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December 2018
 As families prepare for the holiday season we want to ensure our pets stay safe, healthy and happy! Begin a discussion with your class to identify some potential items or situations that could be hazardous for pets, then brainstorm preventative measures that can keep pets safe throughout the holidays. We have a fun worksheet that will get everyone thinking about pet safety.
Some hazards and ways to prevent them include:
• Keeping dangly ornaments and tinsel above the reach of any ‘paws’ that may consume or play with them.
• Disposing of trash immediately or putting into a secure bin, especially the remains of leftover food or bones.
• Keeping anything containing chocolate away from canine friends.
• Firecrackers or fireworks can be stressful for pets, ask neighbours if they plan to set any off during the holidays and make a note to bring your pet indoors when the pyrotechnics go off.
• A number of popular holiday plants such as holly, mistletoe, ornamental pepper and Christmas rose can be harmful if eaten by your pet so be vigilant if bringing them into the home or leaving them as a gift.
Watch a short video from the BC SPCA outlining these pet safety tips.
**If you suspect a pet has had contact with something potentially poisonous, call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic immediately.**
 The Animal Lover’s Guide to Changing the World: Practical Advice and Everyday Actions for a More Sustainable, Humane, and Compassionate Planet
by Stephanie Feldstein
Reading Level: Grade 9 to Adult
Any book that has “changing the world” in the title has big boots to fill, but in the case of The Animal Lover’s Guide to Changing the World, those boots fit just fine. Stephanie Feldstein’s book is an accessible read not just for adults but for older students as well, providing empowering advice on how each human can use their day to day actions to make a difference for all of the other animals with which we share the earth. Not everyone can become vegan, adopt six cats and a dog or save the rainforest, but Feldstein inspires and encourages all of us to really think about other animals, how they think and feel, and how our actions create a ripple effect.
This book is the perfect read for teachers who want to inspire their students. A chapter on “Compassion in the Classroom” talks about finding teachable moments in the everyday to encourage students to think about animals and how to make the world better for them. “Kids have powerful voices and it is never too soon for them to learn to use them,” Feldstein writes.
This is a well-written, well-researched and thoughtful read that makes changing the world seem like something to which we really can each contribute, simply by having empathy for our fellow creatures.
“Elephants live in a world rich with emotion and empathy, where they know their actions affect those around them. We should all be more like elephants.” ~ Stephanie Feldstein
*May not be appropriate for younger students due to some content like “Let’s talk about sex.”
We have recommended books for all ages.
 Congratulations to Burnaby South Secondary School Animal Rescue Club on a fantastic start to the school year. The school club managed to raise $110 with their fall fundraiser, and perhaps better still, they managed to spread an important message while doing so.
Animal Rescue Club members heard that black cats and dogs can often spend more time in shelters waiting for their forever home than their more colourful counterparts. With that in mind, school club members decided to throw a lunch event to celebrate our animal companions with sleek and chic black fur! We think the message that animals of all colours, shapes and sizes should be loved and valued is a wonderful one.
BC SPCA School Animal Clubs give students who are interested in animal welfare the opportunity to use their knowledge and creativity to improve the lives of animals and share that passion with others. Are your students passionate about making the world a better place for animals? Help them to start a BC SPCA school club today!
 Incorporating ways to help wildlife this holiday season is a great way to support your local wildlife rehabilitation centres.
1. If you are clearing out your freezer to make room for holiday baking, donate extra meat, fish or berries to your local wildlife centre, like BC SPCA’s Wild ARC, to help them feed their wild animals.
2. Keep festivities wildlife-friendly by making sure plastic six-pack rings are cut before they are disposed of. Avoid helium balloons that can float off and pose a risk to wildlife and make sure trash and compost are secure so they’re not disturbed by four-legged nocturnal bandits.
3. Looking for a gift for that hard-to-buy-for wildlife conservationist? Sponsor a wild patient or an enclosure in their name.
Learn more about ways to help wildlife this season or other BC SPCA news.
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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.
Kindness counts
(Primary)
Bite free
(Primary/intermediate)
Making the right choice
(Intermediate)
You can make a difference
(Intermediate)
The farm-food connection
(Intermediate)
Cats in the community
(Intermediate)
Including animals in social justice
(Intermediate/Secondary)
We would love to know what you think of this newsletter. Do you use it regularly? Is there a topic you would like us to cover? Do you share it with others?
Please email us your
questions and comments.
Informational DVDs and BC SPCA merchandise available at shop.spca.bc.ca
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