A special thanks for our vendors including Island Vet Hospital, True Carnivores and DogSafe Pet First Aid for helping RAPS provide this event. An extra special thank you to Tracey Garbutt for working as our pet photographer hence making this fundraiser possible and all our dedicated volunteers for the day. Thanks! Check out pictures of this fun day. Pictures.
This wonderful photo was sent to us from Elsie and Art who adopted their rabbit from RAPS. Their rabbit is almost an inter-species cross-dresser, but he's a rabbit dressed as a rabbit -- so I guess that's not CROSS-dressing! Perhaps she's a bunny ballerina. That's cool! RAPS is delighted to know that Elsie and Art are enjoying their new furry friend.
Codi was a perfect dog without the perfect home. Debbie and her family have changed all that. They adopted Codi (left) and she and her new friend Shadow (right) are now best of buds. Here's the update on Codi:
The City of Richmond Council is considering a ban on the sale of animals in pet stores. RAPS has come a long way since we started advocating for this ban back in March 2008. Over 700 community members have signed our petition, and we were grateful to have an article in the Richmond News about this important issue. Check out the Richmond Review article. Also, check out this wonderful editorial from our RAPS Volunteer, Helen.
The RAPS staff have been back at trapping on the urban farm in Richmond. It's estimated that we 
now have around 40 cats in our care -- still 50 -60 more to catch. Those will be the hard ones to catch. Some of the kittens are recovering at the Richmond Animal Shelter.
This little yellow kitten showed some of the worst signs of the upper respiratory infection. (See the swollen eyes.)
The members of this batch of smaller kittens are eating on their own now. A couple had to be had fed for a few days, but they caught on quickly. Their mum could not be found, so they get special care at the Richmond Animal Shelter. 
Many of you may remember Coco, a long-haired little dog, that ended up having a puppy one night after she arrived at the Richmond Animal Shelter. She and her puppy, KD, were adopted by a wonderful family in Richmond. (See photo left), but look at her now (a big, happy puppy, with one of her new family members). We're so glad that Coco and KD got a great home.
Check out this story on the Vancouver Sun website.
Then two weeks ago, Officer Burnham decided to ask for help from the public to obtain a large dog trap. He posted a listing on Craigslist explaining the dog’s situation, and Gwen, a volunteer from Chilliwack, offered to assist with her dog trap. During his day off, Officer Burnham and Gwen began trapping at 2:00 p.m. on that Sunday afternoon. By 9:00 P.M. Masha approached the trap which Gwen had equipped with a fresh barbecued chicken for bate. Masha could not resist, and Gwen and Officer Burnham finally caught sweet Masha at 10:00 p.m. after almost three full months on the streets of Richmond.
Over the past several weeks, RAPS staff and volunteers have been trapping cats and kittens in a barn in Richmond. These 'Urban Barn Cats' are suffering from an upper respiratory infections and ear mites. All require medical attention, but first we have to catch them. So far litters of kittens and around 15 adults cats have been taken and are being successfully treated for their illness. But this job won't be done until all 100 cats are in RAPS' care.
Keep checking back to the RAPS Blog for updates on the Urban Barn Cats.
This is a cat who has had a hard life. He was abandoned by his owners when they moved out of their home and left to fend for himself. Somehow he ended up being very seriously burned on both of his front legs and paws. It was only then that the neighbors called RAPS to have us care for him. After getting treatment at the vet, Zippo (now Hanson) was cared for at the sanctuary where Animal Care Staff tended his wounds and shuttled him back and forth to the vet for months as he healed. As he recovered, his sweet and loving personality came shining through. He truly is a lap cat once he gets to know you. 
This past march he was moved over to the shelter on Number 5 Road in the hopes that someone would fall in love with this sweetheart and adopt him. So far no one has. Could you be Hanson's forever friend? He so deserves all the love in the world after his ordeal.
We adopted Darling, now known as Lola, almost 2 months ago and it as if she was always part of the family. From the day we first saw her, it was as if she was supposed to be ours. Even our cat Olli has adapted and while they might not be best friends, they certainly manage to live peacefully. Lola brings a wonderful energy to our home - we all share in her care and exercise. She loves the Richmond trails, the dog park and joins in mountain biking excursions to the Delta Watershed and the North shore. She is the sweetest, good-natured creatur
e and we are so happy that we could give her a good home.
donation. Thanks!