Two adorable pets looking for forever homes

Meet Papaya. Papaya is a three-month large cross breed who is as sweet as can be. She’s confident, adventurous, and full of energy. She will make an excellent adventure pawtner for some very lucky family. If you are looking for a new best friend, stop by the shelter to meet her.

Meet Froot Loop. Froot Loop is a sweet, gentle boy looking for a patient and understanding family. Until recently, he had never truly experienced love, so learning to trust people has been a slow journey for him. Every day, though, he’s making progress. Instead of hiding away, Froot Loop has started watching shelter staff with curiosity. He’s begun accepting lickable tube treats, and even enjoys gentle pats! With the right person and a calm, loving home, we know Froot Loop will continue to blossom and finally feel safe enough to show his true personality.

Leia, the flower dog

For those that read my columns regularly, Leia (Star Wars General), our Frenchie is a familiar topic. From her adoption in 2020, and through many medical difficulties, I have shared the highs and lows, and am pleased to report that she continues to thrive with limited medical interventions, largely due to our protocols of raw foods, supplements and probiotics.

In April 2020, Leia entered our family. Jenn from Jenn’s Furry Friends knew that we had just lost our first Frenchie, Stitch. Stitch was a wonderful dog, but had a compromised spine, and at the tender age of four had catastrophic neck disk failure that would have left her in permanent pain even with surgeries.

Knowing that we had experience with the complex partnership that a French bulldog presents, and knowing that Leia could be a difficult path forward, Jenn thought we would be able to handle the challenge.

Leia is a wonderful soul trapped in a body that can’t always keep up. French bulldogs have so many issues and limitations, but make up for that in their dedication and comical nature.

Pantages Playhouse Theatre to rise again

It was announced earlier this month that Pantages Playhouse Theatre will receive a multi-million-dollar renovation that will transform it into a modern performing arts space and the home of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

The origins of theatre date back to 1913 when the Seattle-based Pantages Theatre Company asked William Blake Lawrence, a Detroit talent manager working in Winnipeg, to find a space for its expanding vaudeville circuit. At the time, it had seven theatres, including venues in Edmonton, Alta., Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Wash., and San Francisco, Calif.

Pantages agreed to sign a 20-year lease on a suitable property, which made it easy for Lawrence to assemble a group of investors. They bought property on Market Avenue, just steps from bustling Main Street, and in June 1913 began construction on a theatre that cost around $250,000 by the time it was built and furnished

The building was designed by Seattle-based architect B. Marcus Priteca, who had worked on other projects for Pantages. Its construction was supervised by local architect George Northwood.

What to know when travelling to the U.S.

We live in a complicated world, with a shifting geopolitical landscape that is changing the way we travel. Many Canadians have stopped going to the United States altogether, and current research suggests that cross-border trips have dropped by close to 42 per cent over the past year.

The Government of Canada website has always had an official ‘Travel Advice and Advisories’ page, found at: travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories. This page lists important warnings about countries all over the world – including the one right next door to us here in North America. While the United States is still considered to be a “normal security risk,” there have been new warnings added that travellers should be aware of.

High on the list is gun violence. With American citizens legally allowed to carry firearms, there’s an increased chance of mass shootings. Tourists run the risk of being randomly caught – quite literally – in public crossfires. A link on the advisories page leads to a website where travellers can learn more about active shooter preparedness.

Terrorism is also listed as an ongoing threat that could happen just about anytime. Locations listed as targets for terrorists include religious places, government buildings, schools and campuses, airports and transportation hubs, and hotels and attractions. A link on the advisories page will take you to the United States’ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) national terrorism public alert system.

Jacks will be your ‘furever’ friend

Hi. My name is Jacks and am a very happy boy, 24/7. I even wag my tail while I’m drinking out of my water dish or eating out of my food dish.

My favourite time of the day is breakfast and dinner, as I simply love food. Although I’m not a high-energy dog, I really enjoy some exercise but like spending most of my day taking long naps, and you will often find me wherever all the humans are hanging out, especially snuggling on the couch. I would consider this one of my top hobbies

I am fully house-trained and fully crate-trained. I am good with ­adults and older kids (aged 12 and up). I have a strong prey drive, so it’s best that I am not with small-sized pets or other dogs. A fenced yard would be ideal.

I lobve going for walks and do well with a harness.

How could you resist these two?

Meet Papaya. Papaya is a 10-week-old, large-breed cross who may be just the perfect match for you. She is the last of her litter to find her forever home and is hoping she doesn’t have much longer to wait.

