Generally not. For a female there is virtually no change at all. For males it usually results in a diminishing of some aggressive behaviours. Spayed/neutered pets are free from sexual anxiety and are, therefore, calmer and more content to stay at home. Also, if you have more than one pet, you will find they get along much better if they are all spayed or neutered.

The usual recommendation is at 6 to 7 months for both cats and dogs. Your veterinarian should be consulted to determine the best time for your pet.

The BC SPCA supports, in principle, early age spay/neuter procedures for dogs and cats as a goal towards further addressing the overpopulation problem in these species, to combat excessive euthanasia of unwanted animals by preventing excess litters through pre-pubertal surgery and by enhancing the desirable policy of neuter before adoption. The Society will continue to promote other methods of combating pet overpopulation including education and public awareness campaigns, non-surgical methods of sterilization, traditional spay/neuter initiatives and behaviour training.

The BC SPCA believes pediatric neutering to be appropriate with the following qualifications:

• The procedure takes place between 8 and 16 weeks of age.
• The animal is judged to be clinically normal and healthy prior to surgery.
• Proper surgical protocols peculiar to these young animals are employed.
• Post-neuter complications receive special attention.
• Close monitoring of possible long term effects and difficulties continues indefinitely.

The cost of spaying or neutering your pet depends on many factors. For example, a large dog will cost more than a small dog; if your pet is overweight or in season this can also add to the cost. Contact your veterinarian to get a more accurate idea of the costs involved for your pet.

The cost of spaying/neutering is really quite small when compared, for example, to what you will spend on food for your pet over its lifetime. Also consider the possible costs if you do not spay and neuter. If your pet should wander off in search of a mate, you may be faced with paying fines and impoundment costs. You may also be faced with the additional costs of maintaining puppies or kittens for whom finding homes may be difficult. Worse yet, think of the costs should your pet be injured while roaming for a mate.

"Spaying" and "neutering" are surgical procedures used to prevent pets from reproducing. In a female animal, "spaying" consists of removing the uterus and ovaries. The technical term is ovario-hysterectomy. For a male animal, "neutering" involves the removal of the testicles, and this is known as castration.

Allowing a female dog or cat to produce a litter does not have any benefits. There are health risks to the mother during the pregnancy and when giving birth.

The BC SPCA has a solemn responsibility to the public to only adopt animals that are as physically, emotionally, and behaviourally as healthy as can readily be determined, and that do not pose a danger to the public. A dog that has, without provocation or reason, bitten a person cannot be adopted, and will not be admitted to the BC SPCA.

Having your pet spayed or neutered is one important part of being a responsible pet guardian. Being responsible also means providing your pet with a warm, safe and loving environment, food and water, exercise, and proper veterinary care. You should also obey the leash, "poop and scoop", and licensing laws in your community.

If the animal is a native species of Canada (e.g. raccoon, skunk, robin, owl, deer) – NO it is illegal. Only under specific permits for rehabilitation, falconry, scientific study or public display can native wildlife species be kept in captivity. If the animal is a monkey, tiger, caiman or other exotic animal the likely answer is NO – please refer to the new exotics legislation information to understand recent legal changes and permit requirements for grandfathered animals in BC. Municipalities also have stricter exotic animal bylaws so enquire locally if this animal is restricted.

The BC SPCA has developed a list of exotic species that describes their physical and behavioural needs and the types of adopter that could adopt the animal. Iguanas, for example, are listed as a BC SPCA "orange" species that could be adopted only to a specialized guardian or sanctuary.

