Dewdney Animal Hospital Ltd.

01/26/2025

A very old photo from when Dr Walton was studying marine Biology and training African Fur seals at the Metro Toronto zoo during the summers. Positive reinforcement training was essential in being able to manage such large and absolutely magnificent creatures.

01/25/2025

Kudos to Quebec for Banning Prong Collars (2018). Do you think BC should follow suit?

01/24/2025

Our cute pets of the day!!!!

01/24/2025

Huge Thankyou to Dr Eugene Gorodetski the star of CTVWilds “My Pet Ate What”.

Dr Gorodetsky came to the clinic to help remove a coin from a Pixie Frog named “Juan”. His show premieres on Jan26th

Tyson Media Productions

The owner of a pixie frog named Juan rushed from Squamish to Dewdney Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge after the little frog swallowed a big coin.Subscribe to C...

01/23/2025

With so many great rescues in and around BC, it’s even more important then ever to make sure that the good ones are supported while the bad ones called out

We often bring up red flags for rescues, things like selling dogs rightnof the tarmac, bus, van. Rescues that don’t support owners or rescues with severe behavioural or medical issues.

So please read this news article to learn more about red flags and how to seperate the good ones from the bad ones

Samantha Miller, 55, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and dispensing prescription animal drugs without a licensed veterinarian order.

01/23/2025

Thankyou Chamber of Commerce for the Nomination!!!!! A huge thankyou to my staff for all the work they do!!

01/22/2025

You would think it would be a pac man frog that went after coins, not a pixie frog, but Juan is a unique frog having a very traumatic day

Huge Thankyou to Dr Gorodetsky of the CTVwild show “What my Pet Ate” who volunteered to help us save this poor guy It premieres January 26th and is a great view into the life of a veterinarian.
Tyson Media Productions

01/21/2025

And Wilsons CTV Story

A B.C. veterinarian removed an arrow from a Canada goose in a complicated surgery.Subscribe to CTV News to watch more videos: https://www.youtube.com/ctvnews...

01/21/2025

The story on Wilson from last summer

A community is rallying to try to capture and care for a goose that has had an an arrow stuck in its behind for months.Subscribe to CTV News to watch more vi...

01/20/2025

Please consider a donation to https://marswildliferescue.com/ for Wilsons care!!

The majestic Canadian Goose aka “Cobra Chicken” or the Canadian Airforce, are truly a force to be reckoned with. Allow me to introduce to you Wilson. Yeah… thats an arrow. Wilson was first spotted with this new appendage last summer in Sechelt. Over the summer Wilson eventually migrated to Squamish, and was avidly followed by Squamish Nature Photographer Tim Cyr who helped organize multiple attempts to corral this guileful goose were unsuccessful…. Until last week.

01/18/2025

Frenchie party at Dewdney!!!

01/14/2025

To Cull or Not To Cull: An Ostrich farm in BC is facing the mass culling of their flock due to the presence of Avian Influenza. Its a complicated topic with no really simple answers, but Dr. Weese does an amazing job of discussing the topic.

The recent situation has raised more discussion about the role of mass culling in response to H5N1 influenza infection in domestic / captive birds. After

01/10/2025

Why our job is the “BEST”!!!!!!

01/10/2025

Meet “Yogi”. Our cute pet of the day!!

01/09/2025

Meet “Leia”. Our cute pet of the day and rescue from Northern Manitoba

01/09/2025

Dr Gorodedski is the BEST!!!

01/08/2025

In our experience monitoring rescue activities, we have noticed some patterns. We believe that many rescues out there fall into certain categories:

💰The broker (or flipper). Their bottom line is volume and in turn, profit. This rescuer will pay lip service to saving animals and regularly remind you of the large number of animals they have “rescued”. These rescues want inventory, and profit is usually their bottom line. They obtain their animals from the easiest source, whether that’s an overloaded shelter, a less developed country, or a puppy mill. They organize large transport initiatives, tend to be lazy (or fraudulent) with paperwork, and you will receive your animal straight off a transport vehicle. If things go sideways, they will deflect and abandon you – unless the animal is highly adoptable and can be flipped into a new home.

💔The bleeding heart. These rescuers start out with good intentions, but underestimate how difficult it is to run an ethical rescue. It’s not just about having compassion. You have to think about financial stability (unexpected five-figure vet bills anyone?), behaviour and medical assessments, supporting foster homes, and long-term sustainability. The bleeding heart is usually keen to start their own rescue and they eventually become overwhelmed – they crash and burn, abandoning the dogs and people they pledged to help. Animals may be placed back into bad situations out of desperation, or they may end up in hoarding situations.

😇The martyr. This one works hard, and everyone around them knows it! Rescue work is tireless, but it also comes with a lot of validation. Some seem to get a rush from a dramatic rescue and the attention and veneration that ensues. These individuals often do good work, but they are always stressed, always in crisis, and always drawn to the saddest story. They do not do well working as a team, and they aren’t interested in big picture thinking – they are the types that will buy puppies from a puppy mill to “rescue” them, not acknowledging that they are lining a breeder’s pockets and facilitating a new litter.

💪The sustainer. Level-headed rescue people exist, and you’ll find that these organizations aren’t constantly posting about their high numbers, their drama, or their exorbitant vet bills. They will have a diverse team so that if one person burns out, the entire system doesn’t collapse. They will know their limits and know when to say “no” – because if you try to do everything today, you will burn out and help no one tomorrow. These groups will have reasonable numbers of animals up for adoption, and the bios will reflect that they are real, imperfect animals that you can go meet before signing adoption papers. They will have multiple, sustainable sources of fundraising and usually dabble in policy, advocacy or educational work to address root causes of animal welfare issues.

Do you agree with these categories?
Have you encountered examples in your own experiences with rescues?

01/04/2025