Not in the mood for romance? B.C. animal charities launch unique Valentine’s Day fundraisers

Screengrabs from Instagram posts by the Regional Animal Protection Society and the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program promote unique Valentine's Day fundraisers.

Two B.C. charities have launched fundraisers appealing to people who aren’t feeling particularly romantic this Valentine’s Day, offering chances to exact symbolic revenge on an ex while helping animals.

The Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program, which is dedicated to working to restore the bird’s population in B.C., runs a popular annual campaign called “No RegRATS.”

For a minimum donation of $5, donors will see a rat named after an ex of their choosing—and then fed to one of the resident owls. To commemorate the occasion, the charity will send an emailed photo of a rat and the owl it was fed to.

“This is a symbolic fundraiser; the rat and owl in your email may not be the exact pair involved in your act of vengeance. But rest assured: your donation is keeping these endangered owls well fed!” the charity’s website says.

There are fewer than six northern spotted owls in the wild in B.C., making it one of the nation’s most endangered species, according to the organization, which notes its breeding program is home to more than 40 owls and is the only one of its kind in the world.

“Our small team works 365 days per year to prevent this iconic West Coast species from disappearing from Canada. We act as temporary caretakers for the owls until the species can independently thrive and reconnect with their ancestral forests,” the website says.

The Regional Animal Protection Society, which operates a cat sanctuary, animal hospital, and adoption centre on the Lower Mainland, runs an annual campaign called “Neuter Your Ex.”

For a minimum donation of $25, which will be earmarked to help cover the costs of spaying or neutering cats, donors can submit the name of an ex to be entered into a draw. Ultimately, a name will be chosen to bestow upon a kitten rescued by the organization.

“The rescue kitten will be spayed or neutered in honour of your ex…because some things shouldn’t breed,” the RAPS website says.

RAPS cat sanctuary gives homes to hundreds of surrendered, abandoned and feral cats, making it unique in Canada as a facility that gives a forever home to felines that have been deemed unadoptable.

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