Do not attempt to care for injured or orphaned wildlife yourself – it is illegal and can cause more harm than good. Contact a local wildlife rehabilitation centre listed below or if there is no local centre, call a centre outside of your town to get advice. BC SPCA branches, with the exception of Wild ARC in Victoria, do not rehabilitate wildlife but can provide humane euthanasia for a suffering animal. A local veterinarian may also be able provide assistance although many do not have experience with wildlife. The RCMP can be contacted when adult deer/elk/moose are injured on roads and the Conservation Officer in your area:

Prince George – Northern Wildlife Rescue Society: 250-962-0015

Prince Rupert  Wildlife Rehabilitation Shelter: 250-624-4143

Quensel Second Chance Rescue: 250-747 0275

Smithers – Northern Lights Wildlife Society: 250-847-5101

Kamloops – BC Wildlife Park Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre: 250-573-3242 ext. 230

Salmon Arm – Kee-Two Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre: 250-832-8200

Oliver – South Okanagan Rehabilitation Centre for Owls: 250-498-4251

Lower Mainlaind

Abbotsford – Elizabeth's Wildlife Centre: 604-855-3914

Burnaby – Wildlife Rescue Association of BC: 604-526-7275

Delta – Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society: 604-946-3171

Gibsons Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre: 604-886-4989

Halfmoon Bay – Creature Comfort Wildlife Care: 604-885-4697

Langley– Critter Care Wildlife Society: 604-530-2064

Vancouver – Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue: 604-258-7325

Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands

Courtenay – Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society: 250-337-2021

Errington – North Island Wildlife Recovery Association: 250-248-8534

Gulf Islands – Gabriola Rescue of Wildlife Society: 250-247-7415

Salt Spring Island – Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre: 250-537-0777

Victoria – BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre: 250-478-9453

A mother doe will leave her fawn in what she thinks is a "safe place" while she heads off to find food. The doe will return only a couple times a day to feed her fawn. The fawn will remain in the same place between the feedings so it is very likely that you will continue to see the fawn and not the mother. During the first 2 weeks of life the fawn's only protection is to lie still to hide from predators. If you have found an abandoned fawn, it is best to monitor for up to a day to ensure that it is truly abandoned. If the fawn is in an unsafe location, move it off to the side so it won't be harmed. If the fawn starts to bleat (call out), it has likely been disturbed or is actually abandoned. In this situation, call your local wildlife rehabilitation centre to determine if intervention is necessary.

If you have found an injured squirrel it is important that the squirrel's injuries are assessed and treated properly by a professional. It is important to wear gloves when handling as they will try to bite you. The easiest and safest way to contain the squirrel is to trap it in a container and then scoop the squirrel into a box with a towel for transport. Therefore, there is no direct contact with the squirrel and less chance of being bitten.

If you find an injured bird (blood, limping, bone visible), gently contain it in a cardboard box using a small towel, keep it in a dark and quiet place, and call your local wildlife rehabilitation centre. If it is a large bird (like a raptor) and you are unable to safely handle the animal then arrange with the rehabilitation centre to ask for help first.

Gulls often nest on the flat roofs of commercial and apartment buildings. This causes problems when the young fledge because adult gulls deliberately stop feeding their young before they can fly in order to encourage them to jump down out of the nest and forage for themselves. So when they hop down from a building and land on the street or in a parking lot (usually all grey by this time), they risk landing in an unsafe location unable to fly yet. In most cases they will be encouraged to fly off with their parents shortly after. Only if they are stuck in an area without sufficient food resources for more than a day (do not attempt to feed yourself), ideally the fledgling could be carried to a beach/park in an open box so the parents can hear the baby and follow. The fledgling can be released allowing it to forage on its own and the parents can continue to protect it. If this is not possible, contact your local rehabilitator for further guidance.

If you find a bird that looks healthy and energetic but cannot fly, especially in the spring and summer, it is most likely a fledgling. In the fledgling stage of a bird's life they are at an age where the adults begin to cease the number of feedings, the young then get hungry and hop out of the nest to explore. This increased activity from the young helps build up their flight muscles, which will allow them to fly. The parents will most likely be close-by continuing to feed and protect the animal because this can be a very dangerous stage in their life. The best thing for you to do is to keep the area as safe as possible by keeping cats and dogs inside, and leaving the area undisturbed. If you feel the area is not safe or a poor foraging area (i.e. a parking lot), or if the bird becomes lethargic, call your local wildlife rehabilitator and discuss how to proceed.

A baby bird may be blown out of a nest by weather, or even dropped after a failed predator attack. If you find an uninjured baby bird that is not fully feathered, search the area for a nest and if possible* place the chick back into the nest. Watch the nest from out of sight for 1 to 2 hours to confirm the parents are returning to feed their young. If the parents do not return and you see the babies in distress, call your local rehabilitation centre and discuss with them whether to give the parents more time to return, or to arrange to have the young brought to their facility.

