Animals

Eli Gagne holds up his phone on Aug. 12, 2021 with a photo of his miniature pot-bellied pig Hamson who had to be re-homed as Fraser Valley Regional District bylaws do not permit livestock as pets within a residence or on real property. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

Pigs as pets: B.C. man starts petition following death of illegal pet pig Hamson

Eli Gagne wants to change FVRD bylaw after pet pig was re-homed and died 4 hours later

 

A blonde raccoon out and about with its family on Saysutshun north of Midden Bay on Wednesday, July 27. (Photo courtesy Marian Stewart)

Island-dwelling blonde raccoon hits the beach on hot summer day

Boater gets up close to blonde mother raccoon and kits on Saysutshun

 

Two lovebirds were rescued separately in Hope over the weekend, and are likely a bonded pair. The two rescuers are each hoping to hear from the rightful owners of the birds.

Pair of lovebirds, lost and separated in Hope, still without their owner

1 flew into restaurant and 1 was saved in a grocery store parking lot; but they remain apart

 

Nun cho ga, the mummified baby woolly mammoth shortly after discovery. (Yukon Government/Submitted)

Mummified baby woolly mammoth discovered in Yukon was likely weeks old when she died

Nun cho ga being preserved in freezer storage while next steps are determined

Nun cho ga, the mummified baby woolly mammoth shortly after discovery. (Yukon Government/Submitted)
One of the four Vancouver Island marmots released on Mount Washington July 6 pokes its head out of the burrow for the first time after its release. Photo by Erin Haluschak

Threatened Vancouver Island marmots continue to re-emerge from the brink

4 captive-bred marmots released on Mount Washington, population up to 258

One of the four Vancouver Island marmots released on Mount Washington July 6 pokes its head out of the burrow for the first time after its release. Photo by Erin Haluschak
Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews were able to rescue a beagle from a drain pipe Friday, July 1. (Photos courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)

Nanaimo firefighters rescue dog from drain pipe after ‘yelp for help’

Firefighters fasten blanket to fire hose to create ‘Q-tip’ to pull out panicked pooch

Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews were able to rescue a beagle from a drain pipe Friday, July 1. (Photos courtesy Nanaimo Fire Rescue)
RAPS Animal Hospital is making it easier for Vancouver pet parents to access animal care (photo by Mikhail Nilov/pexels.com).

Vancouver Island pet owners offered free Lower Mainland hotel for $2K+ vet treatments

RAPS Animal Hospital hopes to combat wait times, cost and availability of animal care on the Island

RAPS Animal Hospital is making it easier for Vancouver pet parents to access animal care (photo by Mikhail Nilov/pexels.com).
A baby red-tailed hawk, right, originally captured as live food for an eaglet, left, has become part of a family of eagles on Gabriola Island. The eagles are feeding and caring for it after the eaglet wouldn’t kill it when it was brought to the nest in early June. (Photo courtesy Sharron Palmer-Hunt)

Food becomes family member for eagles on Gabriola Island

Red-tailed hawklet brought to the nest as food instead gets adopted by eagles near Nanaimo

A baby red-tailed hawk, right, originally captured as live food for an eaglet, left, has become part of a family of eagles on Gabriola Island. The eagles are feeding and caring for it after the eaglet wouldn’t kill it when it was brought to the nest in early June. (Photo courtesy Sharron Palmer-Hunt)
BC SPCA is seeing cat hoarder situations become more common, leading to crowding in the society’s shelters. (Black Press Media file)

BC SPCA halves cat adoption fees to ease shelter crowding

Society says it’s seen a spike in massive donations from hoarder situations

BC SPCA is seeing cat hoarder situations become more common, leading to crowding in the society’s shelters. (Black Press Media file)
A Vancouver Aquarium staff member gently moves harbour seal pup ‘Cupcake’ (inset) from a log floe to the safety of a kennel for transport to Vancouver. Harrison residents worked together to rescue the pup, who was discovered floating on a log, crying beside its dead mother. (Photos/Brooke Kirkham and Deanna Boudreau)

VIDEO: A B.C. community is banding together to save ‘Cupcake,’ an orphaned baby seal

