spca.bc.ca/youth Vol. 11 • No. 3

pm 40065475

High Pawskids helping animals!

Dear BC SPCA, I’m a member of the Kids Club and donated $70 towards the SPCA. I think the SPCA is a great way to show your love for animals. I have been collecting your magazines for a long time. How I got all the money is from my birthday party. Instead of presents, I asked for two dollars from everybody. I love reading Bark!. I think it is a great way for kids to learn about animals and share their LOVE for them too. Thank you.From, Finny (Finley Butler, 10, Vancouver)

i(letters to the editor)

Letterbox

The grade 7 leadership g

roup at Chaffey-Burke elementary

raised $750 for the Vanco

uver spCa by selling cupcakes,

loom bracelets and hairbands.

They also collected pet food,

toys, towels and bowls, and spread the word to fellow

students about kindness a

nd safety for animals.

high paws to the girls in kindergarten to grade 4 at

st. margaret’s school! They raised $357.60 through a bake

sale, collected animal toys and made homemade treats for

the dogs at the Victoria spCa.

sisters lauren, 7, and myah, 10, held a birthday party and asked for donations for the kamloops spCa. They collected $25, plus $75 worth of pet food, toys and supplies, to

help animals like Joey, pictured here.

Thank you to alex, 9, and navianna, 10, for donating $22.35 to the parksville spCa. They raised the money by making and selling bracelets. What a great idea!

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Laura, a Grade 12 student from Surrey, won $10,000 for a charity of her choice through a TELUS contest on the We365 app. She decided to donate her winnings to the BC SPCA. Laura believes that youth can change the world for the better. We couldn’t agree more!

Eleven-year-old Tahlia not only donated her birthday money

to the Vancouver SPCA, she also gave extra from her personal

savings! In total, Tahlia donated $231 to help animals in need.

For her eighth birthday, Alayna asked for donations to the Kelowna SPCA instead of gifts for herself. This thoughtful request raised $214 for the animals!

Lola, 9, raised $363.15 to help animals by selling cupcakes for National Cupcake Day for SPCAs & Humane Societies. Lola is no stranger to fundraising for causes that matter to her. So far, she has raised close to $4,000 for local charities. Wow!

High Paws to

11-year-old

Mitchell, who

generously

donated $141.25

in birthday

money to the

Trail SPCA!

Aiden Fulton, 8,

Williams Lake

Morgan Johnson, 11,

Kelowna

Lily, 9, Surrey, with her

yellow Lab puppy, Bella

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Be a great dog guardian inside and out! Here are some essential things to

keep at home – and take with you when heading outdoors with your pup.A Dog’s Domain

PooP bags

Picking up poop? It’s a

smelly but necessary

responsibility of having a

dog. Make sure you always

have bags (bring more

than one just in case) when

taking your dog for a walk.

Tie a new bag to your dog’s

leash each day so you’re

never caught without one!

Toys, Toys, Toys!Go to a pet supply store and you’ll find hundreds of different dog toys. It’s possible to get carried away, so start with a few basics, like a Kong™ (to make feeding fun), a chew toy (so your shoes don’t get eaten) and a Chuckit!™ (for hours of outdoor play). Other good choices for playing fetch? A Frisbee or a rubber ball.

Tattered toysIn the paws (or the jaws) of a playful pup, toys can quickly fall apart. If swallowed, string, stuffing and squeakers can all cause major health problems – and big vet bills. Buy good quality toys, supervise play and, when something looks like it might fall apart, replace it.

Sticks, stones and bonesYou name it, there’s a dog who has found it – and eaten it – while walking or playing outside. Watch out for items your dog may pick up off the ground. If he does get a hold of something, do not reach into his mouth to try to remove it. Instead, tell an adult and, if swallowed, visit a veterinarian.

D ggieDangersHanging out at home or living it up outside, dogs can get into all sorts of trouble! Stay safe with these tips.

caution caution caution caution caution caution

Tip: Biodegradable bags

are best!

Tip: Avoid tennis balls as they cause

tooth problems.

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Collar and leash

Every dog needs a collar with an ID tag and a

leash. Trotting around the house or yard isn’t

enough exercise for most dogs. Daily walks and,

in most cases, playtime with other pooches are

a must. Start with a standard flat collar and a

six-foot leash. Learn about the best and worst

dog collars on page 13 of this guide.