*If you can't reach the nest you can use a makeshift nest from a berry basket with grass or small towel lining a shoebox or margarine container. This can be placed >5 feet off the ground securely on a branch or in a bush near where the baby was found. Observe this nest from a distance for 2 hours and look for signs of activity from the parents. If the baby is calling out, the parents should be able to find it and may continue to feed it. If the parents never return, the baby may be abandoned and you should contact a local wildlife centre.

A ban on owning animals is one of the most effective tools we have on ensuring that animals are kept free from distress and individuals convicted of animal cruelty do not have access to animals. Without the ban on owning animals, it is entirely possible for someone who has been convicted of animal cruelty and fined or given jail time even, to simply acquire more animals who could face similar cruel situations. Bans or limits on the number of animals is also extremely helpful in "hoarding" cases where only the court order is standing in the way of people acquiring more animals. The bans are enforced in part through the public and in part through constable monitoring. Given the media attention that often follows a persons conviction of animal cruelty and ban on owning animals, we often find that neighbours or people living in the same community as the former animal owner, will be more than happy to report to us should this person obtain new animals. Our constables also do random inspections when possible. 

For more information, read more about animal welfare legislation.

The BC SPCA cares about all animals - companion, farm and wild. Through education, advocacy and enforcement, we ensure animals' needs are understood and respected. In fact, when the BC SPCA was founded in 1895, the welfare of draft animals as well as animals for sale in public markets were prominent concerns.

Species Advisory Committees, comprised of industry experts, producers, scientists and veterinarians, assist the BC SPCA in developing standards for the raising, handling, transport and slaughter of farm animals.

The SPCA Certified labelling program supports niche market farm products, with a recognizable label that assures consumers that the animals raised on these farms meet the farm animal welfare standards developed by the BC SPCA.

The main goal of the standards is to provide farm animals with the opportunity to express behaviours that promote physical & psychological well-being. At the heart of the standards are the world-recognized principles called the Five Freedoms:

Freedom from hunger and thirst
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury or disease
Freedom from distress
Freedom to express behaviours that promote well-being

Encourage grocery stores and restaurants to offer SPCA Certified products.  The more demand there is for products like SPCA Certified, the more encouragement and support government and agricultural industry members will receive to make long-term changes in farm animal care.

1.  No battery cages for egg-laying hens

2.  Rooting materials for pigs 

3.  Access to pasture and/or an outdoor paddock for dairy cows

4.  Transportation times are shorter than current government guidelines

5.  Pharmaceuticals cannot be used for enhancing growth and/or production

Marketing and promotions will highlight participating farmers and the SPCA Certified program, outlining the BC SPCA developed standards and certification process.  Promotion of the program will include tradeshows and local events, point of purchase brochures and media coverage.  Program products will be retailed through farm gate sales, local grocery and natural food stores, and as demand increases, large grocery chains.

Each year an independent validator conducts an inspection of the program member's facility. The validator submits a report to the program's Review Panel, which is a third-party group of experts. This panel reviews the farmer's application as well as the validator's report and decides if certification will be granted.  Each year 10 per cent of the members are randomly audited to provide ongoing assurance that the program is credible and accountable.

No. The assessment cost charged to SPCA Certified members covers a portion of the independent inspection and file review, and the paperwork involved with granting certification.

The BC SPCA works with other humane organizations, foundations and animal care trusts to improve the standards by which all animals are treated. The SPCA Certified Program is modeled after the successful Freedom Food program in England. Other animal welfare labelling programs developed in North America are: Winnipeg Humane Society Certified and Certified Humane (United States). 

NO – birds have a poor sense of smell and will not reject a baby based on this. They may reject their young for other reasons though, like there is something genetically wrong with the baby or it is too weak. So on rare occasions, a bird placed back into a nest will be kicked out again. *Note that mammals DO have a good sense of smell and may reject young touched by humans.

