The BC SPCA

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March 2014

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eteacher guinea pigsSmall animals take the spotlight this month at the BC SPCA, and we have more than 100 waiting in our shelters for forever homes.

Small animals are often the first pet a child gets. Parents buy them as “starter” pets. They are appealing because they are quiet, can be kept in a cage and for many small animals, the lifelong commitment is much shorter than for a cat, dog or – heaven forbid – an exotic animal like a snake or an iguana. Though they may not live as long, small animals still require time, money and energy to be properly cared for.

One of the things that is often not well thought out when getting a hamster or gerbil, for example, is their habitat. Pet stores sell colourful cages with tubes and wheels for hamsters and gerbils but these cages are small, expensive and not the best choice for the animal. They are created to be appealing to people but, in fact, a good-sized aquarium with a secure mesh top and lots of substrate material for digging and burrowing is more like their natural environment than the flashy plastic contraptions.

Proper food and bedding are also important. Though readily available at most, if not all, pet stores are cedar and pine shavings. In fact these shavings cause respiratory issues. Aspen shavings or CareFRESH® (bedding made from recycled paper) are the best options to keep your pet healthy and avoid a trip to the vet.

The BC SPCA has small animal care guides available for rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, gerbils, hamsters, and mice and an information sheet on degus (the care guide is in the works).

 

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“Let’s Get a Pup!” said Kate
by Bob Graham

Karen and her parents are ready to welcome a dog into their family. But what kind of dog will they get? “Let’s Get a Pup!” said Kate by Bob Graham follows the family on their visit to The Rescue Center. Which dog will they choose? A big dog? A small dog? A sniffer or a sleeper? A cute, brand-new pup named Dave or an old, grey dog named Rosy?

Suitable for readers in kindergarten to grade 2, “Let’s Get a Pup!” said Kate is a sweet book that illustrates the debate many animal lovers face when visiting a shelter: What do we do when we want to give them all a home? How do we choose between the boisterous puppy and the senior dog who radiates Good Intention? And once that choice is made, how is each family member’s life improved by the presence of an animal? Students can read “Let’s Get a Pup!” said Kate and contemplate the answers to these and other questions.

Read more BC SPCA book recommendations.

 

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School Club Tip

school club tip testDo you want to find out which small animal suits you best? Take our small animal compatibility test. Circle your answers on the first sheet and then use the following answer sheet (the ones with red circles for each type of animal) to compare to your answers. Add up the number of circles you matched with each to find out which one is best for you.

It is important to have the right expectations when you and your family decide to adopt a pet. This simple test will give you a better idea of which small animals will meet your expectations. Maybe you thought you wanted a hamster but a guinea pig is a better match.

Let us know how many members in your club are suited to each animal by March 31st and we will post the findings in the next e-Teacher.

 

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Current Events

bunny image eteacherNot sure about the benefits of adopting a petite pet? Don’t let size fool you! Small animals can bring a huge amount of joy into the lives of their lucky guardians. The BC SPCA has over 100 small animals available for adoption. Having the right expectations by doing some research before adopting any animal is important but when it comes to small animals many people don’t put the time into doing this.

At the SPCA we have information on our website created by experts who have experience with these animals, as well as the animal welfare knowledge to provide accurate descriptions of the needs of these animals.

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.

 

BC SPCA Lesson Plan: Kindness Counts

Kindness Counts
(for K- Gr. 2)

 

  Companions for Life (Gr. 3-5)

Companions for Life
(Gr. 3-5)

 

  You can make a difference (Gr. 5-7)

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

 

BC SPCA Lesson Plan: Cluck!

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

 

BC SPCA Lesson Plan: Bite Free

  Bite Free (K - Gr. 5)

Bite Free is on the recommended resource list for Health and Career Planning for grades K-5.

 

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Shop BC SPCA

Informational DVDs and BC SPCA merchandise available at shop.spca.bc.ca

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