Mice may seem cute, however when residing in your home they can be hazardous to not only your health but also to the structure of your home. Deer mice, which are most common in rural and semi-rural areas, can potentially carry Hantavirus, an infection that causes respiratory illness in humans. According to the Government of Saskatchewan, as of December 31st, 2018, there have been 32 cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome reported in Saskatchewan since 1994, 10 of which resulted in death. Mice love to chew and an electrical wire is a tasty treat along with drywall, pipes, wood, furniture, etc. Several house fires are caused every year by exposed wiring that has been chewed by rodents and with one female mouse having 5-10 litters per year with an average of 6-8 babies each, an infestation can develop quickly.
With fall fast approaching rodents will be seeking a warm place for winter. That warm place is often within your walls, attics and vehicles therefore prevention is the best method to protect your home.
Perry Reavley, owner of Critter Gitter has several tips to prevent rodent infestation which starts with performing a thorough exterior inspection to locate areas that would allow a mouse or rat to access the dwelling. Mice can enter a hole the size of a dime and although many people use steel wool, Reavley finds it breaks down rapidly when humidity is high so he suggests stainless steel, copper, tin, and industrial caulking to fill and cover any entrances. Mice are excellent climbers; keep this in mind when seeking entry points.
Reavley recommends outside bait stations whenever possible to keep rodent populations in check, however, they must be properly maintained and monitored on a regular basis. Refrain from placing poison inside vehicles and trailers as it will actually attract mice inside.
Keeping your yard clean and free of woodpiles, long grass, and clutter minimizes the chance that rodents will cause problems. When landscaping your property, try to avoid using large rocks, mulch, or any other such materials that would provide habitat for rodents. Reavley recommends crusher dust, as it locks up nicely and any rodent activity is easily noticed.
There are numerous home remedies and electronic deterrents on the market, however, through Reavley’s experience, they usually provide little to no help keeping pests out of your home or business. “Although there are many ‘home remedies’ to keep mice at bay, we have never come across one that shows much promise,” Reavley says. “We have seen many times where mice will eat the Irish Spring soap or make nests out of fabric softener sheets.”
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
Monday 30 September 2019
Monday 23 September 2019
No 'Safe Space' In The Real World
Bullying is not just a human experience; it exists in the entire animal kingdom in the form of the strong picking on the weak. The term pecking order even comes from chickens that will peck at birds lower in the hierarchy and will be pecked by birds above them. So why do we try to stop a trait in humans that occurs in all aspects of life?
No one is safe from bullying. It occurs in our schools, our work, in public, in retirement communities, everywhere! No matter what age, race, religion or sex, you can experience bullying so what do we as a society do about it? Do we teach our children to be strong, independent, confident people who can see a bully for what they really are; or do we give those who are being bullied safe spaces and quiet time so they can reflect on their hurt feelings? Which option will produce a strong society?
Bullying has always existed and it always will and no matter how many pink shirts we wear nothing is going to change that. So what can be done? Some would say teach your child to pop a bully in the nose, some say to turn your back and ignore the bully as eventually they will go away and some say to try and laugh it off. What works for one will not necessarily work for another yet nowadays we are teaching our children that when they become adults, the ‘real world’ will have safe spaces for them to hide when their feelings are hurt.
There is no safe space when your boss yells at you for coming in late, no safe space when a collection agency is demanding you pay, and no safe space when you encounter racism, sexism, etc. on the street. Imagine our country’s leader hiding in a ‘safe space’ when another country is bullying with sanctions and tariffs instead of standing up and facing the issue head-on! We as a society encounter struggles every day of our lives and we don’t need a safe space to hide in; we need strong, well-adjusted people who are ready to face the challenges ahead!
Instilling confidence in our children is what is needed. Teach them bullies exist and bullying happens to everyone as even the bully will get bullied at some point in their lives. We don’t need more ‘safe spaces’! We need parents, teachers, and role models to step up and show our children that a bully does not define who we are; our actions do.
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
No one is safe from bullying. It occurs in our schools, our work, in public, in retirement communities, everywhere! No matter what age, race, religion or sex, you can experience bullying so what do we as a society do about it? Do we teach our children to be strong, independent, confident people who can see a bully for what they really are; or do we give those who are being bullied safe spaces and quiet time so they can reflect on their hurt feelings? Which option will produce a strong society?
