April 22, 2024New rules are being developed for cattle raised for beef in Canada – what key issues for beef cattle should be the focus? Every year, over 10 million cattle are raised for beef production in Canada. For the first time since 2013, the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle (the …
Continue reading “Share your thoughts on beef cattle welfare in just three minutes”
News Category: Farm, Take action
March 27, 2024In 2023, the BC SPCA participated in a committee formed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to review and recommend improvements to the farmed animal welfare framework in British Columbia. The committee developed recommendations that touch on training, transportation and processing sectors, along with integrating and prioritizing farmed animals in emergency response. They also …
Continue reading “Recommendations to improve the welfare and protections of farmed animals in B.C. presented to Ministry of Agriculture and Food”
News Category: Farm, Take action
March 15, 2024Did you know? It is estimated that there are more than 33 billion chickens worldwide! Outnumbering the human population, chickens are one of the most common farm animals. Get the s-coop on these eggs-traordinary animals here! 1. Chickens are living descendants of dinosaurs Chickens are the closest living relatives of dinosaurs! Scientific evidence has proven …
Continue reading “10 fun facts about chickens”
News Category: Farm
March 12, 2024The BC SPCA advocates for cage-free eggs to support a better life for laying hens. Raising backyard hens has become a popular option in rural and urban areas as a source of cage-free eggs while supporting local food production. If you are thinking of raising backyard hens, it is important to consider whether you have …
Continue reading “Thinking of keeping backyard chickens?”
News Category: Adoption, Farm
March 8, 2024When buying eggs, you may find yourself overwhelmed with choices. The various labels on egg cartons may look appealing, but do they truly reflect the welfare of the laying hens? Here’s how you can make informed choices to choose cage-free eggs and ensure higher welfare for laying hens. Types of egg production In Canada, there …
Continue reading “Understanding egg labels”
News Category: Farm
March 5, 2024Mini pigs have grown in popularity and are often advertised as easy-to-care-for house pets. The reality is that caring for a pet pig comes with many challenges, and some so-called mini pigs may only stay mini for a short time! Consider these important points before adopting a mini pig. What is a mini pig? A …
Continue reading “Pigs as pets – what to know before adopting a mini pig”
News Category: Adoption, Farm, Pet care
February 12, 2024Update: The bill to ban live horse export for slaughter from Canada has passed the House of Commons Agriculture Committee! Bill C-355 will now go for a final vote in the House of Commons before moving to the Senate. The bill is another step closer to hopefully becoming law. Thank you for speaking up for horses …
Continue reading “Support the bill to end the live export of Canadian horses for slaughter”
News Category: Farm, Take action
December 13, 2023For Monika, a dedicated BC SPCA foster guardian, the benefits of positive reinforcement training for horses are clear. She has volunteered her time to rehabilitate horses rescued through our Animal Protection Services so they can have successful adoptions. “Positive reinforcement training motivates the desired behaviour,” says Monika. “It involves adding something rewarding to the horse, …
Continue reading “From timid to trusting: Promise’s rehabilitation journey”
News Category: Adoption, Farm
December 8, 2023This holiday season, let’s spread cheer to all – including farm animals! Farm animals come into the BC SPCA’s care through our Animal Protection Services. Sadly, these animals are usually in poor condition due to injury, neglect, or abuse. Our goal is to ensure these animals receive the veterinary care and rehabilitation they need to …
Continue reading “Ways to help farm animals this holiday season”
News Category: Farm
September 27, 2023With so many labels on meat and eggs, it can be challenging to know what each means regarding animal welfare. Free-run and free-range can be particularly confusing labels on poultry products. It’s important to first define these labels in general terms to understand what they mean for farmed poultry. Free-run: animals are raised cage-free but …
Continue reading “Food label “fowl” play: the free-run myth”
News Category: Farm