Animals

CatNap, a Nanaimo-based cat rescue hopes to raise awareness of Nanaimo’s growing feral cat population as ‘kitten season’ is underway. (Photo courtesy Laurie Tritschler)

Nanaimo-based cat rescue organization warns of growing feral cat population

CatNap advises that it is currently ‘kitten season’

 

This image provided by Guinness World Records shows Bobi. Guinness World Records says the world’s oldest dog recently celebrated his 31st birthday. Bobi’s owner says a party was held Saturday, May 13, 2023 for the purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed of Portuguese dog. (Guinness World Records via AP)

World’s oldest dog celebrates 31st birthday, according to Guinness World Records

Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo celebrated during a party Saturday at his home in Portugal

 

Nanaimo’s Shena Novotny is being featured in the second season of ‘Pets and Pickers’ on Animal Planet. (Submitted photo)

Woman from Nanaimo stars in animal hospital reality TV show

Cat sanctuary manager Shena Novotny featured on second season of Animal Planet’s Pets and Pickers

 

Llamas at the Llama Sanctuary have found a new home at the Recline Ridge EcoPark in Tappen. (Llama Sanctuary photo- Facebook)

Shuswap-based Llama Sanctuary makes second move in one month

Camelids and caretakers settling into permanent home in Tappen, hosting welcome-back event

Llamas at the Llama Sanctuary have found a new home at the Recline Ridge EcoPark in Tappen. (Llama Sanctuary photo- Facebook)
The Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team helped to rescue a horse that had fallen in Oliver's canal just days after training for livestock rescue. (ALERT Facebook)

VIDEO: 2 days after training, ALERT helps with rescue of horse in Oliver canal

The horse was escorted safely back to dry land

The Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team helped to rescue a horse that had fallen in Oliver's canal just days after training for livestock rescue. (ALERT Facebook)
Vernon’s Holly Wise (third from right, wearing apron) has become the first woman certified as an instructor with the B.C. Trappers Association. (Facebook photo)

Okanagan woman traps historic certification

Vernon’s Holly Wise becomes first woman certified instructor with 78-year-old B.C. Trappers Association

Vernon’s Holly Wise (third from right, wearing apron) has become the first woman certified as an instructor with the B.C. Trappers Association. (Facebook photo)
Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer spoke outside the Abbotsford Law Courts prior to sentencing on Oct. 12, 2022. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

Abbotsford hog-farm protesters appeal break-and-enter convictions

Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer were previously sentenced to 30 days in jail

Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer spoke outside the Abbotsford Law Courts prior to sentencing on Oct. 12, 2022. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
A dog found severely matted and in pain on a Sorrento property received some needed TLC from a local groomer, Donna Meads, who is now interested in adopting the pup. (Amy Berry photo)

Severely matted and in pain, dog found wandering Shuswap given new ‘leash’ on life

A Rover Makeover grooming, community support helping neglected dog find new family

A dog found severely matted and in pain on a Sorrento property received some needed TLC from a local groomer, Donna Meads, who is now interested in adopting the pup. (Amy Berry photo)
Over the course of six months in 2019, the SPCA took in 136 cats from one cat hoarder to three Fraser Valley shelters. This is the weekend to adopt and help the BC SPCA, with an adoption event happening at all locations. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press file)

Half-priced adoption fees at all BC SPCA locations this weekend

‘There is a perfect match out there for every animal,’ says BC SPCA

Over the course of six months in 2019, the SPCA took in 136 cats from one cat hoarder to three Fraser Valley shelters. This is the weekend to adopt and help the BC SPCA, with an adoption event happening at all locations. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press file)
Brenda the pig was found and rescued alongside Lougheed Highway on April 12. (Dewdney Animal Hospital/Special to The News)

VIDEO: This little piggy didn’t stay home

A one-year-old pig was found and rescued alongside a B.C. highway

Brenda the pig was found and rescued alongside Lougheed Highway on April 12. (Dewdney Animal Hospital/Special to The News)
Cash the horse was shot sometime overnight Sunday, April 9, on the Ladysmith end of Cedar Road and had to be put down. (Photo submitted)

‘Senseless and pointless’: Horse shot on farm south of Nanaimo

Incident happened on the Ladysmith end of Cedar Road sometime overnight Sunday, April 9

Cash the horse was shot sometime overnight Sunday, April 9, on the Ladysmith end of Cedar Road and had to be put down. (Photo submitted)
In this photo provided by Brian Emmenis, fire officer and snake handler Johan de Klerk looks inside a plane, in Welkom, South Africa, as he searches for a venomous snake that the pilot found hiding under his seat midair, Monday April 3, 2023. Rudolf Erasmus had four passengers on board the light aircraft during Monday's flight when he felt “something cold” slide across his lower back. He glanced down to see the head of a fairly large Cape Cobra “receding back under the seat,” he said. (Brian Emmenis via AP)