Bullying has always existed and it always will and no matter how many pink shirts we wear nothing is going to change that. So what can be done? Some would say teach your child to pop a bully in the nose, some say to turn your back and ignore the bully as eventually they will go away and some say to try and laugh it off. What works for one will not necessarily work for another yet nowadays we are teaching our children that when they become adults, the ‘real world’ will have safe spaces for them to hide when their feelings are hurt.
There is no safe space when your boss yells at you for coming in late, no safe space when a collection agency is demanding you pay, and no safe space when you encounter racism, sexism, etc. on the street. Imagine our country’s leader hiding in a ‘safe space’ when another country is bullying with sanctions and tariffs instead of standing up and facing the issue head-on! We as a society encounter struggles every day of our lives and we don’t need a safe space to hide in; we need strong, well-adjusted people who are ready to face the challenges ahead!
Instilling confidence in our children is what is needed. Teach them bullies exist and bullying happens to everyone as even the bully will get bullied at some point in their lives. We don’t need more ‘safe spaces’! We need parents, teachers, and role models to step up and show our children that a bully does not define who we are; our actions do.
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
Monday 16 September 2019
September is World Alzheimer's Month
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible and eventually fatal disease and is the most common cause of Dementia in seniors aged 65 and over. According to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, an estimated 564,000 Canadians are living with dementia.
September 2019 marks the 8th annual World Alzheimer’s Month and World Alzheimer’s Day is held on the 21st of September each year. The goal is to raise awareness and to help change the stigma and attitude surrounding Alzheimer’s throughout the world as stigma is one of the biggest barriers for people with dementia to live fully with dignity and respect.
The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada is kicking off its second year of Yes. I live with Dementia. Let me help you understand. A campaign to spark conversations and encourage Canadians to see Dementia differently. They are giving voices to those who live with the stigmatism of this disease every day in the hopes to convert judgment into compassion and assumptions into understanding.
Here in Saskatchewan, the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan is dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by Alzheimer’s and related Dementia within Saskatchewan, and they report that every 24 hours another 10 people in Saskatchewan develop a form of Dementia. One of their many events to raise awareness is the Night to Remember Gala which has been held annually for the last 19 years!
Melissa Larson from the Alzheimer Society of Sask reports that “the funds raised go towards essential programs and services that allow people in Saskatchewan to learn more and live well with the disease as well as to raise funds for research into the quality of life, cause, and a cure.” The Gala is being held at the Casino Regina on Thursday, October 17th. Corporations and businesses can become a sponsor of the event as well as individuals can purchase tickets to attend. Also, anyone wanting to help out but unable to attend can also donate items to the silent auction by contacting Melissa at mlarson@alzheimer.sk.ca
Know the Signs
Alzheimer's affects so many families within Saskatchewan so if you are experiencing possible symptoms or are concerned for a loved one, the following list of signs to look for was developed by the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan;
1. Memory loss affecting day-to-day activities
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
3. Problems with language
4. Disorientation with time and space
5. Impaired judgment
6. Problems with abstract thinking
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes in mood or behavior
9. Changes in personality
10. Loss of initiative
If you are concerned about any of the signs, talk to your doctor.
For more information visit www.alzheimer.ca and read the powerful stories of those living with the disease at www.ilivewithdementia.ca #ilivewithdementia
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
September 2019 marks the 8th annual World Alzheimer’s Month and World Alzheimer’s Day is held on the 21st of September each year. The goal is to raise awareness and to help change the stigma and attitude surrounding Alzheimer’s throughout the world as stigma is one of the biggest barriers for people with dementia to live fully with dignity and respect.
The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada is kicking off its second year of Yes. I live with Dementia. Let me help you understand. A campaign to spark conversations and encourage Canadians to see Dementia differently. They are giving voices to those who live with the stigmatism of this disease every day in the hopes to convert judgment into compassion and assumptions into understanding.
Here in Saskatchewan, the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan is dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by Alzheimer’s and related Dementia within Saskatchewan, and they report that every 24 hours another 10 people in Saskatchewan develop a form of Dementia. One of their many events to raise awareness is the Night to Remember Gala which has been held annually for the last 19 years!