PlaCes to rest

Even the most playful, energetic dogs need

some downtime at home. Your dog should have

his own bed – a comfortable place big enough

to curl up and sleep – and a kennel. A kennel

is a dog’s safe, private space, like a den was to

his canine ancestors or your bedroom is to you.

Your dog should be able to stand, sit, stretch

and turn around in his kennel.

Food, water… and a Few treatsAll dogs need dishes of food and fresh water every day. Feed good quality kibble (follow the package label for portion

sizes). Treats can be great to help train your dog, but feeding too many can make him overweight. Going for a walk? Make sure water is available during or soon after exercise.

To leash or not to leash?Heading into public with your dog? Unless you’re in a designated off-leash area, your dog is okay around other off-leash dogs and is good at

coming when called, keep the leash on for safety’s sake – not to mention it’s the law!

Tasty but toxic

Some dogs will eat anything, but that doesn’t mean they should! Certain foods, medications, garden products and indoor and outdoor plants can be poisonous for pets. Visit the Animal Poison Control website (aspca.org/apcc) for a complete list.

A walk in the darkBe extra careful walking your dog when it’s dark outside. Reflectors (for both you and your pet) make you more visible to cars, bikes and other walkers.

caution caution caution caution caution caution

Tip: Dogs need 30 to

45 minutes of exercise

a day.

zzzzz

z

Tip: Make sure kennels

are “no kid” zones!

Tip: Stainless steel or ceramic bowls are best.

Are y

ou al

lowed

to ha

ve a

dog

wher

e you

live?

Unf

ortu

nate

ly, n

ot

all bu

ildings

allo

w d

ogs.

Some

place

s ar

e pe

t fr

iend

ly b

ut h

ave

rest

riction

s on

ho

w b

ig a

dog

you

can

kee

p.

Does

ever

yone

in y

our f

amily

wan

t a do

g?

Dogs

bec

ome

fami

ly m

embe

rs! E

very

one

shou

ld

agre

e with

the

decisio

n to

get

one

.

Does

you

r fam

ily kn

ow

how

to ca

re fo

r a do

g?

Lear

n as

muc

h as

you

can

befo

re y

ou b

ring

a do

g ho

me.

This

guide

prov

ides

som

e ba

sic

care

info

rmat

ion. Y

ou c

an fi

nd

out

mor

e fr

om c

are

book

s,

vete

rinar

ians

, anima

l sh

elte

r

staf

f an

d pe

ople

you

kno

w

who

hav

e do

gs.

Wha

t is y

our f

amily

’s sc

hedu

le lik

e? Do

gs n

eed

a de

pend

able

ro

utine. T

hey h

ave

to b

e fe

d,

wal

ked

and

play

ed w

ith

ever

y d

ay.

Fami

lies th

at a

re g

one

all da

y a

nd

then

out

aga

in in

the

eve

ning

wou

ld

leav

e a

dog

home

alone

too

lon

g.

Do y

ou ha

ve a

part

icular

bree

d

in m

ind? S

ome

peop

le a

re d

rawn

to a

cer

tain b

reed

bec

ause

the

y

have

see

n on

e in a

mov

ie o

r on

tele

visio

n, o

r re

ad a

bout

one

in a

book

. Do

your

res

earc

h fir

st! T

alk

to p

eopl

e who

hav

e th

e br

eed

you

are

inte

rest

ed in

. Find

out

wha

t

the

dogs

are

rea

lly like

to live

with. See

whe

ther

the

bre

ed h

as

any h

ealth

issue

s.

Abov

e al

l, ke

ep a

n op

en m

ind!

Mixed

-bre

ed d

ogs ma

ke a

wes

ome

pets

, too

.

Bringing

a d

og in

to y

our

fami

ly is

a b

ig d

ecisi

on. A

s his gu

ardian

, you

will

be

resp

onsib

le f

or

taking

goo

d ca

re o

f him

for

his who

le life

– 11 ye

ars on

ave

rage

. It

mean

s walking

him

in

the

pour

ing

rain. C

lean

ing

up h

is me

sses.

Waking

up

early

on

the

wee

kend

s to

let

him

out.

