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Dogs
Lumby company’s hemp-base doggie chews to hit shelves by end of month
VERNON - Dog lovers are lapping up a new hemp-based pet product made by a North Okanagan company. True Leaf Medicine International Ltd. launched its nutritional dog-chews, which contain hemp, at a pet industry trade show in Toronto Sept. 20, and CEO Darcy Bomford said pre-orders are already bounding in. “The last two weeks have...
How a standoff between a horse, two dogs and cougar ended in Lumby
LUMBY - It was a sight Lumby resident Tina Berg never expected: Her 1,300 pound horse practically nose-to-nose with a cougar. It was around 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, when Berg, who lives about three kilometres out of Lumby in a rural area, heard her dogs barking. “It was a bark I just know means...
Attack leaves Vernon woman fearful of returning to dog park
VERNON - A Vernon woman will think twice before visiting a dog park after her four-pound Yorkshire terrier died after being attacked at the DND grounds last month. Cassandra Malinosky took her five-year-old dog Jemma almost everywhere with her, including work, and always kept a watchful eye over her, particularly because she was so tiny....
Watch out for rattlesnakes; they’re out early in the Thompson-Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Sunny weather has gotten many of us out from beneath our rocks looking for some rays, and we’re not the only ones in the animal world. Warm temperatures have brought rattlesnakes out earlier than normal in the Thompson-Okanagan, according to WildSafe B.C. spokesperson Frank Ritcey. “With the warm weather, the snakes will be...
BROKEN JAW, MISSING TEETH: What you need to know before getting your pet’s teeth cleaned
"IT WAS VERY BRUTAL" KELOWNA – Cheryl Lyse and her husband Warren thought they were doing the right thing for their eight-year-old Shih Tzu, Lexy, by taking her to get her teeth cleaned. But now they have only regrets for using 'unlicensed veterinary care' — one of many pop up or pop in pet teeth...
Vernon man sentenced on animal cruelty charges will get to keep his dog
VERNON - An unfortunate case of animal cruelty was laid out in Vernon Provincial Court this week, and it wasn’t just sad for the pet. Brian Jacobson, 47, was charged with causing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal, failing to provide necessities, and causing an animal to be in distress following an SPCA cruelty...
If your dog is suddenly paralyzed this could be why
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Mary Verigin knew something was wrong with her dog as soon as she opened her crate last Monday morning. “She could get up on her front feet but there was no strength behind her shoulders,” she says. “I didn’t know what to do. Of course I was crying.” Verigen phoned her vet, Dr....
Women struck by plywood while out for a walk in Lake Country
LAKE COUNTRY - Two women out for a stroll in Lake Country were struck by a leather covered, wooden pick-up box cover which apparently flew off a passing truck last week. The pair were out walking their dogs at around 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 14, in the 3500-block of Woodsdale Road when the incident occurred,...
Why the City of Kelowna wants your dog on a leash
KELOWNA - The warm weather means more residents and their dogs are out enjoying the outdoors, and in some cases, that's leading to conflicts with wildlife. The City of Kelowna issued a press release Thursday afternoon asking dog walkers to help ensure wildlife can enjoy the nice weather too. Park Services was recently notified of...
By the numbers: Vernon SPCA at a glance
VERNON - Here are some things you might not know about the Vernon branch of the SPCA. It costs the non-profit roughly $665 to shelter a single cat. Over the course of a year, the branch goes through some 52 jugs of laundry detergent. The facility runs on six employees and 75 volunteers. Branch manager...
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS: Snow-dogs of the Thompson-Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - You’d think four legs are better for getting around in the snow than two. But that’s not the case when you’re a dog and the snow is higher than you are. Like us humans, some Thompson-Okanagan dogs embraced the snow this week, while others sulked about it. You’ll see some grumpy dog faces...
Fourteen dogs and seven horses surrendered following animal cruelty investigation in Vernon
VERNON - Fourteen dogs and seven horses in conditions ranging from poor to life-threatening are in the care of the South Okanagan SPCA after investigators executed a search warrant at a Vernon hobby farm. Senior animal protection officer Kathy Woodward says the dogs, including four puppies, were living in a pen with a dirt bottom,...
Trap set for yet another North Okanagan cougar
NORTH OKANAGAN - A cougar preying on house cats in a North Okanagan subdivision marks yet another big cat encounter in what has been a busy year for the conservation service. Sgt. Josh Lockwood of the North Okanagan Conservation Service says the latest cougar was spotted two weeks ago in the McLeod subdivision, north-east of...
Vernon City Hall wouldn’t be the same without Ollie
VERNON - Ollie trots in to work at Vernon City Hall around 8 a.m. and heads to his desk in the engineering department. Well, actually he heads under it, because Ollie is no ordinary city staffer—he’s an office dog. The five-year-old schnauzer spends a lot of his day-job snoozing under owner Ken Juniper’s desk in...
The Vernon SPCA needs your help
VERNON - The Vernon SPCA needs a little help from its friends. Branch manager Chelsea Taylor says donations are down at the moment. The non-profit organization relies on the public not only financially, but through donated cat litter, laundry detergent, garbage bags and other essential items. “We seem to be running out of those (items)...
Group wants stiffer penalties to help protect pooches
KAMLOOPS - A group of citizens, veterinarians and local business owners are asking the city to implement heavy fines for leaving a dog in a vehicle during hot or cold weather. A bylaw in Calgary, which allows bylaw officers to check inside temperatures using an infrared thermometers, is pointed to as a good example of...
Looking for a forever home, Vernon SPCA pets of the week
Spot My name is Spot and I hope you can spot me amongst the other kittens at the B.C. SPCA shelter in Vernon. I am so very loving and just waiting for that human lap to lay in and purr for hours on end. Please ask the Vernon SPCA staff if you are interested in...
Looking for a forever home, Vernon SPCA pet of the week
Mazda Mazda is a very sweet girl who came in to the Vernon SPCA after having a litter of kittens. The little family spent time with one of our foster families and now that her kittens are all weaned Mazda is looking for her new home. She has very pretty tabby markings and is very...
Looking for a forever home, Vernon SPCA pets of the week
Nicole May Nicole May is a beautiful female that was adopted from the SPCA almost a year ago. Her owner sadly needed to return her after being diagnosed with medical conditions that would make it hard for her to take care of Nicole May properly. This lovely girl is accustomed to being an only cat...
Locals help SPCA achieve $40,000 goal
KAMLOOPS - The branch manager of the local SPCA is grateful for the outpouring of support from the community for the City Challenge, especially on the heals of a break-in that threatened any hope of reaching the $40,000 goal. After a year of multiple major surgeries, vandalism and ringworm the local shelter was itching to...
And the most popular dog names in Kamloops are…
KAMLOOPS — So long to Fluffy, Spot or Rex—when Kamloops residents look for dog names they’re looking for something a little more, well, human. According to licencing records at the City of Kamloops, eight of the top 10 most popular dog names may share their moniker with family, friends and co-workers with the exception of...
Kamloops looks for a loyal hiking buddy in popular dog breed
KAMLOOPS — Dog owners here prefer a breed they can take hiking or hunting and is good with young kids; a breed often called handsome and known for being loyal and a willingness to do anything to please its human. According to dog licencing records at the City of Kamloops, the lab is easily the...