There are lots of ways to help B.C.’s most vulnerable animals this holiday season.

“People often turn to charitable giving opportunities at this time of year as a way to celebrate the season, honour a loved one or make a donation as a gift on someone else’s behalf,” says Lorie Chortyk, the BC SPCA’s general manager of community relations.

“As a non-profit organization, we are extremely grateful for their generosity, and so we try to offer ways of giving that appeal to everyone, from dog and cat lovers to people interested in farm animal or wildlife welfare.”

The BC SPCA has a number of gift-giving suggestions for animal lovers, says Chortyk:

• The popular Pawsitive Gifts program is one way to support animals in need. This year for the first time, donors will be able to specifically support the society’s cruelty investigations department as it conducts nearly 6,000 new cruelty investigations a year. Starting at $10, Pawsitive Gifts include various levels of companion, farm and wild animal care, emergency response and educational gifts such as the Bite Free kit for schools. Donors have their choice of sending a personalized e-card to the recipient, or printing out a copy to enclose in their own card. Visit pawsitivegifts.ca.

• New this year, the BC SPCA’s Guardian Angel program allows donors to support an animal available for adoption and send a personal message about the animal that will be posted on the animal’s online adoption profile. Donors will also be notified when the animal is adopted so they can see the difference their support made. Visit spca.bc.ca/guardianangel.

• The BC SPCA has four Priority Needs funds that support various aspects of the society’s work. The Highest Priority Needs Fund helps injured, homeless, neglected and abused animals throughout B.C.; the Heroes Fund supports emergency animal rescue and cruelty investigations; the October Grey Fund supports animals in the society’s community branches and shelters; the Monty Fund for Community Education & Outreach supports education and advocacy initiatives; and the Biscuit Fund supports medical care for injured animals. Visit spca.bc.ca/support.

• Another way to help the animals this holiday season is by purchasing humanely raised products bearing the SPCA Certified label, including turkey, chicken, meat and pork products, cheese and eggs. SPCA Certified is the consumer’s assurance that the product bearing this name has been raised to animal welfare standards established by the BC SPCA and validated by a third-party inspector. Visit spca.bc.ca/farm for product availability.

• Finally, what better way to support the animals than to adopt? While the BC SPCA discourages giving pets as surprise gifts, it welcomes potential adopters to visit their local shelter or browse online at spca.bc.ca where their new best friend may be waiting to meet them. Adoption counsellors with a wealth of knowledge are available to help families make the right match, turning an ordinary family into a forever family for a homeless animal!

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.