BC SPCA Celebrity Rescue

Rappelling down the side of a building, blogging for 24 hours straight, and sleeping outside in a back alley in downtown Vancouver… in November. These are just a few of the things I have done for charity and now I can add “locked in a kennel” to the list. The BC SPCA has invited me to be a part of their Celebrity Rescue on Thursday, August 14th, which will have me locked up in their Vancouver shelter until I get enough donations from my friends, family, and readers to be freed.

The BC SPCA has been serving the community since 1895 and is the largest animal welfare organization of its kind in North America. It is the only animal welfare organization in BC that has the authority to enforce laws relating to animal cruelty, and to recommend charges for Crown Counsel for the prosecution of individuals who inflict suffering on animals.

BC SPCA Celebrity Rescue is in support of the Scotiabank & BC SPCA Paws for a Cause, the BC SPCA’s annual walk to fight animal cruelty, taking place in September in communities across BC.

Other local celebrities in neighbouring kennels will include Erin Cebula, entertainment reporter/producer at ET Canada and Global TV; Alece Anderson of Rock 101’s morning show; stylist and fashion blogger Kate Horsman; Global TV’s weather anchor, Kate Gajdosik and The Loden Hotel principal Lilliana de Cotiis. All donations raised during the BC SPCA Celebrity Rescue will help fund investigations into animal cruelty, emergency rescue and treatment of injured animals, sheltering and adoption of homeless animals, low-cost spay/neuter programs and a wide range of other SPCA services and programs for animals at risk.

In 2013, the BC SPCA:

• Operated 36 local branches across B.C., two spay/neuter clinics, a hospital, a Provincial Call Centre for animal cruelty complaints, and Wild ARC, a wildlife rehabilitation centre on Vancouver Island.
• Employed 457 staff members (full-time, part-time and auxiliary) including 27 full-time Special Provincial Constables.
• Had nearly 4,000 volunteers throughout the province.
• Conducted 7,839 new cruelty investigations and removed 1,340 animals from dangerous or neglectful situations.
• Rescued 24,636 injured, homeless, neglected and abused animals.
• Reunited 3,742 lost animals with their anxious families.
• Found loving families for 14,259 homeless animals.

If you are a pet parent or animal lover, please consider donating to my campaign. All I need is for 100 readers to donate $10 and I’ll be set free on Thursday. Until then, I’ll prepare for my time in the kennel — any tips for being in small, confined spaces with a cuddly rescue pet to accompany me are welcome!