It a

lso m

eans

playi

ng h

ide-

and-

go-see

k to

geth

er. R

eading

a b

ook

while

he

doze

s be

side

you.

Watc

hing

him

wre

stle

with

his fa

vour

ite d

og frie

nds.

Comi

ng h

ome

from

sch

ool ea

ch d

ay t

o a

wag

ging

tail an

d wet

ton

gue.

Be

ing

a do

g gu

ardian

is b

oth

wor

k AN

D fu

n. Is

you

r fa

mily

rea

dy t

o ma

ke t

he c

ommi

tmen

t?

Comp

anion

s for

Life

Quest

ions t

o ask

yours

elf

befor

e you

get a

dog

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Can y

our f

amily

affo

rd

a dog

? Think

bey

ond

the

adop

tion

fee

! Sup

plies to

pr

epar

e you

r ho

me f

or a

dog

will

cos

t at

lea

st $

200. T

hen

ther

e ar

e on

going

expe

nses

su

ch a

s fo

od, l

icens

e fe

es, p

et

insura

nce

and

vete

rinar

y c

are.

Thes

e will

cos

t ar

ound

$1,4

00 a

yea

r. Se

tting

some

mon

ey a

side

for

unex

pect

ed e

xpen

ses is

a go

od id

ea t

oo.

Whe

re sh

ould

you g

et y

our d

og? M

ake

the

BC SPC

A yo

ur fi

rst

adop

tion

opt

ion!

BC SPC

A sh

elte

rs h

ave

dogs

of

all di

ffer

ent

ages

, colou

rs, s

izes an

d sh

apes

to

choo

se f

rom

–

even

pur

ebre

ds. C

heck

out

our

ado

ptab

le list

ings

at

bcpe

tsea

rch.co

m.

You

can

also fi

nd y

our

new c

ompa

nion

thr

ough

a b

reed

res

cue

or r

espo

nsible

bre

eder

. Visi

t

findi

ngfid

o.ca

to

lear

n ho

w t

o sp

ot a

goo

d br

eede

r –

and

avo

id p

uppy

mill

s. Pu

ppy m

ills ar

e

plac

es w

here

dog

s ar

e br

ed in

lar

ge n

umbe

rs a

nd sold

thro

ugh

pet

stor

es o

r on

the

inte

rnet

just

to m

ake

mon

ey. T

he d

ogs ar

e of

ten

kept

in v

ery p

oor

cond

itions

. Mos

t do

not

rec

eive

the

medi

cal ca

re o

r socializa

tion

the

y n

eed

to b

e go

od c

ompa

nion

s.

Wha

t dog

pers

onali

ty w

ill su

it yo

ur fa

mily

? Dog

s ha

ve

diff

eren

t pe

rson

alities.

Some

are

shy a

nd a

nxious, w

hile

ot

hers

are

exc

itab

le a

nd

outg

oing

. Som

e ar

e ve

ry p

eopl

e fo

cuse

d. O

ther

s ar

e mor

e inde

pend

ent.

Choo

sing

a do

g ba

sed

on h

is pe

rson

ality r

athe

r th

an h

is look

s te

nds to

lea

d to

a

bett

er r

elat

ions

hip.

Do y

ou ha

ve an

y

othe

r pet

s? No

t al

l do

gs

get

alon

g with

anim

als such

as c

ats an

d vice

ver

sa. Y

our

home

sho

uld

be a

saf

e an

d

comfo

rtab

le p

lace

for

all

you

r pe

ts.

How

old a

dog s

hould

you

get?

Pupp

ies ar

e a

blas

t!

They

are

also

a T

ON o

f wor

k

to soc

ializ

e an

d tr

ain. A

s a

dog

grow

s up

, his

person

ality

deve

lops

. So

you

kno

w a

little

mor

e ab

out

wha

t you

are

gett

ing

into

with

an o

lder

dog

comp

ared

to

a pu

ppy.

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Healthy hounds, happy houndsBeing a great guardian means doing what you can to help your dog live a long, healthy life. How? Spend time with him! Get to know the way he normally looks and behaves. Then, when you notice something unusual, like a sore paw or an upset stomach, take him to the vet right away. Here are some other important health care tips to follow.

