May 2010

Don’t forget, May is be Kind to Animals Month and why not incorporate some easy animal-themed activities in your classroom. Farm animals and wild animals are often not at the forefront of people’s minds when it comes to celebrating Be Kind to Animals Month. Why not plan a meat-free lunch day with students. Discuss meat-free options before the day and have students share some of their favourite recipes. For wild animals, take a walk in the park/forest and pick up litter to clean up wild habitats. Discuss how humans impact the lives of animals and nature and ways we can make a difference.

Unknown 
by Colin Thompson
Illustrated by Anna Pignataro

Unknown is the story of an unlikely hero – a shelter dog called, for lack of a name, Unknown. Though she’s always blended into the shadows of her kennel, when a fire threatens her and her fellow shelter residents, this normally nervous little dog takes action.

Along with culminating in an action-packed rescue, this story takes time to illustrate the many types of dogs who find themselves, for reasons beyond their control, without a permanent home. Each character is named after his or her circumstance, such as Owner-Gone-Abroad or Unwanted-Christmas-Gift. Read in the classroom, this book provides excellent opportunity for discussion around the ways animals arrive at shelters. It can also serve as a springboard to lessons about responsible pet guardianship and why every animal deserves a chance.

A great book for young readers, Unknown serves as a reminder that all shelter dogs are special. And each one, in its own right, is a hero.

The BC SPCA has many other book recommendations as well. 

Why not share some of your favourite books about animals and animal care with the rest of the student population. Ask your school librarian if they can dedicate a table for books that your club members recommend. Write reviews of the books to entice other students to read them. Make sure you comment on why this book stands up to the humane content review. Check out our checklist on how to assess for humane content and some books we recommend.

With Spring comes baby animal season but for rabbits that doesn’t apply. Bunnies are born throughout the year. This is causing a huge problem on the University of Victoria campus where there are hundreds of rabbits, mostly domesticated rabbits that people have abandoned on the campus. What many people don’t realize is that abandoning any domestic animal is against the law. This is another reason why it is important to have realistic expectations when adopting or purchasing a pet. The BC SPCA has a large number of rabbits in our shelters.

The BC SPCA has a policy on feral rabbits and has commented on the University of Victoria’s plans for the rabbits.

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