Are you ready to fall in love? This precious pup is hoping an active, fun-loving family will come scoop her up. She is a sweet, snuggly, bouncing ball of joy – what more could you want? Let’s see if Papaya could steal your heart.

☐ ☐ ☐

Andrew is a five-year-old, domestic short-hair cat looking for a safe place for a fresh start.

Fall in love with Lilo

Hi, I’m Lilo. I’m an energetic, happy girl who loves playing outside, chewing on toys and taking a nap on the couch. Whatever you are doing, I am happy to join.

I am fully house-trained and crate-trained and I will happily go in when I’m asked. My foster family crates me when they are not at home because I am still a curious young girl who might chew things I’m not supposed to. But I am happy to sleep all night on my foster mom’s bed.

I can be a bit loud on-leash when I get excited but I really do love people and get along great with dogs. My foster mom has introduced me to multiple dogs and I have made them my new friends. I am still working on my leash manners with my foster mom, though.

Kids are also fun. I currently live with a very excitable five-year-old but I basically pay her no mind and just do my own thing.

Take your time – or hang up before it’s too late

It’s baffling. That’s how victims describe the experience of falling prey to scammers, along with more serious adjectives, such as “heartbreaking,” “devastating,” and “nightmarish.”

Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, they’re picking victims like dandelions in a Manitoba field and no one is immune. They’re tapping into everyday routines and customs to get people’s private information and financial details, draining their bank accounts before they can blink.

Think about the last time you were on the phone with a service provider, whether it was your bank, your electricity company, or your municipal waste and water utility. They may have asked you a few questions to verify your identity. They may have even sent you a text or email and asked you to repeat back a code. This has become more and more common as legitimate companies try to protect themselves and their customers against fraud.

Now, imagine thinking you’re on the phone with your bank and they ask you repeat a code. That code could be the two-factor authentication you’ve set up for access to your bank account and it could be the last thing a scammer needs to get through the protections you’ve set up. Now, all bets are off and they’re funneling your money away faster than you can hang up the phone.

World Cup offers unique experiences

When the FIFA World Cup arrives in Canada next month, the excitement will extend far beyond stadium walls. It is being billed as the biggest sporting event ever held – with Canada hosting alongside Mexico and the United States across 16 host cities, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. Even if you never purchase a ticket to go to a game in person, there will be plenty of free celebrations unfolding across our country.

The tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19, with six matches at Toronto’s BMO Field and seven at Vancouver’s BC Place. Beyond the games, there will be public festivals, cultural showcases, and community events transforming Canadian streets into global gathering places. Bringing together football fans from around the world to our parks, plazas, and waterfronts.

FIFA Fan Festival Toronto will happen in a unique urban setting at Fort York and The Bentway (a new public space underneath the Gardiner Expressway),with live broadcasts of the matches, diverse culinary experiences, musical entertainment, and more. The Fort York National Historic Site is where the Battle of York took place during the War of 1812, and today it remains home to Canada’s largest collection of original buildings from that era. Given its significant historical context, and its preserved existence within the heart of Canada’s largest metropolis, it’s the ideal location to embody Toronto’s theme of ‘The World in a City’.

In Vancouver, the FIFA Fan Festival will take place in Hastings Park at PNE (the Pacific National Exhibition site), one of the largest urban parks in Canada. The newly built, open-air amphitheatre with an increased capacity of 10,000 and massive broadcast screens will be the setting for watch parties, immersive fan events, and performances. The host branding uses nature-inspired colours and patterns representing mountain ranges and ocean waters, highlighting the ruggedness and beauty of the region.

Sophie and Sprout look to spread their love

Meet Sophie. She is a three-and-a-half-year-old medium cross who is the sweetest girl.

She is extremely loving, eager to please, and picks up on things quickly. She loves to play outside, is housebroken, and is great on the leash. She’s calm in the house and not destructive, preferring to spend her time cuddling with loved ones.

Sophie would do best in a home with owners with previous dog experience and a schedule that allows for adequate time to spend with her. Once she trusts you, you’ll have made a best friend for life. She’s done well meeting dogs when she’s been out and about, but she does get frustrated with them after a bit, so would probably do best as an only pet.

Sophie is currently in foster care, so if you think she could be right for you, please call at 204-832-7387 to arrange a meet-and-greet.

The ins and outs of trimming your pets’ nails

One of the most important grooming tasks we need to do with our pets is also one of the simplest, once you get the hang of it.

Yes, we’re talking about nail trimming.