Mouth mattersYour dog’s teeth should be white and shiny. His gums should be bright pink and moist to the touch. Bad breath, bleeding gums and brownish teeth could all be signs of painful gum disease.

Brush your dog’s teeth every day or every other day. Vet clinics and pet supply stores sell toothbrushes and special pet toothpaste. (Human toothpaste contains ingredients not meant for dogs.) The vet can show your family the best brushing method.

Tick talkYour dog could pick up ticks – small, eight-legged parasites that feed on blood – when he goes for walks in tall grass. Removing ticks can be tricky, so have an adult or your vet pull them out. Vet clinics also carry tick medication.

Yuck, worms!Dogs can carry worms that live, feed and reproduce inside them. Yikes! Common types include hookworms,

roundworms, whipworms and tapeworms. Worms can cause a variety of

symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss.

Luckily, medication for worms is easy to get from your vet.

Disease-proofingVaccines help protect dogs against diseases that can make them very sick. Dogs are usually vaccinated three times as puppies, then once every one to three years as adults. Your vet can recommend what vaccines your dog needs.

Chew toys can also help keep your dog’s teeth clean. Look for nylon or rubber toys recommended by vets. Hard plastic toys could actually break his teeth!

Even with regular brushing, your dog may still develop gum disease. Take him to the vet at least once a year to have his mouth checked as part of an overall health exam. Your vet may recommend he have his teeth cleaned under general anaesthetic (while asleep). Your vet may also suggest feeding him a special teeth-cleaning diet.

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Eye spyNormally, dogs have bright, clear eyes. Watch for redness, swelling or goopy discharge. Your dog could have an eye infection. Eye infections require treatment with medication from the vet. Keep your dog’s eyes clean by gently wiping them with a damp, soft cloth.

Flee, flea!Is your dog scratching and chewing at his fur? He could have fleas! Fleas are small, wingless insects that feed on blood. The best flea control medications are available at your vet clinic.

Sound adviceYour dog’s ears should be pale pink, clean and odourless. Beware ears that are red and swollen, smelly or filled with dark, waxy buildup! Take your dog to the vet to have them checked for infection.

Itchy ears could mean your dog has ear mites. Ear mites are tiny, eight-legged parasites that feed on the wax and oils in a dog’s ear canal. Visit your vet for medication to treat the mite problem.

Dogs have sensitive ears. Ask the vet to show your family the best way to keep your dog’s ears clean. Done improperly, cleaning can actually make ear problems worse.

Nailed it!Have your dog’s nails trimmed by an adult or your vet. Cutting them too short can be painful and cause them to bleed. Letting them grow too long causes discomfort.

Pampered poochBrush your dog to help

remove tangles and loose hair. Short-haired dogs can be brushed a few times a week. Brush long-haired dogs daily to help prevent mats. Regular haircuts can make long hair easier to manage. You can bathe your dog every few months using a pet-safe shampoo. Your family may also choose to have a professional groomer care for your dog’s coat.

Can I see some ID?In case he gets lost, your dog needs at least two forms of identification: a tag on his collar and an ear tattoo or a

microchip. The law requires that you license your dog, too. His license number traces back to your family.

Fix before six!Have your dog spayed or neutered before six months of age. Spaying and neutering are surgical operations performed by a vet to prevent animals from reproducing (having babies). That way, you can help prevent unwanted litters.

Bonus! Spaying and neutering also help keep dogs from roaming, prevent certain cancers and make dogs less aggressive. B

ark

!

9

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Ears are up but not pointing forward Head is held high

Body is relaxed and the weight is even on all feet

May make short “bark” to get your attention

Lowered body position

Mouth is open slightly. No growl or snarl

Tail is loose and down. May be gently swaying

Mouth is open and may have tongue out

Front legs are down low

Ears are up and alert

Tail is high and may be wagging

Rear is high in the air

Ears folded back

Tail is tucked low

Eyes will be looking away or down

May lick lips or turn head sideways

Dogs may not talk, but they say a lot. Dogs use the position of their bodies and their eyes, ears, tails, even the hair on their necks and backs to communicate. Reading a dog’s body language helps to know what they are thinking and feeling. See if you recognize what these dogs are saying:

I’m chillA happy, relaxed dog will have her head up, ears and body loose, and may have her mouth open slightly, almost in a smile. Relaxed dogs’ tails are usually down or swaying loosely from side-to-side.