The BC SPCA defines wild animals as species that have not been domesticated. Wild animals have evolved in complex ecosystems resulting in mutual relationships with other wildlife and their environment. Wild animals can be bred in captivity but given the relatively few generations of breeding experienced, they are still considered to be "wild" (compared to thousands of generations of breeding to be domesticated).

If you have found an injured adult raccoon contact your local rehabilitation centre for instructions as how to go about containing the raccoon. Be careful! Adult raccoons can be extremely aggressive. A humane live trap or professional assistance may be required.

NO – raccoons and other urban wildlife can live harmoniously in our communities if we learn how to live with them. If you do not want a raccoon or other wildlife living in your backyard take proper precautions to prevent them from moving in or wanting to stay.

For more information check out our Urban Wildlife page.

A mother seal will leave her pup on a beach or rocks near the waters edge, while she goes off to hunt. If you find a lone seal pup, do not immediately assume it is in distress. If you have found an injured or potentially orphaned seal pup call the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre at 604-258-SEAL (7325) to assess and arrange transfer if necessary.

Ask your neighbour to stop feeding the wildlife as they may not realize it is has a negative affect and might even be attracting mice and rats. Not only is it causing you problems, but it is not helping the wild animals; it is in fact harming them in the long-term by making them dependant on humans and by providing an improper or unbalanced diet. Give them a copy of our brochure "Don't feed the animals - Keeping wildlife healthy and wild". If this educational approach does not work, perhaps contact your local municipality to see if there are any bylaws against feeding wildlife. Many strata corporations for example, prohibit feeding of any wildlife including birds to prevent rodents from moving in.

Contain the bird and bring to your local wildlife centre. Cats naturally carry bacteria in their mouth that can kill a bird within a few days if not treated by antibiotics. Even if the bird does not appear injured, the bacteria even in a very small puncture will cause the birds death.

Coyotes are natural residents in this area and can co-exist as long as we respect their space and do not feed them. We should be responsible in protecting our pets and being aware of areas where coyotes have been seen in order to prevent a conflict.

Report sightings of coyotes in Metro Vancouver here

To read more about coyotes and how to co-exist on our urban wildlife page on Coyotes.

The first thing to do is to find the point of entry that the squirrels use to access your attic. To make the attic unfavorable for squirrels turn on a light or put on a radio – the light and noise should bother them. Before blocking up the point of entry it is important to determine if there are any baby squirrels in the attic. If the mother finds the habitat unsuitable for a den she will move the babies one by one. If there are babies, leave the access point clear until all of them have been removed. Sometimes it is necessary to manually remove the babies and put them near the opening or put a wad of newspaper in the hole so that the mother can still get into the attic if absolutely necessary. If there are no babies in the attic, then a one-way door can be installed to allow the animals to exit the attic.

See more information about squirrels on our Urban Wildlife page.

If you have found an injured squirrel it is important that the squirrel's injuries are assessed and treated properly by a professional. It is important to wear gloves when handling as they will try to bite you. The easiest and safest way to contain the squirrel is to trap it in a container and then scoop the squirrel into a box with a towel for transport. Therefore, there is no direct contact with the squirrel and less chance of being bitten.

If you find an injured bird (blood, limping, bone visible), gently contain it in a cardboard box using a small towel, keep it in a dark and quiet place, and call your local wildlife rehabilitation centre. If it is a large bird (like a raptor) and you are unable to safely handle the animal then arrange with the rehabilitation centre to ask for help first.

Bats can be dangerous since they are the only wild animal carrier of rabies in BC, so it is important to approach them with caution. If the bat is injured, it may be rehabilitated. However, if the bat has had any skin-contact with a pet or human, the bat must be euthanized and tested for rabies as this disease can spread through just a drop of the bat's saliva. If advised by a rehabilitation centre to contain the bat, wear gloves to transfer the bat into an ice cream bucket with holes in the lid. To do this, use a scoop method where you trap the bat and then scoop it into the container for transport. Do not pick up the bat. It is strongly recommended to have all of your pets vaccinated for rabies in case they bring home a bat one day.

