Tag: Companion animals

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Urgent Care

Urgent care for Quincy

Donate toward Quincy’s care

Sweet Quincy needs urgent care

When Quincy started bleeding significantly, her guardian Elaine rushed her to the to the vet. Quincy was diagnosed with a pyometra infection and needs urgent life-saving surgery.

Elaine told the VHS, “She is the sweetest little girl who provides comfort to those with mental health issues. She means the world to us.”

Elaine is a senior who cares for two foster children, and is experiencing financial struggles. She reached out to the Vancouver Humane Society for assistance with Quincy’s care. Quincy has been by Elaine’s side for the last 7 years and truly is her best friend.

Your gift today will help cover the cost of Quincy’s surgery, which is expected to cost approximately $1,500. You can help ensure she receives the best possible care so she can return home safely to Elaine and her family.

Can you help Quincy get better by donating?

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Urgent Care

Urgent care for George

Donate toward George’s care

George needs urgent treatment for a concerning mass

Melissa has noticed a mass growing on her sweet 9-year-old cat, George’s, back. After an inconclusive biopsy result, the vet advised that the mass could be cancerous and recommended it be removed to give George the best chance at a healthy and happy future. Melissa told the Vancouver Humane Society that George is her true companion who has helped her through hard times in the past nine years. Because George has had some previous health issues, Melissa feeds him a special diet to maintain his good health. She is doing everything she can to save up for the surgery but as a single mother on a limited income, she is having trouble with the overall cost. That is why she has reached out to the VHS for help with George’s care.

Can you donate today to help George get the care he needs to live a healthy life?

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Urgent Care

Urgent care for Minou

Minou the cat sitting on a desk

Donate toward Minou’s care

Donate to help Minou this Valentine’s Day

Samantha noticed that her sweet companion, Minou, has been having trouble breathing for the last few days. A visit to the vet determined she will need an X-ray to diagnose the cause of the problem. 

Samantha has experienced some difficult life circumstances. Through it all, Minou has been her emotional support and they love each other dearly. Samantha is doing everything she can to make sure Minou receives the best care and is well taken care of, but she is having trouble affording the costly exams.

When you donate today to help Minou, you can choose to make a donation in honour of someone special and send a thoughtful e-card to their inbox.

Simply click on the “in honour of” button in the “Dedication” sectionof the online donation form. 


Can you help Minou get healthy again and come home to Samantha?

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Urgent Care

Urgent care for Phoebe

Donate toward Phoebe’s care

Phoebe needs urgent care after potentially ingesting a toxin

When sweet Phoebe started excessively drooling, her loving guardian Dave became concerned and brought her to the vet. Upon arrival, the vet suspected Phoebe may have ingested something toxic. She will need urgent care to treat and monitor her condition, including bloodwork and X-rays. She may also need IV fluids for 24 hours to flush out her system. 

Dave is on very low income and has reached out to the Vancouver Humane Society’s McVitie Fund for help.

The VHS team is keeping in communication with Dave and the vet to monitor the situation and has committed to covering Phoebe’s veterinary bill. Can you help Phoebe get better by donating?

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Urgent Care

Life-saving care for Fluffy

Donate toward Fluffy’s care

Fluffy needs life-saving care after being hit by a car

When curious little Fluffy accidentally escaped her house, tragically she was hit by a car. Fluffy’s devastated guardian Kaylee rushed her to an emergency vet where they determined she has a fractured jaw that will need surgery.  

Fluffy has received thoracic (spine) and skull x-rays and she will need IV fluids, bloodwork to test her liver function and a feeding tube post-surgery. She is currently hospitalized at the vet and her care is expected to cost approximately $4,200. 

Kaylee is a single mother on a limited income and reached out to the Vancouver Humane Society for assistance with Fluffy’s costly care. Without help, Kaylee would be at imminent risk of having to surrender Fluffy to save her beloved companion. Kaylee and Fluffy have formed an unbreakable bond and Kaylee is distraught at the thought of losing her because she can’t afford Fluffy’s urgent, unexpected care.  