Let’s play!Dogs love to play. To start play time, dogs do a play bow. They bend down low with their front feet and wave their tails in the air. Dogs play bow with other dogs or with you when they want to have some fun!

Looking small!Dogs who feel uneasy or unsure will lower their heads and drop their tails. They will likely turn their heads and look away, and may lick their lips. Their ears will also pull back. Often they will turn their bodies sideways.

Really scared dogs will cower even lower, tremble and completely flatten their ears back against their heads. They also pull their tails tightly under their legs. They try to look small, hoping they won’t be noticed.

IllustratIon by scot rItchIe

Ears forward and alert

Body weight is leaning forward. Body muscles are stiff

May try to circle behind you

Eyes wide open – looking curious

Mouth is closedTail sticking straight back with slight side-to-side movement

Tail tucked far under body

Corner of mouth pulled back

Nose wrinkled

Lips curled up to show teeth. May snarl or growl

Pupils dilated

Ears back

Hackles raised

Hackles raisedTail is stiff and high

Nose wrinkled

Mouth open and C-shaped

Teeth showing

Lips curled

Stiff-legged stance, body leaning slightly forward

Eyes staring

May bark or growl

Confident and alertConfident dogs are curious and want to check things out. They will walk directly toward you with ears forward and with their body weight on their front feet. Tails may be stiff and pointing straight back.

Watch out! Don’t mess with meBeware of two types of body signaling that mean a dog may bite. One is the offensive aggressive dog, the other the fearful aggressive dog. Never approach dogs displaying these signals.

2. Offensive aggressionConfident, aggressive dogs give warning signals that they might bite. Signals include barking, raising hackles, showing teeth and glaring eyes. Their muscles will be tense and their weight will shift forward. Ears will usually be alert and forward. They may also growl or snarl and their noses will be wrinkled. They’re saying “back off” or risk attack.

1. Fearful aggressionWhen feeling threatened, fearful aggressive dogs will get very low, put their tail between their legs and snarl. Ears will be pulled flat against their heads. These dogs often bite without a lot of warning. Because they are very scared, they will try to sneak up behind you to bite.

Never run away or scream! This will excite the dog even more. Instead, back away slowly. Don’t stare into the dog’s eyes. Look down and away. The dog will calm down the further you get.

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Schooling for your dog (and you)

Test your dog behaviour knowledge with these true or false questions:

1. If my dog Buster does something bad, I should punish him by yelling at him.

It is frustrating when Buster chews your slipper, for example. But

punishing, even by yelling, teaches fear. Buster doesn’t know the slipper is special to you. To Buster, it’s just another chew toy. Instead of shouting, offer Buster a dog toy in exchange for the slipper. Tip: Next time you see Buster grab one of his toys, praise him for making the right choice. Oh, and go put your slippers out of Buster’s reach!

2. Giving Sadie a big hug when I get home from school shows how much I love her.

True for you, not so much for Sadie. People show love with hugs. Dogs

don’t. Oh sure, your dog may allow a hug from you, but that’s about it. Dogs feel uneasy when someone wraps their arms around them. They feel trapped. Tell your friends – no dog hugs! Instead, give your dog a rub behind the ears or a rump scratch. Fact: Many dog bites happen to kids hugging dogs.

Everyone wants to have a great relationship with their dog. Whether you have a small or large dog, a training class can help. Here are four reasons why:

a. It’s fun – both for your dog and for you!b. Training helps a dog know her boundaries (and yours!).c. A well-behaved dog is easier to live with and can go out places with you.d. A good trainer will help your family build a great friendship together.

The best dog trainers use positive reinforcement and force-free methods. Positive reinforcement is a training technique using praise and rewards for desired behaviour, not punishment. Dogs listen better when they expect something good to happen, not when they constantly fear being punished.

What’s your dog IQ?Ahhh, scratch behind my ears!

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Help with dog trainingFor family help with dog training, check out these books:

Good Dog! Kids Teach Kids About Dog Behavior and Training by Evelyn Pang and Hilary Louie Puppy Training for Kids by Colleen PelarFamily Friendly Dog Training by Patricia B. McConnell

Any books or videos from Sophia Yin, Jean Donaldson or Ian Dunbar are also great sources.

