along
with the Cariboo
Country Mobile Veterinary Services (CCMVS), has helped spay/neuter 20 cats and 35 dogs in the Ulkatcho First Nation
community in the Cariboo region of B.C.
This
is just one of 18 grants the BC SPCA has provided for communities looking
for assistance this year. BC SPCA outreach coordinator Megan Munroe says, “Huge
disparities in access to affordable spay/neuter services exist throughout the
province. When members of a community come together to address the problem, it
helps provide a successful solution and sets a fantastic example for other B.C.
communities to follow.”
Many
communities can’t support a veterinary clinic but still require their services.
The CCMVS tries to bridge that gap by providing routine services needed in the
Cariboo region. Their “clinic” is a mobile van equipped with all of the
necessary equipment and staff to provide these services.
Learn
more about this news item
and other BC SPCA news that you may want to include in class discussions.
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The BC SPCA has classroom resources for grades K-7. The lessons integrate animal issues and information into existing provincial learning outcomes.
Click on a lesson plan below to learn more.
Kindness counts
(Primary)
Bite free
(Primary/intermediate)
Making the right choice
(Intermediate)
You can make a difference
(Intermediate)
The farm-food connection
(Intermediate)
Cats in the community
(Intermediate)
Including animals in social justice
(Intermediate/Secondary)
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