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SPCA fighting cruelty with kindness
MILLION ACTS OF KINDNESS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Even seemingly little things can help make the life of an animal better and B.C. SPCA wants to celebrate 120 years by fighting cruelty with kindness in 2015. The animal advocacy and rescue group launched the Million Acts of Kindness campaign this week. To launch the campaign...
Armstrong horse owner fears for animals being sent to auction
“I HOPE THESE HORSES FIND GENTLE PEOPLE. I HOPE THEY LIVE OUT LONG AND FULL LIVES” ARMSTRONG - The possibility some of his 100 horses may go to slaughter after a court-ordered auction this weekend is not a pleasant thought for Armstrong man Gary Roberts. But that’s the reality the SPCA and the courts have...
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...
Rescuing a horse? Here’s what you’re getting into
“AT THIS POINT, EVERYONE’S THINKING WITH THEIR HEARTS” ARMSTRONG - We’ve seen a lot of generosity and kindness in the weeks following an animal cruelty case, but the SPCA is cautioning people not to let good intentions cloud their judgement. Armstrong man Gary Roberts faces two charges of animal cruelty, and has been court ordered...
100 horses for sale following Armstrong cruelty investigation
"LET'S SAVE THIS THING AND MAKE IT TURN OUT FOR THE GOOD" ARMSTRONG - Homes are being sought for 100 horses in Armstrong following an animal cruelty investigation. The horses belong to Gary Roberts, 69, who faces two counts of animal cruelty charges stemming from a December 2014 B.C. SPCA investigation. Seventeen of Roberts’ horses...
Petition against tethering in Kamloops gaining traction
KAMLOOPS - Earlier this month city council dismissed the idea of pursuing an anti-tethering bylaw for the city because they had not heard many complaints. Now a local dog rescue is hoping a petition with 1,500 signatures will be enough for city council to sit up and take notice. In a letter to council at...
Animal cruelty charges laid against Armstrong horse owner
ARMSTRONG - An Armstrong man is facing criminal charges after animal cruelty investigators seized 16 emaciated horses from his care. Gary Roberts, 69, is charged with causing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal and failing to provide necessities for an animal. He also faces one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily...
UPDATE: Anti-tethering bylaw not on agenda for Kamloops
KAMLOOPS - The City of Kamloops will not be joining the ranks of the 14 municipalities and two regional districts that have alread put restrictions on tethering dogs outdoors. The B.C. SPCA has been lobbying councils across the province to adopt bylaws that help promote animal well-being and human responsibility. In late 2013 the Regional...
More than 1,000 animals through SPCA doors in 2014
KAMLOOPS - Four weeks of full closures, plus several addition partial closures, 757 animals adopted and a desperate need for a new shelter are key 2014 highlights for the Kamloops SPCA. The year began with a ringworm outbreak that had nine animals under quarantine. The shelter had only just reopened after a massive ringworm outbreak...
Return of stolen dog “best present ever” for SPCA
PENTICTON - Staff and volunteers at the Penticton SPCA are celebrating the return of Cooper, a one year old miniature pinscher-pug mix stolen from the Penticton SPCA in October. Someone scaled the shelter fence and cut a hole in the building to steal the dog, which was one of 14 dogs and seven horses seized...
SPCA seizes emaciated horses from Armstrong farm, recommends charges
ARMSTRONG - The B.C. SPCA has seized 16 horses from a farm in Armstrong and is now recommending animal cruelty charges against the owner. Senior animal protection officer Kathy Woodward says the SPCA, along with the RCMP, executed a warrant at the farm Dec. 11 after receiving tips from the public. Of approximately 117 horses...
SPCA offers pet advice for cold weather and Christmas
PENTICTON - As Penticton experiences its second cold snap of the season, the Penticton SPCA offers some words of advice for animal lovers. “Bring animals in from the cold,” is some simple advice Corinne Ross, Branch Manager for the Penticton SPCA, offers. “It depends on the dog, as to how much cold they can experience,...
SPCA looking at feral cat fix and release program
KAMLOOPS - Colonies of feral cats run rampant in the Kamloops area and little has been done to control the felines. That could change as a task force applies for grants to trap, spay or neuter, and then release the cats. Without a program in place to spay or neuter, the cats colonies can quickly...
SPCA dealing with ringworm, feral cats
KAMLOOPS - Four is not a lucky number the local SPCA right now — for the fourth time this year the shelter had to shut down because of ringworm while they deal with four different feral colonies of cats. Valerie Wilson says the mom and puppies that may have ringworm are in a foster home...
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,...
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)...
Symphonic rock show will help the SPCA
KELOWNA - Music lovers can sit back and take in the 'It's All Good' symphonic classic rock show knowing part of the money spent on their ticket will help support the local SPCA. The event takes place Friday, Sept. 19 beginning at 8 p.m. at Prospera Place, 1223 Water Street, Kelowna. It features a 25...
Hot dogs being sent to provincial meetings
KAMLOOPS - Should bylaw officers be given authority to break into vehicles when animals are locked in during hot, or cold, weather? Councillors from across the province will discuss the merits of giving this authority at a meeting later this month thanks to Kamloops council. The idea gained momentum last month when council, supported by...
Ringworm scare as SPCA prepares for large fundraiser
KAMLOOPS - This past weekend the local SPCA shelter had to once again shut its doors as staff dealt with what they believed could be another case of ringworm. Lime Plus baths, containing sulfur, were given to the kitten believed to have the skin infection as well as its litter mates, and shelter staff now...
Large SPCA fundraiser ready to roll
KAMLOOPS - One of the key fundraisers for the local SPCA branch is less than three weeks away and organizers say they have faith the people of Kamloops will once again come through for the shelter. “They always seem to go smoothly, you have to have faith,” Michelle Virdee says of fundraisers. “The people of...
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...
Kamloops SPCA overrun with cats
KAMLOOPS - If you’ve been thinking about adding a furry family member to your clan, now is the time. There are about 35 cats (older than six months) and one rabbit currently in care at the Kamloops SPCA branch and for the next week the shelter is offering adoptions of adults cats and all rabbits...
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...