March 2013
Small
animals take the spotlight this month at the BC SPCA, and we have more than 200
waiting in our shelters for forever homes.
Though
they may seem like easy pets to keep, many of these small critters live in less
than ideal conditions.
Store-bought habitats often do not provide the right
types of stimulation to keep small animals busy.
It is important to provide a
living space that somewhat mimics an animal’s natural habitat in order for them
to express behaviours that promote well-being (one of the Five
Freedoms).
We
are here to help. The BC SPCA has created small animal care guides for rabbits,
guinea
pigs, rats,
gerbils,
hamsters,
and mice
and a information sheet on degus
(the care guide is in the works).
We have also developed a classroom
pet policy to assist teachers who may be thinking about adopting a pet for
the classroom.
Guinea-pig
Gang
by Lucy Daniels
In this installment of the Animal Ark Pets series,
protagonist Mandy Hope and her friends are gaga for guinea pigs – so much so
that they form a “Guinea-pig Gang” to bring their pets together and to talk
about proper care.
When one of the girls, Lisa refuses to bring her guinea
pig, Carla to the group, Mandy knows that something’s up.
As Mandy soon discovers, Lisa would love to
take part, but her big sister poses a big problem.
When Lisa must prove herself
as a responsible pet guardian or risk losing Carla forever, Mandy helps her
hatch a plan to become the blue ribbon winner at the local pet show.
A chapter book suitable for grades 3 to 5, Guinea-pig Gang teaches crucial lessons
about the responsibility of pet care, and the importance of knowing what’s
involved before bringing an animal home.
Read
more BC SPCA book recommendations
When people think of the BC SPCA, dogs and cats are often
the only animals that come to mind, but most of our shelters also have small
animals.
Since March is Small Animal Month, why not hold a “veggie drive” to
make life a bit brighter for some of the more petite shelter residents?
Consider collecting donations of dark leafy greens such as kale, beet leaves
and carrot tops, or a flake of hay for the rabbits and guinea pigs.
Keeping small animals happy also means providing them with
things to chew and tunnel through. Paper tubes from toilet tissue or paper
towels make great playground equipment for hamsters, mice and gerbils.
Check with your local shelter to
see what types of small animals they have and what donations they need.
Why not check out some of the small animals available for
adoption at the SPCA?
Not only do they have charming personalities and
behaviours, but most small animals are also clean, quiet pets. This is why small animals can make great pets for
people with restrictions where they live.
Remember though, while they may
be small in size, that doesn’t necessarily translate to a small amount of care.
Small animals have unique needs; prospective guardians should do their research
so they know what to expect.
Learn more about this news item and other BC SPCA
news that you may want to include in class discussions.
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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. Bite Free is on the recommended resource list for Health and
Career Planning for grades K-5.
Click on a lesson plan below to learn more.
Kindness Counts (for K- Gr. 2)
Companions for Life (Gr. 3-5)
You Can Make a Difference (Gr. 5-7)
Cluck - The life of an egg-laying hen (Gr. 4-6)
Bite Free (K - Gr. 5)
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