‘Cupcake’ was transported to Vancouver Aquarium

A Vancouver Aquarium staff member gently moves harbour seal pup ‘Cupcake’ (inset) from a log floe to the safety of a kennel for transport to Vancouver. Harrison residents worked together to rescue the pup, who was discovered floating on a log, crying beside its dead mother. (Photos/Brooke Kirkham and Deanna Boudreau)
Campbell Riverite Chelsea Cheeba was attacked by an eagle in Campbell River. Photo courtesy Chelsea Cheeba

B.C. eagle lover ‘dive bombed’ by bald eagle on Vancouver Island

Woman sustained injuries to her head in incident

Campbell Riverite Chelsea Cheeba was attacked by an eagle in Campbell River. Photo courtesy Chelsea Cheeba
Necrotizing fasciitis, a disease that is difficult and expensive to treat and often fatal, has cropped up in six dogs in Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum Beach since October. (Stock photo)

Nanaimo veterinarian issues alert about flesh-eating disease in dogs

Six cases of necrotizing fasciitis reported in central Island since the fall

Necrotizing fasciitis, a disease that is difficult and expensive to treat and often fatal, has cropped up in six dogs in Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum Beach since October. (Stock photo)
This Feb. 10, 2022, image released by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance shows Msituni, a giraffe calf born with an unusual disorder that caused her legs to bend the wrong way, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, north of San Diego. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance via AP)

Bracing for her future: Human medicine rescues giraffe

Calf was born with her front limb bending the wrong way

This Feb. 10, 2022, image released by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance shows Msituni, a giraffe calf born with an unusual disorder that caused her legs to bend the wrong way, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, north of San Diego. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance via AP)
The eagle that was rescued from inside the house in Port Hardy. (Jill Laviolette photo)

B.C. eagle recovering after crashing through window

Rescuer hopes the eagle can be rehabilitated and released after recovering at wildlife rescue centre

The eagle that was rescued from inside the house in Port Hardy. (Jill Laviolette photo)
Geoff Regier (far left) had his charges dropped on Friday (April 29). (Submitted)

Crown drops charges on one of four Abbotsford hog protestors

Geoff Regier’s charges dropped after lawyers argue ‘abuse of process’ related to SPCA

Geoff Regier (far left) had his charges dropped on Friday (April 29). (Submitted)
A Chilliwack RCMP officer helps escort a family of Canada geese across Yale Road in Chilliwack on Friday, April 29, 2022. (Amara Jacklynn Moore)

VIDEO: RCMP officer helps family of geese cross B.C. street

2 adults and 6 goslings were escorted across Yale Road at Nowell Street in Chilliwack

A Chilliwack RCMP officer helps escort a family of Canada geese across Yale Road in Chilliwack on Friday, April 29, 2022. (Amara Jacklynn Moore)
Surrey Animal Resource Centre officials are looking for foster families to help care for some of the abandoned bunnies currently housed at the Colebrook Road site. (Contributed photo)

Abundance of bunnies sparks B.C. shelter appeal for foster homes

As Easter weekend approaches, families sought to take in abandoned rabbits

Surrey Animal Resource Centre officials are looking for foster families to help care for some of the abandoned bunnies currently housed at the Colebrook Road site. (Contributed photo)
A wayward goat at Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts. (Facebook photo)

Wayward goat enjoying B.C. family’s hospitality until owner is located

Goatee was found at an Abbotsford school on March 24 and is now at his own ‘Air BnB’

A wayward goat at Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts. (Facebook photo)
Dolly has already lost at least 20 pounds after arriving last October to Crooked Leg Ranch. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Cariboo Observer)

Quesnel dog moving along her weight loss journey

A severely overweight dog at Crooked Leg Ranch is capturing attention and hearts

Dolly has already lost at least 20 pounds after arriving last October to Crooked Leg Ranch. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Cariboo Observer)
White Rock RCMP rescued a young beaver that was in distress at East Beach Thursday. (White Rock RCMP photo)

B.C. Mounties rescue ‘very tired’ beaver along ocean shoreline

Two-year-old beaver taken to Langley’s Critter Care for rehabilitation

White Rock RCMP rescued a young beaver that was in distress at East Beach Thursday. (White Rock RCMP photo)