Whether you have a bird, a cat, a dog or any other pet, proper nail trimming is essential to a pet’s well-being. One of the easiest things to overlook, and one of the most painful issues a pet can have, is overgrown nails. They hurt when a pet walks, much like us trying to walk in shoes that are too tight in the toe. Every step can be painful. Nails can even grow to the point at which they can damage the paw pads, especially dew claws, which never get worn down.

And yes, I did mention birds. Many bird cages employ perches that are sand covered, or are made of cement, to help trim birds’ claws naturally. Most of the time these work, but sometimes a bird’s claws will overgrow to the point at which it can be difficult for them to grasp the perch, or they are forced to do it in a way that can cramp or even damage their feet.

Life in a Northern border town

There aren’t many places in Canada where one city can call two provinces home. But you’ll find a couple of them in the centre of the country.

Lloydminster straddles the borders of Alberta and Saskatchewan along the Yellowhead Highway. Founded in 1903 and named after Reverend George Lloyd, the city was divided in 1905 when the large prairie territory was split into two provinces. It reunited again in 1930 to create a single municipality, and today, 32,000 people call Lloydminster home.

Lloydminster sits on a massive geological formation of heavy crude oil, making it a hub for heavy oil innovation, and home to significant oil and asphalt operations. It’s the largest producer of paving asphalt in Western Canada, and is known as the ‘heavy oil capital of Canada’.

The border runs right through the city, cutting across streets and sidewalks. It’s marked with four tall red steel columns, designed to resemble historic survey stakes. Built in 1994, these markers serve as a visual icon and a reminder of this destination’s unique cross-provincial identity.

Saying farewell to Streaky Bell

I have written in the past that the toughest part of having an animal companion is saying goodbye, and it strikes home hard this week.

By the time you read this, we will have said goodbye to our loving little buddy, Streaky Bell. Yes, that was his name, the choice of nine-year-old Mary, who liked Supergirl and was studying the invention of the telephone in school.

Streaky Bell joined our family 20 years ago, a mischievous little Bengal kitten, looking for whatever trouble he could get into. We knew what we were getting into with a Bengal, in fact, we sought it out. And he lived up to the billing.

Bengals are known for the way the ‘wild’ genes affect their behaviour. They are more muscular, have striking markings, and love water. Streaky snuck into the shower or bath whenever he could. Bengals owe their uniqueness to the fact they have a recent injection of Asian leopard cat into the domestic cat line. Each generation removed from that mating increases the F number, with F1 being the first generation; thus, F5 is five breedings away from wild. The higher the F number, the less influence the wild cat makes. Streaky was an F6 from what we were told, so he wasn’t oversized or overly wild, but still had enough to make him different, and he had the striking coat.

Exploring Australia’s Great Ocean Road

People who like road trips will love the Great Ocean Road in the southeastern Australian province of Victoria. Known as one of the world’s most stunning drives, it features dazzling scenery of white beaches, coastal cliffs, lush forests, and spectacular natural formations.

Construction on the road began in 1919, when servicemen returned home from the First World War. Carved through rock and hugging the coastline for over 240 kilometres, the Great Ocean Road took more than a decade to complete and was dedicated in honour Australia’s fallen soldiers. Today, it’s considered the world’s largest war memorial.

The Great Ocean Road begins in Torquay, a town southwest of Melbourne. From there it stretches west along the shoreline to Allansford, passing through coastal towns with fascinating attractions and incredible views.

Torquay is famous for surf culture and being the birthplace of some of surfing’s most iconic brands. It delivers the quintessential Australian seaside experience, with an atmosphere that mixes bougie and beach culture, blending laid‑back coastal vibes with world‑class beaches. It’s a great place to learn how to surf, with several schools offering group and private lessons from beginner right on up. While the rest of us quietly sip coffee on the nearest patio and enjoy watching surfers carve up the waves.

Jacks would love to brighten your day

Hi! My name is Jacks and am a very happy boy, 24/7. I even wag my tail while I’m drinking out of my water dish or eating out of my food dish.

My favourite times of the day are breakfast and dinner, as I love food. Although I’m not a high-energy dog, I really enjoy some exercise but like spending most of my day taking long naps, and you will often find me wherever all the humans are hanging out, especially snuggling on the couch. I would consider this one of my top hobbies.

I am fully house-trained and fully crate-trained.

I am good with ­adults and older kids, over age 12. I have a strong prey drive, so it’s best that I am not with small pets or other dogs. A fenced yard would be ideal.