3. When my dog Molly licks her lips and looks away, it means she is feeling uneasy or anxious.

This is true. Here are some common signals dogs give when they want to be left alone:

• Pulling their ears back.• Yawning, narrowing their eyes,

looking away and licking their lips.• Turning their back on you and

sitting.• Body shaking (unless they just got

out of the bath!).• Growling, wrinkling their nose,

snarling or showing teeth.

4. Old dogs can’t be taught new dog tricks.

Just like people, all dogs learn new things all the time. In fact, every interaction shapes his behaviour with you and your family. Do short training sessions every day to practice “sits,” “stays” and “comes” in new situations. Give a small treat to reward his behaviour.

Picking the right collarAll dogs need a collar so you can fasten an ID tag, a dog license and, of course, your leash. But they need the correct collar.

✔ Pick me, pick me! Good collars are comfortable and do not hurt dogs when they pull. Look for a flat collar, Martingale collar or, particularly if you have a small dog, a harness.

• Reject me, reject me! Bad collars are designed to cause pain to get dogs to stop pulling. Don’t use choke collars, prong collars or shock collars.

Tip: If your dog pulls, ask at your pet supply store for humane collars that prevent pulling without causing pain.

5. It is okay to dress your dog up in clothing.

Humans need clothes, dogs have fur. Some dogs tolerate being dressed up but no dog likes it. Dogs usually show the same signals as when they are uneasy (see #3). Respect your dog (and cat) for who they are and don’t dress them up in clothes and costumes!

Flat Collar

Martingale Collar Dog

Harness

Choke Chain Electric Shock

Collar

Prong Collar

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Food for thoughtPuppies should be fed high quality puppy food three to four times a day. Once they are about six months old, they can be fed twice daily.

At around one year of age, gradually switch to high quality adult food. Adult dogs should be fed two meals a day. Leaving food out all the time can make them overweight.

Bathroom breaksHousetraining means teaching puppies to go to the bathroom where you would like them to go – usually outside, on the grass. Puppies have very little bladder and bowel control. They need to be taken out often. Usually, a puppy can only hold his waste for the same number of hours as his age in months. So, as they get older, puppies can go longer between potty times.

Never hit or yell when puppies have an accident in the house. Instead, praise them for going in the right spot.

Play on!Puppies are super playful. Use toys, not hands and feet, to play with them. Otherwise, you might encourage play biting. Also, keep playtimes short. Puppies can easily get overexcited and accidentally nip. Ouch!

Adult dogs like to play, too. Take them to a dog park to romp with other dogs. Play games like fetch and hide-and-go-seek. Try out agility classes where they can practice obstacle courses made just for dogs. Playing keeps older dogs active.

Grow Up,Pup!

Caring for a puppy takes time, effort and patience. How he is raised shapes the dog he will grow up to be. Feed him, train him and socialize him. Play with him and keep him safe. In return, he will give you a lifetime of companionship. Talk about time and effort well spent!

Below are some tips to help you care for your growing puppy.

Social skillsPositive experiences early on in life teach dogs to face new situations with confidence. Introduce puppies to new people, pets and experiences like nail trims, teeth brushing, grooming, car trips and visits to the veterinarian. Going to “puppy classes” is also a great way for them to meet people and other dogs.

Always reward puppies with praise and treats to encourage friendly and outgoing behaviour.

Puppy-proofPuppies explore the world with their mouths and can easily get into dangerous situations. You name it – electrical cords, table legs, books, shoes – they will try it! Keep anything that you do not want chewed out of reach.

Chewing is a natural behaviour, though, so make sure dogs of any age have plenty of safe toys to gnaw on.

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The 5 Freedoms Pledge Is your dog your best friend? You’re not alone! Dogs play with us and nap with us. They join us on family trips. They help us meet new two-legged and four-legged friends. Dogs comfort us when we are feeling sad. They make us laugh. They calm us down when we are feeling nervous. Let’s face it, dogs are awesome.