Melissa Larson from the Alzheimer Society of Sask reports that “the funds raised go towards essential programs and services that allow people in Saskatchewan to learn more and live well with the disease as well as to raise funds for research into the quality of life, cause, and a cure.” The Gala is being held at the Casino Regina on Thursday, October 17th. Corporations and businesses can become a sponsor of the event as well as individuals can purchase tickets to attend. Also, anyone wanting to help out but unable to attend can also donate items to the silent auction by contacting Melissa at mlarson@alzheimer.sk.ca
Know the Signs
Alzheimer's affects so many families within Saskatchewan so if you are experiencing possible symptoms or are concerned for a loved one, the following list of signs to look for was developed by the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan;
1. Memory loss affecting day-to-day activities
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
3. Problems with language
4. Disorientation with time and space
5. Impaired judgment
6. Problems with abstract thinking
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes in mood or behavior
9. Changes in personality
10. Loss of initiative
If you are concerned about any of the signs, talk to your doctor.
For more information visit www.alzheimer.ca and read the powerful stories of those living with the disease at www.ilivewithdementia.ca #ilivewithdementia
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
Technology takes a Bite out of Crime
When living in a rural community, people rely on their neighbors and friends to keep an eye out for each other. This task becomes difficult when your closest neighbors’ home might be 5km or more away from you, so many people rely on technology to help protect their homes by installing motion sensors, security cameras, and alarm systems.
However even with the best security systems in place crime still occurs and according to Statistics Canada, there were 13,829 criminal code violations per 100,000 people in rural areas in Saskatchewan in 2017. These numbers only reflect crimes that were reported to local authorities and many people do not report what they feel are minor crimes so these numbers may be much higher.
The RCMP revealed a new program on March 7th, 2019 called the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network to help rural residents be aware of crime within their communities. Sign-up is free and the network notifies users via email, text and/or voice calls of active crime reports such as stolen vehicles, break and enters and vandalism. Jessica Cantos, from Saskatchewan RCMP Media Relations, states that as of September 9th, the RCMP reported having 12,513 residents registered to the network and have found that interest and momentum have gathered very quickly since its launch.
The local RCMP are reporting successes in recovering stolen property, laying charges, and resolving suspicious person complaints, as well as making the public more aware of what is occurring in their communities since making the network available. “This can be largely attributed to members of the public, as it is a response to the advisories is what led investigators to solve numerous crimes,” said Cantos.
The Saskatchewan Protection and Response Team also assisted the RCMP on several occasions, over the last year, by being able to provide the initial response to some in-progress, Criminal code calls for service. The RCMP working with their partner agencies such as the Ministry of Highways has meant a greater police presence within the rural communities and an enhanced ability to respond to emergencies and crimes-in-progress in a more effective and timely manner.
Between members of the RCMP, their partner agencies, and people like you, there are many more eyes and ears on our roadways helping to prevent and solve a rural crime which benefits the community as a whole. For questions or with help signing up to receive alerts for your area contact the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network at saskcrimewatch@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
However even with the best security systems in place crime still occurs and according to Statistics Canada, there were 13,829 criminal code violations per 100,000 people in rural areas in Saskatchewan in 2017. These numbers only reflect crimes that were reported to local authorities and many people do not report what they feel are minor crimes so these numbers may be much higher.
The RCMP revealed a new program on March 7th, 2019 called the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network to help rural residents be aware of crime within their communities. Sign-up is free and the network notifies users via email, text and/or voice calls of active crime reports such as stolen vehicles, break and enters and vandalism. Jessica Cantos, from Saskatchewan RCMP Media Relations, states that as of September 9th, the RCMP reported having 12,513 residents registered to the network and have found that interest and momentum have gathered very quickly since its launch.
The local RCMP are reporting successes in recovering stolen property, laying charges, and resolving suspicious person complaints, as well as making the public more aware of what is occurring in their communities since making the network available. “This can be largely attributed to members of the public, as it is a response to the advisories is what led investigators to solve numerous crimes,” said Cantos.
The Saskatchewan Protection and Response Team also assisted the RCMP on several occasions, over the last year, by being able to provide the initial response to some in-progress, Criminal code calls for service. The RCMP working with their partner agencies such as the Ministry of Highways has meant a greater police presence within the rural communities and an enhanced ability to respond to emergencies and crimes-in-progress in a more effective and timely manner.
