Expressing our gratitude is important no matter what day it is, but Thanksgiving is a special time to think about all that we have in our lives.

Are you thankful for animals? We’d love to hear what makes you grateful for your guinea pig, cat, dog or other pets! Maybe it’s the time you spend playing with them, or the way they always know how to make you feel better when you've had a bad day. Or maybe you’re grateful for the birds singing outside your window, or the horses in the fields near your home. Let us know what makes you thankful for animals at kids@spca.bc.ca.

Want to show extra kindness to farm animals as you give thanks this year? You can make Thanksgiving more humane by asking your parents about choosing SPCA Certified products for your family feast. We’ve got some delicious recipes to get you started!

How much do you know about fish?

The fall issue of Bark! is coming soon, and the feature story is all about these amazing underwater animals. Learn about the special skills of elephantnose fish and sevengill sharks, among others. Then dive into the world of Siamese fighting fish – what’s life like in a bowl?

Also in this issue, find out what happened to Pepper the lost Chihuahua, teach your pets to be "scent detectors" and more! 

Plus, there are chances to WIN! Learn how you can score with a hockey-themed contest, and put your drawing skills to work with our second stamp design contest (check out previous winners here).

Bark! will be delivered to the homes of BC SPCA Kids Club members in the coming week. Along with the magazine, you will receive TWO brand new posters to put up in your school or community (just ask permission before posting).

Not a member? Sign up and you won’t miss out on any future issues of Bark!. Along with your subscription, you’ll get your own Kids Club kit with membership card, special inserts and member-only discounts for youth workshops and summer camps.

With Halloween coming up, we want to remind everyone to do what they can to keep animals safe. After all, when you combine fireworks, ringing doorbells and people in strange costumes, October 31 can be a spooky day for our furry friends.

Here are our top four Halloween pet tips:

1. Keep your pet inside.

2. Don’t dress up pets.

3. Don’t feed candy or chocolate to pets.

4. Make sure dogs and cats have ID.

Want to know the "whys" of these tips? Read this handy Halloween safety guide and share with your family and friends!

October’s Furry Friend of the Month is Darwin, a handsome and intelligent two-year-old guinea pig.

Darwin is a chatterbox who likes to vocalize to anyone who will listen! He loves his veggies and will happily eat your leftover raw kale, spinach and peppers. Darwin also enjoys a good spa treatment; he’s quite accustomed to being brushed and having his nails trimmed.

Darwin is currently residing at the Chilliwack SPCA but is looking for a home to join for the rest of his life.

Please note: Darwin was available for adoption at the time this article was written and may have found his forever home since then.

Visit the BC SPCA website to find more furry friends currently looking for homes.