Humane Societies & SPCA's Educate Children About Urban Wildlife

For release: August 14, 2006

Activity Book helps kids learn about animals through fun

The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, Niagara Falls Humane Society and Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society (KWHS) will be holding summer camps for kids this week, to teach them about animals. A new resource they have is a 12-page book filled with kid-oriented activities that also provides interesting facts about urban wildlife – raccoons, skunks, squirrels, birds and bats.

“Children love animals, but they also need to be aware of the health problems and property damage they can cause,” notes Bill Dowd, President of Humane Wildlife Control, who provided the books. “Kids need to know that urban wildlife are not like pets and need to be treated with caution,” he adds.

Jim Sykes, President & CEO of the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, Valerie Brown, General Manager of the Niagara Falls Humane Society and Ward McAlister, General Manager of KWHS see the books and their summer camp as a way for kids to learn important information about animals that is “both engaging and fun.”

Bat Season Brings Increased Potential for Rabies Infection

Bat season is now in full swing, meaning immature baby bats are often entering living spaces and coming into contact with people. Public health units advise anyone that has come into contact with a bat to seek immediate medical attention and, if possible, bring the bat in for examination.

“Bats are small and their bites can often go undetected,” notes Bill Dowd. “Our book and the SPCAs teach kids about bats and what to do when you find one,” he points out.

If this occurs while you are sleeping, there is a potential for the bat to bite you without knowing. Health units warn people of this very situation and advise anyone finding a bat in their living space to seek medical attention.

Humane Approach is Best

Humane Wildlife Control, the SPCA and Humane Societies advocate a humane approach to removing and excluding urban wildlife. This means not separating mothers from babies, allowing them to find an alternative nest, den or roosting site, and not stressing the animals too much.

Jim Sykes, Valerie Brown and Ward McAlister "advise people not to catch these animals themselves and recommend “a professional wildlife control company that uses proven techniques that will remove and exclude the animals with minimal stress and less chance of injury to the animal or people.”

Partnerships for A Better Community

Humane Wildlife Control is a proud supporter of the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, Niagara Falls Humane Society, Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society and many other humane societies and SPCA’s throughout Ontario. The company believes strongly in minimizing conflicts between animals and humans through humane techniques.

“We provide as much support and education as possible to the SPCA’s and Humane Societies” and they in turn, help us do our job better,” says Bill Dowd.

Humane Wildlife Control (formerly AAA Wildlife Control Hamilton Inc. and AAA Wildlife Control Ottawa Inc.) has been an industry leader since 1989, and has pioneered several humane removal and exclusion techniques for a wide variety of urban animals.

The Hamilton/Burlington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a registered charity not-for-profit organization devoted to the prevention of cruelty to animals.

The Niagara Falls Humane Society is committed to providing a safe, clean and healthy environment for all animals that come into their care; providing effective animal control in accordance with their contract with the municipality; ensuring the humane treatment of all animals in their jurisdiction; and eliminating the need for euthanasia as a method of pet population control. “We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

Since 1927, the KWHS has been responsible for the welfare of animals in the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and their surrounding communities. KWHS is the fourth largest humane society in Ontario. As a member of the community, their mission is to be a proactive leader in providing humane care through education, advocacy and enforcement to promote the well-being of all animals.

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For more information:

Bill Dowd, President
1-877-222-3459 ext 220