Snake on a plane! South African pilot finds cobra under seat

A pilot in South Africa made a hasty emergency landing after discovering…

In this photo provided by Brian Emmenis, fire officer and snake handler Johan de Klerk looks inside a plane, in Welkom, South Africa, as he searches for a venomous snake that the pilot found hiding under his seat midair, Monday April 3, 2023. Rudolf Erasmus had four passengers on board the light aircraft during Monday's flight when he felt “something cold” slide across his lower back. He glanced down to see the head of a fairly large Cape Cobra “receding back under the seat,” he said. (Brian Emmenis via AP)
Brownie, one of the llamas moved to The Llama Sanctuary’s new home in Mara on March 31, 2023. (The Llama Sanctuary/ Facebook)

Llama Sanctuary finds last-minute Shuswap home following eviction

Llamas and alpacas safely moved to property in Mara, move cost nearly $26k

Brownie, one of the llamas moved to The Llama Sanctuary’s new home in Mara on March 31, 2023. (The Llama Sanctuary/ Facebook)
A handful of bunnies in Esquimalt draw attention mid-March and most of them remain roaming in that neighbourhood. (Lisa Ishizaki/Facebook)

Rabbit family dumped in Greater Victoria sparks concerns area will be overrun

Amy’s Bunny Barn in Sooke – with foster homes across Vancouver Island – says it’s beyond capacity

A handful of bunnies in Esquimalt draw attention mid-March and most of them remain roaming in that neighbourhood. (Lisa Ishizaki/Facebook)
Coho salmon swim at the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Capilano River Hatchery in North Vancouver on Friday July 5, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Nature group wants Canada to strengthen reviews of genetically engineered animals

Nature Canada wants engineered animals to stay out of the wild

Coho salmon swim at the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Capilano River Hatchery in North Vancouver on Friday July 5, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Screenshot of released Meadow Valley Meats video (Animal Justice Canada/Screenshot of video)

BC SPCA reiterates calls for provincial action on slaughterhouses amid Pitt Meadows probe

Animal Justice Canada released footage of Meadow Valley Meats and the BC SPCA is investigating

Screenshot of released Meadow Valley Meats video (Animal Justice Canada/Screenshot of video)
Cattle roam in a field near Pigeon Lake, Alta., on May 1, 2022. Experts say an uptick in extreme weather, such as drought, is leading beef farmers in the U.S. and Canada to thin their herds in near-record numbers, which could lead to supply problems in the beef industry over the longer term. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Extreme drought makes cattle farmers thin herds, could cause future supply problems

Climate change likely to increase drought conditions over time in Canada and U.S.

Cattle roam in a field near Pigeon Lake, Alta., on May 1, 2022. Experts say an uptick in extreme weather, such as drought, is leading beef farmers in the U.S. and Canada to thin their herds in near-record numbers, which could lead to supply problems in the beef industry over the longer term. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Southern resident J-pod orcas were spotted challenging the currents in Dodd Narrows off Joan Point Park around mid-day on Feb. 14. (Submitted photo)

J-pod killer whales swim against the current at Nanaimo’s Dodd Narrows

Runner captures video of southern resident orcas from Cable Bay Trail on Feb. 14

Southern resident J-pod orcas were spotted challenging the currents in Dodd Narrows off Joan Point Park around mid-day on Feb. 14. (Submitted photo)
Poppy the Labrador retriever cross puppy was abandoned in a planter box outside the BC SPCA in Port Alberni in 2022. (BC SPCA photo)

BC SPCA took in 1,000 more animals in 2022 than year prior

Non-profit seeing increase in surrenders as pandemic pet demand wanes

Poppy the Labrador retriever cross puppy was abandoned in a planter box outside the BC SPCA in Port Alberni in 2022. (BC SPCA photo)
A fire at Urban Safari Rescue Society Saturday morning has killed approximately 60 animals, including reptiles, frogs, Guinea pigs and sugar gliders. (Urban Safari Rescue Society/Facebook photo)

Dozens of exotic animals dead after fire tears through Surrey rescue centre

Staff, volunteers ‘focusing on what needs to be done’ at Urban Safari Rescue Society after blaze

A fire at Urban Safari Rescue Society Saturday morning has killed approximately 60 animals, including reptiles, frogs, Guinea pigs and sugar gliders. (Urban Safari Rescue Society/Facebook photo)