The VHS team is keeping in regular communication with both Kaylee and the vet to offer support throughout Fluffy’s recovery. Fluffy is young and has a lot of love still to give and a long life to live. Can you help Fluffy get better by donating?

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Urgent Care

Urgent care for Achat

Donate toward Achat’s care

Achat needs urgent treatment for a UTI

When Achat started having trouble urinating and stopped eating, her loving guardian Matthew rushed to the vet. Senior girl Achat has otherwise been active and healthy for most of her life.
The vet carried out bloodwork and a urinalysis and has determined that Achat has a urinary tract infection which needs urgent treatment.

Matthew inherited Achat after his mother sadly passed away last year. Matthew does his very best to care for Achat and his 3 children, but work has been sparse lately and he is struggling to cover the cost of Achat’s surgery while trying to support a family on minimal income. That’s why he reached out to the VHS’s McVitie Fund for help.  

Can you donate today to help sweet senior Achat receive the care she needs to live out her golden years happily back at home?

Categories
Urgent Care

Urgent care for Zoey and Mabel

Donate toward Zoey and Mabel’s care

Can you donate to the McVitie Fund this holiday season to help Zoey and Mabel get the urgent care they need?

Zoey’s story 

Last week, Zoey’s guardian Michael reached out to the VHS for help. Zoey needed urgent surgery to treat a life-threatening pyometra infection. Thanks to kind donations toward the VHS’s McVitie fund, Zoey was able to get the care she needed; but sadly complications meant her journey was far from over. Now, Zoey needs blood transfusions and intensive treatment to make a full recovery.

Michael now needs help to pay for the additional care Zoey will need, which is expected to cost around $3,000.

Mabel’s story

After a complicated start to their journey, Mabel and her brother Remy were lovingly welcomed into their new home by their guardian, Tanya. Tanya has since discovered that both Mabel and Remy have severe dental issues and Mabel also has stomatitis.

Tanya is going through a period of serious financial hardship and is doing everything she can for this sweet pair. She was able to pull together the resources to get them treatment and help Remy recover, but sadly Mabel has had more complex issues and still needs further care.

Tanya has reached out to the VHS for help paying for Mabel’s dental treatment, which is expected to cost around $2,300.

Can you donate this holiday season to help Zoey and Mabel come home safely?

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News/Blog

5 reasons to skip fireworks this Halloween & 3 steps to protect animals

Many people have enjoyed the brief thrill that fireworks bring; but that brief moment of joy for some has serious consequences for others.

Take action now
Tips for keeping pets calm

Here are five ways that fireworks harm animals, humans, and the environment we share.

1. Companion animals like dogs, cats, and horses suffer.

We love our companion animals and we would do anything to keep them safe. Many pet guardians know the toll that fireworks take on anxious animals, whose hearing is far more sensitive than our own. In a recent study, approximately 23% of the dogs were reported to be fearful of noises, with the highest frequency of fear from fireworks.

This fear response can bring with it tragic consequences. You might remember a number of sad cases that made it into the news in recent years. In 2016, a 10-year-old dog named Maggie was off-leash at the unfenced Trout Lake dog park during the afternoon when someone set off fireworks. Scared and disoriented, Maggie took off running and was hit by a Skytrain. In 2019, a cat named Spot had to be euthanized after becoming frightened by garden fireworks and seriously injured in the UK. Just this year, a horse named Navar suffered a compound fracture after being spooked by fireworks in Nova Scotia and was euthanized. In June, a dog named Jupiter escaped her backyard and lost her life during a Canada Day fireworks display.

2. Birds panic and flee, causing them harm and death.

When fireworks are set off, birds are frightened from their nest and take flight en masse. This shocking animation shows the “explosive movements” before and after fireworks were lit to ring in the new year in the Netherlands.

Birds aren’t equipped to fly at night, when fireworks displays are typically held, which puts them at a major risk of flying into objects such as trees, vehicles, and buildings. The most infamous case of mass bird deaths occurred in Arkansas, when New Year’s fireworks caused the deaths of about 5,000 birds.