Between members of the RCMP, their partner agencies, and people like you, there are many more eyes and ears on our roadways helping to prevent and solve a rural crime which benefits the community as a whole. For questions or with help signing up to receive alerts for your area contact the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network at saskcrimewatch@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
Tuesday 10 September 2019
Trespassing Laws Made Easier by New Hunting App
As of May 2019, the Saskatchewan Government made changes to the trespassing laws requiring anyone who wants to go onto private land for hunting and/or any other recreational use to obtain permission from the landowner prior to entry.
With millions of acres of rural land in Saskatchewan, it can be daunting to find the owner of a particular section of land, however, there is a company in Saskatchewan is looking to change all of that.
SaskLander, a Saskatchewan based company working with SARM, is in the process of developing an app that will bring landowners and land users together in one platform. The concept is simple, if you own land you can set restrictions, permissions, etc. and that information will be posted on an interactive map so anyone looking to use the land will have all the information readily available making for ease of contacting the owner to gain the required permission.
Aldo Scribante, from SaskLander, states that they want to accommodate all types of recreational land use, and to give the landowners as much freedom as possible for what activities they want to allow and when they want to allow it. The land will be color-coded; there will be a distinction between private and crown land and availability of parcels. Once a request has been processed, a digital certificate through the app will count as written permission to be on the property for the scheduled time and date.
Scribante noted that so far all of the owners they have talked to about the project have responded with interest and are happy to offer their advice to help build a service that meets their needs. Owners have been looking for a better way to manage property access other than posting signs and this will be a way for notice to be clearly available for both landowners and land users.
Currently, the service is still in the development stage and the plans are to have a full beta version running next year so that live testing may begin for the 2020 hunting season.
The service will be available as both an app and a website based service so that anyone with an internet connection can have access any time of day and Scribante stated there will be no fee for owners to register their land on the system. Land users will be charged a small fee to facilitate communication between themselves and the owner, however, the cost will be less than the cost of purchasing an RM map, driving from one parcel of land to another to find the owner and requesting permission. The fee will only be charged if a request for permission is made to an owner so browsing and other information will be made available for free.
This service will hopefully bring smoother transactions between owners and potential users and simplify the search for land available for hunting, snowmobiling and any other recreational activities.
For more information, visit their website at www.sasklander.ca
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
With millions of acres of rural land in Saskatchewan, it can be daunting to find the owner of a particular section of land, however, there is a company in Saskatchewan is looking to change all of that.
SaskLander, a Saskatchewan based company working with SARM, is in the process of developing an app that will bring landowners and land users together in one platform. The concept is simple, if you own land you can set restrictions, permissions, etc. and that information will be posted on an interactive map so anyone looking to use the land will have all the information readily available making for ease of contacting the owner to gain the required permission.
Aldo Scribante, from SaskLander, states that they want to accommodate all types of recreational land use, and to give the landowners as much freedom as possible for what activities they want to allow and when they want to allow it. The land will be color-coded; there will be a distinction between private and crown land and availability of parcels. Once a request has been processed, a digital certificate through the app will count as written permission to be on the property for the scheduled time and date.
Scribante noted that so far all of the owners they have talked to about the project have responded with interest and are happy to offer their advice to help build a service that meets their needs. Owners have been looking for a better way to manage property access other than posting signs and this will be a way for notice to be clearly available for both landowners and land users.
Currently, the service is still in the development stage and the plans are to have a full beta version running next year so that live testing may begin for the 2020 hunting season.
The service will be available as both an app and a website based service so that anyone with an internet connection can have access any time of day and Scribante stated there will be no fee for owners to register their land on the system. Land users will be charged a small fee to facilitate communication between themselves and the owner, however, the cost will be less than the cost of purchasing an RM map, driving from one parcel of land to another to find the owner and requesting permission. The fee will only be charged if a request for permission is made to an owner so browsing and other information will be made available for free.
This service will hopefully bring smoother transactions between owners and potential users and simplify the search for land available for hunting, snowmobiling and any other recreational activities.
For more information, visit their website at www.sasklander.ca
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
Monday 2 September 2019
Horse Rescues Needed in Saskatchewan
According to the Census of Agriculture, there is estimated to be over 100,000 owned horses in Saskatchewan that include everything from working and show horses, to family pets.
Unfortunately, not all of these beloved animals are being cared for properly and that is where the APSS (Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan) is called upon to help investigate reports of abuse and neglect. Animal Protection Services is a non-profit enforcement agency that enforces the Animal Protection Act, 2018 within the province of Saskatchewan.
