June 2014

We, at the BC SPCA, want to say thank you to all teachers, for all of the work you do to create a future of caring, creative and educated citizens. Your job goes beyond the time you spend in the classroom. It’s not just about getting a good grade. Teachers today take on so much more than the 3Rs, including social justice, anti-bullying, recycling, healthy living and so much more. Your influence can last a lifetime. We all have had teachers whom we admired and made a significant impact on how we see the world and conduct ourselves in society.

We would also like to give recognition to those teachers who participated in our Be Kind to Animals Month. Please send us pictures or a brief write-up of how you incorporated this theme into your classroom or library.

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover
by Denise Fleck, illustrated by Lili Chin

Young Mary-Alice likes things to look “pretty,” whether they are the books she reads or the friends she makes. When told she can get a dog, Mary-Alice says she wants the fluffy puppy with pink bow from the pet store. But instead, with the guidance of her parents and a shelter worker, she gives Rico, an adult black Labrador from the shelter, a chance.

By following Mary-Alice and her family as they adopt Rico, the reader learns about some of the common prejudices faced by shelter animals relating to their colour, age or breed. By looking beyond appearances, Mary-Alice soon discovers that Rico has lots of amazing qualities. He is affectionate, patient and already trained and housebroken!

With bright and engaging illustrations juxtaposing a cleverly plain cover, Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover successfully emphasizes the importance of getting to know what’s on the inside – whether a book, animal or person – before making judgments. By playing with Rico and realizing that he’s different than she first assumed, Mary-Alice learns to be more open-minded in other areas of her life (like with a new girl at school) and carries this lesson with her years later.

This book is suitable for grades 1 and up. 

Read more BC SPCA book recommendations.

This school year almost over, but we have one last project for school club members: Send us pictures of your events from the past year along with a brief write-up about each event. Your photo may be chosen to be featured in the fall issue of Bark!. 

Longer days. Backyard barbeques. Bumble bees buzzing. These are just a few of the things that remind us summer is coming. But for the BC SPCA, there’s another indicator. Kittens. Thousands of them. Many are the result of an accidental litter, brought to the BC SPCA by owners unable to care for them. Others are brought in as strays, the offspring of cats who have themselves been abandoned. Many are orphaned, and go straight into the care of volunteer foster guardians who bottle-feed and socialize them until they are ready for adoption.

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

Kindness Counts
(for K- Gr. 2)

Companions for Life
(Gr. 3-5)

You Can Make a Difference
(Gr. 5-7)

  Cluck - The life of an egg-laying hen (Gr. 4-6)

  Bite Free (K - Gr. 5)

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