The BC SPCA

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April 2016

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Bark! magazine

Bark! cover shot

BARK! MEOW!
This issue of Bark! includes ideas of ways to participate in Be Kind to Animals Month, so get ready to spread the love.

A pullout calendar for May, outlining ways to improve the lives of animals around you, a story-writing contest, a Kind Act contest, mind-reading dogs, and discovering what it takes to be a Wildlife Rehabilitator, are all part of this exciting issue. A special feature MEOW!, exclusively  for teachers, is also included with this issue.  It is our second BC SCPA Teacher Guide to Kindness to Animals. This eight-page insert is all about ways to bring animal welfare lessons into your classroom. New book recommendations and story starter activities will help you introduce animal topics to all grade levels.

The latest issue of Bark! should be on your school library shelf soon.

If you are a teacher in British Columbia and would like to order a class set of this issue, please email us. Be sure to include your name, number of students, grade, school name and address and we’ll package them up and send them off for your class to enjoy.

Remember, we appreciate any feedback on Bark! or any of our educational materials. If you have a suggestion for a story or want to share a project by a student or your class, let us know.
 

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Book Review

The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees

Hannah and the Salish Sea
By Carol Anne Shaw
Reading level for grades 6+


Hannah plans on enjoying her summer vacation hanging out with her friend Max and working part-time at the Salish Sea Studios. Her plans are upturned, however, when her curiosity about unexplained events turns into suspicion of criminal activity.

Along the way, Hannah meets Izzy, a reluctant summer resident who is sent to work with her mother’s friend Ramona at the Salish Sea Studios to get in touch with her First Nation’s roots. The three teenagers put clues together – and themselves in danger – to explain how an accidental eagle death, the grisly discovery of a dead bear cub, and some strange new people in town are all connected. This quest culminates in a midnight kayak paddle to an abandoned tuna boat where they soon have to fight for their lives and the lives of the animals being hunted for their body parts.

Hannah and the Salish Sea will appeal to youth ages 12 and up and adults alike. This novel deals with serious matters in a sensitive way that allows the reader to enjoy the plot as it unfolds. The characters are very realistic, and teen readers will relate to the frustrations and pressures they endure as well as the victories and self-discovery they achieve.

Concepts in this novel that can be expanded upon in other subject areas include, peer pressure, bullying, poaching and pride in culture.

Get more BC SPCA book recommendations online.

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School Club Tip

Animal Protection ribbon

This month we are challenging all school clubs to hold a special event to recognize that May is Be Kind to Animals Month. Maybe you could make a special announcement or create a paw print ribbon to give out on May 12th which is Animal Protection Day in B.C.

Animal Protection Day has been observed since 2011 after a private citizen requested a provincial proclamation as a memorial to 56 sled dogs in Whistler, B.C., who lost their lives in 2010. That proclamation has been observed by the provincial government each year since, making this year the fifth annual event.

Want to start your own school club? Register now to receive your welcome package.

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Current Events

Kitty recovering wearing a coneWe’ve all seen the iconic pictures of kittens with a ball of yarn but did you know that string of any kind, yarn, tinsel, even rubber bands, can cause serious injury or even death in cats. Sweet, loveable, curious Panda is the perfect example of what can happen when a cat is left alone with a piece of string.

String can be a wonderful toy if used with supervision. Cats love to chase and play with string, which can be a great way to provide exercise and mental stimulation but it can also be a very dangerous if ingested. It can get tangled in a cat’s intestines, which is what happened to Panda. Surgery was necessary to remove the string but he is expected to make a full recovery.

Learn more about this news item and other BC SPCA news that you may want to include in class discussions.

 

BCSPCA Staff: company_logo

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.

 

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Kindness counts
(Primary)

 

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  Bite free
(Primary/intermediate)

 

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Making the right choice
(Intermediate)

 

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You can make a difference
(Intermediate)

 

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  The farm-food connection
(Intermediate)

 

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Cats in the community
(Intermediate)


 

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Including animals in social justice
(Intermediate/Secondary)

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On behalf of all the animals we care for and protect, thank you for your support.