Don Ferguson, executive director of the APSS, reports that in the 2018/2019 period their officers have responded to 151 reports regarding horses in distress which is a total of 1139 individual horses. Of those cases, 86 were founded cases. APSS classify cases as founded, unfounded or inconclusive. Founded cases are those that require some action or follow up is required by their Animal Protection Officers. Of the founded cases 37 horses were required to be seized from their owners and placed into protective custody.
The APSS does not have a facility for housing horses during this time and therefore rely on caretakers to care for the animals during the 5 business day hold period. This includes veterinarians with large animal facilities and/or foster homes that have been approved and inspected by the APSS. Horses may also be placed in Auction Marts as they are designated pound keepers for many RM's within Saskatchewan.
There are currently no horse rescues within the province of Saskatchewan that the APSS is able to utilize, however according to Ferguson, the Saskatchewan SPCA has a project underway for a rescue certification process so that there is a standard, province-wide, for rescue organizations.
This standard would allow rescue organizations to follow a guideline and adhere to regulations set by the Saskatchewan SPCA ensuring proper care for more animals in need.
If the APSS had a rescue organization they could utilize for all horses that have had to be placed into protective custody, it would make the transfer of animals much smoother as they could all be sent to one location instead of trying to secure individual care homes at the time of need.
Ferguson also reports that the number of calls the APSS receives for animal abuse reports in Saskatchewan has been pretty steady since 2015 showing there is still a dire need for rescue organizations within Saskatchewan.
As long as there are animals, there will be people who continue to not provide proper animal care which unfortunately means the services of the APSS will always be a necessity.
However, with the help of those who report suspected abuse, more education on animal welfare and hopefully a future horse rescue in Saskatchewan, more animal's lives can be saved.
To report animal abuse anonymously please contact:
Animal Protection Services Saskatchewan from 8-5pm @ 306-382-0002 or Toll-Free 1-844-382-0002
For after-hours emergencies, please contact your local RCMP.
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
Unfortunately, not all of these beloved animals are being cared for properly and that is where the APSS (Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan) is called upon to help investigate reports of abuse and neglect. Animal Protection Services is a non-profit enforcement agency that enforces the Animal Protection Act, 2018 within the province of Saskatchewan.
Don Ferguson, executive director of the APSS, reports that in the 2018/2019 period their officers have responded to 151 reports regarding horses in distress which is a total of 1139 individual horses. Of those cases, 86 were founded cases. APSS classify cases as founded, unfounded or inconclusive. Founded cases are those that require some action or follow up is required by their Animal Protection Officers. Of the founded cases 37 horses were required to be seized from their owners and placed into protective custody.
The APSS does not have a facility for housing horses during this time and therefore rely on caretakers to care for the animals during the 5 business day hold period. This includes veterinarians with large animal facilities and/or foster homes that have been approved and inspected by the APSS. Horses may also be placed in Auction Marts as they are designated pound keepers for many RM's within Saskatchewan.
There are currently no horse rescues within the province of Saskatchewan that the APSS is able to utilize, however according to Ferguson, the Saskatchewan SPCA has a project underway for a rescue certification process so that there is a standard, province-wide, for rescue organizations.
This standard would allow rescue organizations to follow a guideline and adhere to regulations set by the Saskatchewan SPCA ensuring proper care for more animals in need.
If the APSS had a rescue organization they could utilize for all horses that have had to be placed into protective custody, it would make the transfer of animals much smoother as they could all be sent to one location instead of trying to secure individual care homes at the time of need.
Ferguson also reports that the number of calls the APSS receives for animal abuse reports in Saskatchewan has been pretty steady since 2015 showing there is still a dire need for rescue organizations within Saskatchewan.
As long as there are animals, there will be people who continue to not provide proper animal care which unfortunately means the services of the APSS will always be a necessity.
However, with the help of those who report suspected abuse, more education on animal welfare and hopefully a future horse rescue in Saskatchewan, more animal's lives can be saved.
To report animal abuse anonymously please contact:
Animal Protection Services Saskatchewan from 8-5pm @ 306-382-0002 or Toll-Free 1-844-382-0002
For after-hours emergencies, please contact your local RCMP.
Written by: Bobbi - Lynne McGarry
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