August 2014
Seal pups are simply adorable. If you happen to see one
all alone on the beach, your first thought might be to jump into action and
rescue it. But wait! You could be doing more harm than good.
Seal pups are born on beaches all along B.C.’s coast between
June and September, with most born in July or August – meaning it’s the height
of seal pup season right now. Babies will remain on land, nursed by their
mother, for four to six weeks. You may also spot older seals hanging out on dry
land – in fact, it’s where they spend about a third of their time!
If you live near the ocean, or you visit at any time, know
what to do if you spot a seal pup. Here are some helpful pointers:
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- Keep your
distance. If you – or your pets – get too close to the babies, even to
observe, adult seals may be too scared to return.
- Watch and
wait. A seal pup on its own is not necessarily orphaned or abandoned. Seal
mothers leave their pups for several hours at a time while they return to the
ocean to feed.
- Don’t
push. It may seem helpful to push or coax a seal pup into the water, but
this is unnecessary and can be harmful.
- Pick up
trash. Remember, the beach is home to seals (and other animals) so help
keep it clean.
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If a seal looks obviously hurt or in distress, do not try to
capture or care for it yourself! Instead, call the BC SPCA hotline at 1-855-622-7722.
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Paws for a Cause,
our annual walk to fight animal cruelty,
is taking place on September 7, 2014!*
Will you be joining us?
Paws is a great
way to show your love for animals! Every Paws event includes a 2 to 5 kilometre walk plus activities for the whole family. Visit
your local
walk page to find out what’s happening at your community’s event!
Sound like fun? Register
for free, start your Paws campaign and mark your calendar. And don’t forget
– every kid aged 13 and under who
raises $15 or more will receive one free year of BC SPCA Kids Club
membership as our thanks!
We can’t wait to see you there!
*Walk dates may vary in some locations.
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What’s your favourite kind of book? Whether you love reading
animal stories, mysteries, graphic novels or anything else, summer is the
perfect time to enjoy the books you love. And what does every great book need?
A great bookmark!
To celebrate summer reading this month, we’re giving away our
very own Kids Club animal bookmarks.
Not a member of the Kids
Club yet? Join this month and we’ll include a set of bookmarks as a bonus
gift with your membership welcome kit. With your parent’s permission, sign up online and then email us to
say you joined the Kids Club after seeing August’s
e-Kids Mews!letter.
Already a member? Email us
by Monday, August 4 with the subject
line “Kids Club Bookmarks” and we
will enter you in a draw to win one of five sets!
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August’s Furry Friend of the Month is Quinn,
an active and social young tabby cat.
According to Quinn’s adoption profile, “She LOVES to play with anything you will give her, pipe cleaners, wand toys, balls, anything!" Quinn gets along
well with other cats, though her playful nature may be a bit overwhelming for some!
Quinn is currently staying at the West Vancouver SPCA but
hopes to find her fur-ever home very soon!
Please note: Quinn was available for adoption at the time
this article was written, and may have found her forever home since then. Visit
the BC
SPCA website to discover more furry friends currently
looking for homes.
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