3. Wild animals become frightened and abandon their young.

Wild animals experience fear and disorientation in response to fireworks, which can cause them to flee into dangerous locations like roadways. Wildlife rescue organizations report that loud and startling fireworks displays cause animals to abandon their young in their nests and dens.

4. Humans experience weapons-related PTSD.

Non-human animals are not the only ones who experience panic due to loud and bright fireworks. Humans who experience weapons-related PTSD, such as veterans and refugees from war zones, can be triggered by the explosive sounds. People with sensory processing disorders and some neurodivergent folks can also have difficulties with fireworks.

5. Harmful substances are released into the environment.

When fireworks are set off, the chemical reactions that create fireworks’ trademark light and sound effects release harmful substances into the environment that harm humans, animals, and the environment.

Greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen are released into the air, contributing to climate change. Particulate matter from the smoke can cause breathing difficulties to those with respiratory problems.

The debris from fireworks can pollute our waterways, harming or killing fish, waterfowl, and other aquatic animals who rely on this habitat for food, shelter, and survival.

Three ways you can help

1. Learn your municipality’s regulations.

Does your municipality have a bylaw prohibiting fireworks? You can learn about various municipal bylaws around fireworks in this article or on your municipality’s website.

Learn about firework bylaws

2. Contact your Mayor and Council

The City of Vancouver and the City of North Vancouver have banned the purchase and use of fireworks by consumers. If your municipality still allows consumer fireworks to be purchased and/or used, you can encourage them to follow this lead! Find contact information for your local decision-makers on your municipality’s website. Consider this template as a guide for your ask:

Hello,

I am writing to express my concern about the use of fireworks in our municipality. 

Fireworks are harmful to the environment, animals, and humans. The loud sounds from fireworks cause pets to become frightened and flee their homes; cause wildlife to panic and run into roadways or fly into buildings; and trigger panic responses in individuals with weapons-related PTSD. The debris from fireworks harms our environment and pollutes our waterways.

Other municipalities have taken steps to address these concerns. For instance, Banff and Canmore have introduced lower-noise fireworks displays, while Vancouver and the City of North Vancouver have banned the sale and use of consumer fireworks. I implore you to follow their lead by introducing a bylaw to address the serious impacts of fireworks.

I look forward to your response.

3. Share how fireworks impact you and your animal family members.

The more people learn about the serious consequences of fireworks, the more we can spread thoughtfulness and compassion in our celebrations. Please share your story below so that the VHS may share it in the future.


Thank you for protecting animals and opting for a fireworks-free celebration.

Is your companion animal afraid of fireworks?

Check out these tips for helping your dog or cat to keep calm during stressful fireworks displays.

Categories
News/Blog

Maggie’s happy ending

12-year-old Maggie has been through a lot! Maggie was living outdoors year-round when Patricia found her. Patricia provided Maggie with shelter during the winter and slowly gained her trust. 

When Maggie got an eye infection, Patricia asked her former guardians if she could adopt this cuddly cat so she could get her the care she needed. Patricia is living on disability assistance, but she was able to crowdfund care for lovely Maggie. 

This year, she once more needed help.

Maggie began showing symptoms of a UTI and needed urgent care to get treated for this potentially fatal condition. Thankfully, with help from the VHS’s McVitie Fund, Maggie got the treatment she needed. She has since made a quick recovery and is enjoying life with Patricia!

Maggie began showing symptoms of a UTI and needed urgent care to get treated for this potentially fatal condition. Thankfully, with help from the VHS’s McVitie Fund, Maggie got the treatment she needed. She has since made a quick recovery and is enjoying life with Patricia!

Maggie began showing symptoms of a UTI and needed urgent care to get treated for this potentially fatal condition. Thankfully, with help from the VHS’s McVitie Fund, Maggie got the treatment she needed. She has since made a quick recovery and is enjoying life with Patricia!

When you donate to help more animals like Maggie, you will make double the difference! All donations are currently being matched by an anonymous donor up to $25,000.

See more animals in need
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News/Blog

Vote for a kinder world in the B.C. local elections

Municipal elections are coming up. Will you cast your vote for a kinder world for animals?