Want to show your dog how much you love him? Take the Five Freedoms Pledge! The Five Freedoms are a set of animal welfare guidelines used around the world. Each freedom describes a different part of the care required to meet an animal’s needs. Taken together, the Five Freedoms show us how to be great dog guardians.

I pledge to provide my dog, to the best of my abilities, with the Five Freedoms:

Freedom from hunger and thirst by giving my dog the correct food and fresh water.

Freedom from pain, injury and disease by providing my dog with regular veterinary care and a safe environment.

Freedom from distress by making sure my dog is never neglected or abused, and does not feel scared, anxious, frustrated or depressed.

Freedom from discomfort by providing my dog with a comfortable home that is warm, dry, clean and quiet.

Freedom to express behaviours that promote well-being by giving my dog the chance to play, explore, groom, eat, drink and rest as he chooses.

Remember, as guardians, we are responsible for our dogs’ health and well-being. And guess what? With all you have learned in this dog care guide, you are ready to begin providing the Five Freedoms to your dog today!

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Join the BC SPCA Kids Club! For just $15, or $25 for two years, you will receive Bark! four times a year, plus a membership package with a Kids Club card, activity sheet with the Kids Club Five Freedoms Pledge, collector button and a monthly e-Kids Mews!letter. BC SPCA Kids Club members also receive special discounts on workshops and summer camps. Sign up online at spca.bc.ca/kids.

Who’s ready for an ice cream after writing this issue:bark! • kids sPEAkiNG FOR ANiMALs summer 2014 / VOLume 11, NumBer 3 ArT DIreCTOr Laurel MacLean / BC sPCA CONTrIBuTINg eDITOrs Meghann Cant, Pamela king, Craig Naherniak / COVer PHOTO E.M. van Nuil/Getty / CONTrIBuTINg ILLusTrATOr scot Ritchie eLeCTrONIC ImAgINg CWM whiz-kidz / PrINT PrODuCTION mANAger kirsty senior

Bark! is published for the BC SPCA by Canada Wide Media Limited, 4th Floor-4180 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby, BC, V5C 6A7. Telephone 604.299.7311. We welcome your comments on Bark! magazine. Please write to us. Send change-of-address notices and covers of undeliverable copies to: BC SPCA, 1245 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 1R1, or e-mail: kids@spca.bc.ca Web site: spca.bc.ca/youth. Telephone: 604.681.7271; Fax: 604.681.7022. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. To receive a copy of Bark! call 604.681.7271. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 40065475 ©BC SPCA. Printed on recycled paper.

This item is recyclable Printed on recycled paper

This item is recyclable Printed on recycled paper

Walk to fight animal cruelty!On September 7*, thousands of animal lovers all across B.C. will participate in the 2014 Scotiabank & BC SPCA Paws for a Cause, saying NO to animal cruelty and YES to compassion and kindness. Will you join us?

Youth ages 17 and under can register for free. Sign up today at spca.bc.ca/walk (with your parent’s permission) and you can start collecting pledges to help animals in your community.

Raise $15 or more and you will receive one free year of BC SPCA Kids Club membership as our thanks to you. *The date of the walk is different in some cities, so check our website for details in your area.

Dog Care ContestIn the last issue of Bark!, we challenged your cat care IQ (the winner will be announced in our next issue). Now it’s time to test what you’ve learned about dogs! Take the Bark! Dog Care Quiz and you could win a

paw-some prize. (Hint: You can find all of the answers in this magazine!)

Mail your answers, along with your name, age, address and email to the BC SPCA Bark! Dog Care Contest, 1245 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 1R1 or email your entry

to kids@spca.bc.ca. If all of your answers are correct, you will be entered to win a Bark!-tastic prize. Contest closes September 30, 2014.

1. True or False: If your dog picks up something off the ground, you should pull it out of his mouth yourself so he doesn’t swallow or choke on it.

2. Dogs should have their own places to rest, including a bed and a ______.

3. True or False: You should use human toothpaste to brush your dog’s teeth.

4. Freedom 5: Freedom to express __________ that promote well-being.

5. True or False: Choosing a dog based on his looks tends to lead to a better relationship.

6. _____ classes are a great way for your puppy to meet people and other dogs.

7. ________ reinforcement is the best way to train a dog.

8. True or False: To signal they feel uneasy or unsure dogs will lick their lips or yawn.