For more information about Rabies click here

If you have found what appears to be an orphaned healthy baby raccoon call your local wildlife centre immediately. It will likely be necessary to keep an eye on the raccoon for 12 hours before bringing it into a rehabilitation centre. During the early stages of life, the mother is with her babies during the day and at night she goes off and hunts for herself. Later in life, the babies will follow the mother around. If a mother raccoon is relocating her babies, she is only able to transport one at a time. It is very likely that she will return to get this seemingly orphaned raccoon. If the mother does not return within 12 hours, contact your local rehabilitation centre and follow their instructions, whether that is to continue monitoring the situation or to bring it in. If the baby is injured, contact centre immediately to arrange transport.

Remember to be cautious as wild animals are not tame and will likely try to attack you. Your safety comes first so remember to wear gloves along with proper clothing that provides protection (i.e. long sleeves, pants, etc.). Try to identify the primary weapon of the animal to neutralize and control it first (beak, talons, etc). Wild animals get very stressed and possibly aggressive when you attempt to contain them. The best way to decrease the amount of stress on the animal is to drape a towel over their head to minimize its exposure to the environment. This should decrease its aggression and you should be more able to pick it up and transfer into a box for transport. If the injured animal is an adult raccoon or a fairly aggressive animal (otter, mink, etc.), it is best to call your local wild animal rehabilitation centre as they may be able to assist.

There are many careers that involve helping wild animals – biologist, zoologist, ecologist, naturalist, wildlife advocate, environmental educator, wildlife rehabilitator, animal health technician, wildlife veterinarian, wildlife epidemiologist, conservation officer, wildlife technician, and park warden – for example. Some of these roles may work hands on with wildlife, while others conduct research or educate the public. The best way to know which career suits you is to volunteer with local wildlife organizations or participate in an internship with working professionals. Many post-secondary institutions offer diploma or degree programs for wildlife professionals, while general science and animal care programs can be complemented with wildlife experience.

If there is wildlife response mounted, depending on the number of animals affected, a wildlife contractor will first seek experienced wildlife rehabilitation volunteers as a workforce. To gain experience with handling and the husbandry of wild animals before a spill happens, contact a local rehabilitation centre for training and volunteer opportunities.

It is illegal to disturb a bird's nest with eggs or chicks in it. But if you can not wait until the babies grow up and leave the nest in a few weeks, or if there is a bird nest in an area that causes problems (directly above an entrance to a building, in a vent), you'll need advice from the Canadian Wildlife Service (1-800-668-6767) to get a permit to move the nest legally.

NO - this virus is transmitted to birds and humans via mosquitoes. Although the virus is not known to be transmitted to humans from animals, people should avoid handling dead animals or birds with their bare hands.  

Check out our info page on West Nile Virus for more information.

Gulls often nest on the flat roofs of commercial and apartment buildings. This causes problems when the young fledge because adult gulls deliberately stop feeding their young before they can fly in order to encourage them to jump down out of the nest and forage for themselves. So when they hop down from a building and land on the street or in a parking lot (usually all grey by this time), they risk landing in an unsafe location unable to fly yet. In most cases they will be encouraged to fly off with their parents shortly after. Only if they are stuck in an area without sufficient food resources for more than a day (do not attempt to feed yourself), ideally the fledgling could be carried to a beach/park in an open box so the parents can hear the baby and follow. The fledgling can be released allowing it to forage on its own and the parents can continue to protect it. If this is not possible, contact your local rehabilitator for further guidance.

Coyotes are generally not dangerous to people, but they have been known to attack and kill small pets if given the opportunity and if other resources are scarce. Pet guardians should be careful because coyotes will prey on free-roaming cats and small dogs, and there have even been occasional cases where dogs have been attacked even while on leash. Coyotes are in fact beneficial to our urban environment as they eat small mammals like rats and mice. To keep our pets safe, we need to be responsible pet guardians and also ensure we do not leave free meals like garbage and pet food outdoors for coyotes to be attracted to.

Place the bird in a box (large enough so the bird has room to fully extend its wings) and put the closed box in a quiet, safe, dark place for 30-60 minutes. After this time, take the box outside and open it up. If the bird does not fly away, call a local wildlife rehabilitation centre.