On October 15th, municipalities in B.C. will hold their elections of local government and school boards. The weeks leading up to this election are the perfect opportunity to advocate for better protections for animals!

Candidates for mayor and council are listening to the concerns of residents and laying out their platform. By writing to the candidates and asking questions in local debates, you can:

  • Let the incoming local government know that animal welfare is a priority for residents
  • Find out where candidates stand on protecting animals
  • Help to build a community that is kinder to all species by helping to elect animal-friendly candidates

Get updates and alerts about local elections in B.C.

This action has now ended.

Thank you to everyone who signed up for updates and who advocated for animal protection during the election. The VHS will continue to work with successful candidates to build a kinder community for all species who live here.

See more campaigns

Contact your local candidates to express your support for animal-friendly policies

Let your candidates know that animal protection is a priority to the residents they hope to represent. Below is an email template you can copy and customize when you reach out to your candidates by phone, email, or social media. 

I am writing regarding your local election campaign. As a resident, I would like to express my support for bylaws and practices that consider the welfare of animals and the many people in our community who care for them. 

I encourage you to support policies that protect the well-being of animals, including:

-	Supporting pet-friendly affordable housing
-	Reducing animal-based food purchasing
-	Supporting an end to the use of animals in entertainment
-	Ending the keeping of wild and exotic animals who suffer in captivity

I would be interested to hear about your platform commitments related to animal protection. Please reach out if you can provide any details about how you will support kindness toward all species if elected.

Thank you.

Tip: To find your local candidates, visit your municipality’s website or search for “[Your municipality’s name] local election 2022”. You can find the list of candidates in Vancouver here.

Attend local debates and ask questions.

Wild and exotic animals (animals not native to B.C.) kept in captivity have complex needs that aren’t being met in cages and tanks and that are crucial for their physical and mental well-being.

Asking questions at mayoral debates and other local events helps you to learn where candidates stand on animal protection issues, and lets candidates know that animal welfare is a priority of residents.

Below are some suggested questions covering a range of municipal policies.

Animals in captivity

  • Wild, exotic animals have unique needs that cannot be met in captivity. If elected, will you support ending the keeping of wild and exotic animals in permanent captivity for the sake of entertainment and education, in favour of genuine rescue, rehab and release programs and wildlife conservation efforts?
  • Currently, provincial Controlled Alien Species legislation only restricts the private keeping of certain animal species, while many animals that are not suitable for captivity fall through the gaps. For instance, provincial laws do not prohibit the private keeping of zebras. Municipalities have the power to introduce positive lists, which proactively only allow animals that are evidenced to be a suitable fit for domestic environments. Would you support a positive pet list approach?

Animals in Entertainment

  • As we learn more about animal welfare, more people are opposing the use of animals in entertainment such as rodeos and sled dog tourism. If elected, will you support ending the use of animals for entertainment purposes in favour of animal and family-friendly events?
  • The presence of horse-drawn vehicles in urban areas poses a risk to horses, pedestrians, and drivers. Montreal has already banned horse-drawn carriages. If elected, would you support a move away from horse-drawn vehicles?

Farmed Animals

  • Municipalities take a stance on dietary choices when they purchase food for meetings, events, and concessions, or offer food-related funding. The City of Vancouver has already committed to exploring a 20% shift toward plant-based foods, which will help to decrease emissions, cut food purchasing costs, and save animal lives. Would you support a similar commitment to increase plant-based food purchasing?

Companion animals

  • British Columbia is experiencing a housing crisis, and many people with pets are finding it extremely difficult to find affordable housing. If elected, will you support ending the “no pets” rental policies?
  • During the flooding crisis in late 2021, many families with pets were left without adequate accommodation options. Would you support emergency planning that considers animals, including companion animals?

Wildlife

  • There are significant gaps in provincial legislation around rodent poison use, as many animal protection and wildlife rescue organizations have pointed out. Would you support a full ban on dangerous rodenticides being used on municipal property?

Vote on or before October 15

Your vote counts! You can use yours to speak up for animals on voting day or at advance polls. You can find details about advance polling dates, voting locations, and candidates on your municipality’s website.