How your loving compassion as a Paw Partner is rescuing and saving animals
Some animals stay with us 100 nights or more because they need extra care, or they just haven’t met their new forever family yet. As you can imagine, for these animals, extra love, socialization and specialized care is critical to ensure they’ll be ready to thrive in a loving home. Thanks to Paw Partners like you, long-term residents like Lady the kangal/estrela Mountain Dog mix and Sophia the senior tabby cat were able to find a loving safety net while they waited to find their forever homes!
Your kindness continues to shelter vulnerable animals just like them when they need it the most, for as long as they need it. We hope you enjoy this collection of even more happy tails and pawsitive impact made possible by your generous love and care!
Your love as a Paw Partner gave Prince a second chance at a pain-free life!
When Prince first came into the care of a BC SPCA Community Animal Centre, he was barely a year old, yet he had already been through so much. Being struck by a vehicle had left him with a dislocated hip and a painful fracture in his leg that kept him from running and playing like other pups his age, and he had endured this pain for weeks—far too long. Even though he was in safe and loving hands, he would have a long and difficult recovery.
Thankfully, Paw Partners like you were there to walk with him every step of the way, and despite everything, Prince remained brave and hopeful from the beginning. At the sight of a friendly face, his tail would start to wag, and he would point his freckled nose up with a big, goofy grin. With a spirit like that, it was clear that this silly, sweet pit bull terrier was up to the challenge ahead.
After his surgery, physiotherapy and a lot of rest, Prince made it back onto his paws and has since been adopted by a loving family. His rambunctious spirit is stronger than ever, so much so that sometimes he needs to be gently coaxed into resting more so he doesn’t overexert himself! He’s taken to his second chance with enthusiasm and joy, and it couldn’t have happened without your generous heart.
Thank you for being there for pups like Prince, and other animals in need of emergency care. Your love truly saves lives!
Reach out a loving hand to other animals who are in need of urgent medical care today.
Your legacy of love can be easier to create than you might think!
Loving animals is who you are. That’s all it takes to be there for them, always, with a loving gift from your estate to the BC SPCA. Using our new legacy calculator, you can see the kind of impact your compassion can make for vulnerable animals now and far into the future.
“Many people feel that you need to be rich in order to ‘leave a legacy’ or a gift to charity in your will,” says Yolanda Benoit, director of will and estate gifts at the BC SPCA. “That is not true. In fact, the majority of the bequests we receive are from kind-hearted, everyday people, like you and me. Our legacy calculator will show you exactly that!”
The legacy calculator is easy to use. Simply fill in your numbers and use the slider to find a gift you could make to the animals that works for you.
Try out the legacy calculator for yourself!
Working Together: The renaming of the BC SPCA qathet Community Animal Centre
The BC SPCA’s Powell River location is now the qathet Community Animal Centre.
On May 15th, the BC SPCA held an official renaming ceremony in partnership with the Tla’amin Nation, recognizing this small step in the organization’s reconciliation journey. It was an important reminder for all attendees of the power and weight behind a name.
“The name qathet means ‘working together’ in ʔayʔaǰuθəm [ayajuthem].” Losa Luaifoa, Executive Council member with the Tla’amin Nation, spoke during the ceremony. “It’s an aspirational name, one that points us forward—toward partnership, toward healing, and toward a new kind of relationship rooted in mutual respect.”
During the ceremony, brand new front signage was revealed featuring original artwork of a dog and cat together, by Indigenous artist John Wale. “The relationship between Indigenous Peoples in Canada and colonial authorities like policing and animal enforcement agencies has not always been a good one. Indigenous relationships with animals based on kinship, reciprocity and respect have historically been misunderstood or dismissed in conversations around animal welfare and animal management,” explains Craig Daniell, CEO of the BC SPCA.
“To truly see a world where animals and people are thriving together, all our communities need to be reflected in these conversations. This is a call to act in alignment with Indigenous values and teachings as we forge the path forward for animal welfare in British Columbia.”
Learn more about how these steps toward reconciliation align with our mission and values.
Your kindness is keeping wildlife wild!
Did you know? In 2024, your kind voice was there for more than 2,600 injured, sick or orphaned wild animals across B.C., who received the help and treatment they needed from caring specialists. So many songbirds, deer, rabbits, raccoons, ducks, owls, small reptiles and more were able to return to their wild lives in our beautiful province thanks to you!
Here are a few ways that you can help local wildlife thrive:
- Plant local, pollinator-friendly flowers and herbs to feed bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Keep cats indoors, or on a leash and harness when outdoors, to protect small bird populations.
- Keep dogs leashed on trails and in other areas where you may encounter wildlife.
- Make sure your outdoor garbage and compost containers are covered and sealed with secure lids.
- When hiking or camping, be careful not to leave anything behind, like litter or food scraps.
Your compassion as a Paw Partner makes a difference to thousands of wild animals every year. Thank you for caring for vulnerable animals big and small!
See how you’ve helped wildlife thrive this past year and beyond.
Community spotlight: Scott “Big Cat” Henson
This past spring, Vancouver-based pro wrestling promotion BOOM! was host to a very special event. Wrestling fans and animal lovers alike came together for an action-packed memorial tournament in memory of local legend and beloved tag team wrestler, Scott “Big Cat” Henson. Cheering on their favourite fighters, they raised funds and support for vulnerable animals in Scott’s honour.
“For those of you who are unfamiliar with Scott,” said BOOM! promoter Max Mitchell, standing in the ring with a microphone during the show in April, “He wrestled as a cat… which, of course, made him extremely popular.”
From a young age, Scott was a wrestling enthusiast and a cornerstone of his community, spending summers wrestling with his friends on a rented trampoline in the backyard, and hosting watch parties for the pro pay-per-view shows. Animals were a big and important part of Scott’s life, and always livened up the Henson home. Growing up, he and his sister Dana had many dogs, including rough collies Ruffy, Shasta and Lucky, and two terriers called Katie and Maggie. In later years, Scott adopted Koji the cat from a friend who couldn’t bring him along to a new apartment, and Koji became his ‘heart animal’, forming a special bond that seemed meant to be. He also had Sebastian, a big beautiful boy who slept on Scott’s bed every night and even went for adventures on a leash and harness around the neighbourhood!
“Any time we saw a cat, no matter where we were, he’d have to go pat that cat,” recalls Dana, Scott’s younger sister. “He had a real soft spot for animals and he would talk to them in the funniest baby voice, you wouldn’t expect that considering Scott was a pretty big guy!”
Dana also remembers fondly how Scott created a sense of belonging around him. “I think indie wrestling appealed to Scott so much because it’s a little unconventional, a little weird – just like Scott was in the best ways possible. I think so many people feel as though they don’t belong when they’re growing up, and the wrestling community that Scott created gave so many people a place to belong and have fun.”
Scott’s impact on the animals and people around him is undeniable. He was an entertainer and a showman, with a wild sense of humour and sharp wit perfect for his craft. He made others feel not only included, but seen and accepted. His kindness, compassion, and loyalty towards everyone he loved in his life will be remembered always, in the hearts of his family, his friends, his animals, his fellow wrestling competitors, and his fans–who are still cheering, “Let’s go Big Cat – Meow Meow Meow!”
When animals and people are thriving together, it’s because of warm, caring hearts like Scott’s, and like yours.
Thank you! Your kindness as a Paw Partner helps humans and animals thrive together!
Paw Partners, share your thoughts!
What can we do to make your Rescue Report an even more pawsitive read?
"*" indicates required fields