February 2014

February is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month at the BC SPCA.

British Columbia has too many cats and dogs and not enough homes for all of them. Did you know that cats and dogs can have their first litter when they are just six months old? Unsterilized animals are more likely to escape from home and then it doesn’t take long for pregnancies to occur. The BC SPCA and other animal shelters often get litters from these “accidental” pregnancies, from individuals who cannot care for the new additions.

Spay and neuter don’t just prevent reproduction, they have other benefits as well. Sterilized animals are less likely to exhibit aggressive behaviour, less likely to roam, and have a reduced chance to getting certain cancers. In the big picture, the initial cost of the surgery can save a lot of money down the road.

Learn more about the importance of spay and neuter and please help us spread the message to your students and their families. These worksheets can be used to teach problem solving and math skills all while reinforcing the message of why it is important to our communities as well as the animals to spay and neuter our pets.

The Boy Who Loved All Living Things by Sheila Hamanaka
Reading level: Grade 2-4

The Boy Who Loved All Living Things is an imagined childhood journal inspired by events in the young life of Albert Schweitzer. Ashamed of some of his own cruel actions towards animals and those of others, Albert reflects, realizes why he acted out and goes out of his way to protect animals that his friends want to harm. In doing so, Albert gains confidence in himself and his beliefs and becomes an animal advocate. He writes, “I do not care anymore what people think about me. I know deep inside who I am.”

The Boy Who Loved All Living Things teaches children to view animals as friends that should be treated with compassion and respect, and to stand up for what they know is right. The illustrations and font depict a time long ago but the message is timeless.

Read more BC SPCA book recommendations.

For Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, help get the message out by sharing some information with your teachers and classmates.

Here are some resources:

• Order pet overpopulation posters and hold a spay/neuter awareness day at school.
• Watch our new public service announcement as an introduction to promote your awareness day at an assembly.
• Find out more about the benefits and myths of spay/neuter and inform others about what you learned.

The BC SPCA is taking action right now to prevent pet overpopulation, from low-cost spay/neuter programs to free feral cat clinics and a commitment to making sure every cat, dog and rabbit is altered before being adopted from our branches.

Learn more about the BC SPCA spay/neuter campaign, and read about 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.