AnimalChat - An Alberta SPCA Podcast

Allergies can be as common in our pets as they are in humans. On this episode of AnimalChat, we speak with veterinarian, Dr. Vicki Janes, about the signs of pet allergies, which breeds are more susceptible, and options for treating our animals.

We talk to social worker Joey Leslie, who works at a veterinary clinic to help families deal with the flood of emotions that come when pet owners must make the difficult decision to euthanize their beloved animals.

Alberta SPCA Peace Officers enforce the Animal Protection Act (APA) which makes it an offence to permit an animal to be in distress. In this episode, Peace Officer Karen Stevenson explains what is distress under the APA and what she looks for at properties when investigating complaints of distress.

It can be difficult for older adults to find affordable housing that allows pets, as many landlords are wary of having animals in their buildings. However, research shows allowing seniors to have a pet helps to keep them healthy, feel less isolated, and can actually keep them from forming abusive relationships with other adults. 

Summer is here, and that increases the amount of trouble your pet can get into at home, in the yard or inside. We talked to a local small animal veterinarian about the most common health issues she sees at her clinic, and what you can do to keep your pet safe.

Reptiles are a popular pet for many people, but many owners choose to not seek veterinary care for their pets. On this episode we talk to a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles about some of the common health concerns with lizards and snakes and why it's important to seek proper health care for them.

Collectors are people who accumulate more animals than they can properly care for. Often referred to as hoarders, collectors often have a mental illness that leads to their predicament, and managing these situations so the collector does not re-accumulate animals is challenging. We talk to one of our Peace Officers about how she manages these investigations in order to ensure the animals are not in distress, and to ensure the owner receives help as well.

Bell Let's Talk Day is on January 26th. We see the impacts on animals from poor mental health, it's a part of most of our investigations where animals are in distress. Peace Officer Karen Stevenson joins us to talk about how Peace Officers ensure they are helping the people as well as the animals.

End of life decisions are never easy when it comes to our animals. However, it's important to have those conversations as the cold weather sets in to ensure our animals do not face unnecessary suffering.

 When people suffer, so do their animals. The Alberta SPCA's One Family Welfare department offers temporary care for pets so their owners can get the help they need to deal with crisis situations. The Director of our One Family Welfare Department joins us to explain the Violence Link and how we help pets and people in crisis.