Pet Life Events

If your pet is lost

Time matters. Most pets found within 24 hours are found within a few kilometres of home. Start calling, posting, and walking.

1. Call BC SPCA West Kootenay at 250-509-0297 immediately during business hours. They track intake of found animals.
2. Post on social media , Castlegar Lost & Found Pets Facebook groups, community boards, neighbourhood apps. Include clear photos, date, location.
3. Call local veterinary clinics. People who find pets often take them to the nearest vet for microchip scanning.
4. Walk the area at dawn and dusk with a familiar voice. Cats in particular often hide nearby. Bring treats, a bowl, and a recognizable blanket.
5. Check the BC SPCA found-pet search at adopt.spca.bc.ca.
6. If your pet is licensed (City Bylaw 1342), the licence number on the tag links them to your contact info. This is what licensing is for.
7. If your pet is microchipped, confirm your contact details are current through the registry (24PetWatch, Home Again, etc.).

If you've found a pet

1. If the animal is friendly and safe to approach: check for a collar and tag.
2. Call BC SPCA West Kootenay at 250-509-0297 to report the found animal.
3. Take the pet to the nearest vet for a free microchip scan. Most vets will do this without an appointment.
4. Post on local Facebook groups with a photo and where/when you found them. Include enough detail that you can verify an owner (the owner should describe something only they would know).
5. After hours: call the BC SPCA Animal Helpline at 1-855-622-7722, or the Castlegar RCMP non-emergency at 250-365-7721 for urgent situations.

If the animal is injured, aggressive, or clearly distressed, do not put yourself at risk. Call the SPCA or RCMP for help.

Animal control and bylaw

Animal control in Castlegar is contracted to the BC SPCA under the City's Animal Control and Licencing bylaw (Bylaw 1342). The SPCA handles:

• Off-leash complaints
• Barking complaints
• Aggressive dog reports
• Licencing enforcement
• Seized or abandoned pets
• Wildlife attractants involving pets

See the Animal Control page for more, or the Pet Licence page to apply.

Wildlife in the yard, bears, cougars, deer

Castlegar is in bear country. Cougars and deer are common in town. Responses differ by situation:

• Bear in your yard or neighbourhood: call BC Conservation's RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.
• Cougar sighting in town: same number, RAPP line. If aggressive or a public-safety issue, call 9-1-1.
• Deer being destructive: the Bear Smart Castlegar program has advice on urban-wildlife coexistence.
• Protecting pets: keep dogs on leash on trails, especially at dawn and dusk. Don't leave cats or small dogs outside unsupervised in low-light hours.

Adopting from BC SPCA West Kootenay

The BC SPCA West Kootenay Community Animal Centre at 124 Heritage Way is the local adoption centre. Their process typically includes:

• Browsing available animals (online or in person)
• An application and interview
• Match-making to suit your home and lifestyle
• Vaccination, spay/neuter, and microchip included
• Adoption fee (varies by animal type and age)

Browse adoptable pets: adopt.spca.bc.ca, West Kootenay.

If you can't keep your pet

Life changes happen: health, housing, finances, family. The BC SPCA is non-judgmental about pet surrender and will work with you on the best outcome for the animal.

• Call BC SPCA West Kootenay at 250-509-0297 to discuss options. They may be able to offer temporary support before surrender.
• Pet food banks and subsidized vet care exist for people facing temporary financial hardship, the SPCA can refer you.

End-of-life care

Deciding when it's time to say goodbye is one of the hardest parts of loving an animal. Castlegar-area veterinary clinics can help you think through quality-of-life assessments, and most offer in-clinic euthanasia; some offer in-home euthanasia, which many families find more peaceful.

• Quality of life assessments , the “HHHHHMM scale” (Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility, More good days than bad) is a common vet tool.
• Pet cremation is available through local vets; you can request private (ashes returned) or communal cremation.
• Burial on private property is permitted in many cases; check with the City first for bylaw details if burying in town.

Grief for a pet is real

The loss of a companion animal can bring grief indistinguishable from the loss of a human family member. You are allowed to grieve fully. If a pet’s death is triggering deeper depression or compounding other losses, the resources on the Mental Health & Crisis Support page apply, please use them.

• Pet Loss Support Hotline (BC): BC SPCA Pet Loss Support
• Your regular counsellor or therapist is qualified to help, pet grief is not a separate category.
• Children need specific support. It may be their first experience with death. Honest, age-appropriate language helps.
• See Mental Health & Crisis Support if grief is affecting daily functioning.

Pet licencing in Castlegar

All dogs and cats over 12 months residing within Castlegar city limits must be licensed annually (Bylaw 1342). See the Pet Licence page for how to apply, fees, and details.

Where to walk your dog

• Millennium Park has a dedicated off-leash area.
• Most other City parks allow dogs on leash.
• The Greenline Bike Network and local trails are dog-friendly on leash, with bear-spray and wildlife-awareness advised.
• Always pick up after your dog, bags often available at trailheads.