Thanks to science, we’re discovering more and more about animal intelligence all the time. And guess what? We’re definitely not the only ones on the planet with smarts! Take these clever critters for example:

Crows can tell us apart – and hold grudges against us! They remember the faces of people who’ve scared them in the past, then dive-bomb and squawk at them whenever they see them.

Dolphins have names. Each dolphin’s name is a unique whistle. When they meet up with dolphins from other pods, they whistle back and forth to see who’s there – answering just like you would when someone called your name!

Squirrels can play pretend. When other squirrels are watching them bury a nut, they only act like they’re burying it – the nut never really leaves their mouth! Then, when the other squirrels go to dig it up, all they find is an empty hole.

Jumping spiders are tricksters. They rattle the webs of other spiders to fool them into thinking they’ve caught a bug. When the other spiders come to investigate, they don’t find a tasty treat – they find a jumping spider looking to make a meal out of them instead!

Have you seen an animal do something you thought was especially clever? Tell us about it at kids@spca.bc.ca, using the subject line “Animal Smarts.” Your story could be featured in an upcoming issue of e-Kids!

Your dog has a superpower: his sense of smell! You can use your dog’s incredible nose to play fun scent games together. Playing games with your dog is great for your friendship, and helps keep his mind and body active. Start with an easy one: the smelly box game.

What you’ll need:
• Cardboard boxes (at least five)
• Super yummy, smelly treats (like some cooked chicken)

What you’ll do:
• Arrange the boxes on the ground
• Place a treat into one of the boxes while your dog isn’t looking
• Let your dog sniff the boxes to find out which one has the treat
• When he finds the treat, give him lots of praise and a few extra treats
• Start the game over again by putting a fresh treat in the same box and rearranging the boxes when your dog isn’t looking

Ready to try a harder one? Discover even more fun games you can play with your dog!

Each summer, BC SPCA shelters are flooded with kittens. Sometimes, our staff needs extra help to care for them. Foster families are volunteers who look after kittens – and sometimes their moms, too – at home until they’re ready to be adopted.

Emma and Ayden’s family fosters kittens for the North Peace SPCA in Fort St. John. These kind siblings helped to socialize the cuties in this photo – and now all of them have found loving forever homes! Emma and Ayden find fostering very rewarding and a lot of fun.

Here are just some of the things a foster family needs:

• An adult! Adults are responsible for most of the work, making sure the kittens are well cared for and taken to the veterinarian for checkups and vaccinations.
• A room separate from the rest of the house (like a bathroom or laundry room) to keep the kittens in.
• Time to spend with the kittens, helping to safely introduce them to new people and experiences. This is a perfect job for kids to do! Staying calm and being gentle helps the kittens learn to trust people.
• Lots of love, of course! It can be sad to see the kittens leave to go to their new families, but it feels great to know you’ve made a real difference in their lives.

Visit our website to find out more about fostering.

Has your family fostered animals for the BC SPCA? Share your story with us and you could be featured in Bark! magazine!