Usually I get to walk dogs at the Vancouver SPCA but this week I got to walk a beautiful white bear cub named Oscar!

It was one of the first sunny days Vancouver has had in a while and all I could think about was how terrible it must be for Oscar. Oscar is not actually a bear cub but he is the size of one! This Samoyed Cross looks like he was made for the Arctic and taking him around town in anything above 5 degrees feels like you’re punishing him simply for being alive. He has the biggest, fluffiest, and FULLEST coat of white hair you’ve ever seen and a tongue the length of the Pacific Coastline. I felt so bad for the poor bugger that I stopped every 10 minutes to give him a drink of water from my bottle (don’t worry, I didn’t drink out of it afterwards – I may love dogs but I’m not unhygienic).

It’s hard to say what Oscar would be like under normal Vancouver weather conditions but in this summer heat he was very docile and walked at a very steady pace. Nothing seemed to catch his interest enough to bark or run but he did catch his own reflection in a window and was rather intrigued by his stunning self.

For details on Oscar (Animal ID: 128902), click here.
BC SPCA Vancouver Shelter: 604 879 7721 or vancouver@spca.bc.ca

To read the profile of another dog, click here.

Click on to read about our second featured pet, Buddy.

Every once in a while, the SPCA receives a dog with a heart-wrenching story and sadly, this story is a common one:

Buddy (not actually his name – he doesn’t have one just yet) was found around Vancouver as a stray. He’s a young Golden Retriever Cross with a very large and painful looking scar around his neck from what looks like a collar. Far too often, dogs are neglected by their owners and their collars are left unchecked. Just as babies outgrow their clothes, dogs outgrow their collars. If left unchecked, the collar you put on your puppy could slowly choke your dog and become embedded in his / her skin to a point where it can only be surgically removed. Doesn’t exactly sound comfortable does it?

Buddy gets ridiculously excited whenever he sees something even closely resembling a ball so it is sometimes difficult to get him from point A to point B without the use of a toy. It’s hard to believe that this tail-wagging, ball-loving, bird-pouncing pup is the same pup that cowers when approaching shaded areas and won’t move towards concrete buildings no matter how much you beg.

Before adopting this dog, please be aware that he does need leash training. You also need to be prepared to spend a lot of time throwing balls, playing in the park, and getting him to trust you enough to lead you through shaded areas and past cars with tinted windows.

We unfortunately don’t have details about Buddy’s adoption but please call the BC SPCA to inquire: BC SPCA Vancouver Shelter: 604 879 7721 or vancouver@spca.bc.ca

To read the profile of another dog, click here.