News & Events
Pet Photos with SantaPaws!
SantaPaws is coming to town again this year! December 14th from 12-3 at Coast Mountain GM in Smithers bring down your critters for pictures with Santa.
NWAS Annual General Meeting
Come to the NWAS AGM Tuesday November 5, starting at 7pm at the Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge
Join us for a Spooktacular weekend planned for October 19 ant 20th!
SAVE THE DATE we have a spooktacular weekend coming your way on October 19th and 20th. Adoptable critters and a costume contest! It’s bound to be a fun time!
Fundraising for Bella and her buddies Thank You Everyone!
What a generous community we live in! Goal met, with special thanks to an anonymous donor as well! Over the past few months, the NWAS has been inundated with severally injured animals. Check out Bella, Tank's and Chansey's story below. We have set up a Canada's Help campaign to help with the medical costs...more
Burgers for Bella - Saturday June 22nd at Total Pet
We will be having a BBQ fundraiser at Total Pet this coming Saturday (the 22nd) from 11-2. Bella is a super sweet, 38lb mix breed that was hit by a vehicle over the winter. She badly broke her femur....more
We are looking for a long term foster home for Ally
We don't want Ally spending her golden years at the shelter!
Thank you Jillian!
All of us here at NWAS want to send a huge thank you to Jillian Hestad for donating her honorarium for speaking at Houston’s International Woman’s Day to the animals at NWAS. You’ve helped provide vet care for our many incredibly critters.
Thank you to our volunteers
Some of the faces of NWAS, our team that we couldn't operate without. THANK YOU!
Thank you Total Pet - the bins were filled!
Thank you Total Pet in Smithers, and the generous community we live in for filling the bins for the shelter. 1273 cans of pet food was donated, and our local store placed 3rd for all Total Pet locations across BC! Thank you all!
Thank you for the Powder Hound Hootenanny Fundraiser!
A HUGE shout out and thank you to Smithers Brewing Co. , Babine Animal Hospital, Smithers BC and Riverside Kitchen Co. for partnering on the 2024 Powder Hound Hootenanny fundraiser for the shelter! Over $2,000 was raised. Blaine and Deb stopped by with a cheque, and to meet with some of the pups! The Powder Hound Hootenanny was such a fun afternoon, great beer, fantastic food and music. Thanks for your support!
Smithers Feed Store Cat food drive - March 30-2024
We have partnered with the Smithers Feed Store to have a stuff the trailer event on Saturday March 30th from 10-2. We currently have 47 cats in care, as you can imagine that many cats goes through ALOT of kibble...more
Cat Cafe March 23 as part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week
We are all so excited, especially the cats we have lined up to go! For more information or to book a time ....more
Thank you! Powder Hound Part 2 - March 9-24 from 1 to 5pm
Thanks to everyone who came out and supported this event. Great food from Riverside Kitchen, cold Powder Hound beer brewed by Smithers Brewing Co, and music by Aurora Lavender and friends. Thanks to Smithers Brewing Co and Babine Animal Hospital for hosting!
Total Pet Adoption Event Feb 17 and 18!
We are having a huge adoption event at Total Pet in Smithers on February 17/18. Cats will be in the spotlight on Saturday from 1-4 and Sunday will be all about dogs from 10-3!
Thank you Royal Bank!
A BIG thank you to our local Royal Bank branch for selecting the Northwest Animal Shelter for a donation of $1500 last September. They also rolled up their sleeves and helped with the set up of our Garage sale! Thank you for your efforts supporting local charities! Pictured with NWAS representatives Lorna and Jean, are Renee Van Osch, Lonny Wiebe and Terrilyn Hutchinson, as well as a few furry NWAS alumni.
Pet Photos with Santa
Santa Claws is coming to town! Bring your pets of all varieties down to Coast Mountain GM in Smithers on December 9th to get a beautiful photo! ...more,,,
A BIG Thank You to Sighard and BV Outdoor Essentials
The results for the 2023 Banff Mountain Film Festival are in....
It’s Back! NWAS Garage Sale September 23!
It's Back! The NWAS annual garage sale will be on Saturday September 23 at the Davidson Hall (Fall Fair Grounds), starting at 8am to approx 1pm....more
Please SPAY and NEUTER
Shelters are overrun with cats/kittens and dogs/puppies. The only solution is to spay and neuter pets...more on Why to spay and neuter...
The NWAS Team
These are some of the faces (not all) that make the Northwest Animal Shelter run. It takes a lot of dedication from our Volunteers, Caretakers, and Foster homes ....
A Huge Thank You to Babine Animal Hospital and Smithers Brewing Co
Huge thank you to Smithers Brewing Co. Babine Animal Hospital, Smithers BC Riverside Kitchen Co. And everyone that came out to this amazing event....more
Babine Animal Hospital and Smithers Brewing Company join forces to help NWAS!
Thank you Babine Animal Hospital and Smithers Brewing Company for supporting animals in the Bulkley Valley with this amazing event - March 4 from 4-8pm!
Pet Photos with Santa! - A Success!
Thanks for the volunteers who put this on, and everyone who supported the event - we raised $844!
Thank you Pawsome Adventures!
Sending a Huge shoutout and thank you to Miake at Pawsome Adventure in Houston for running another successful food drive benefitting NWAS. Pictured with NWAS volunteer Brandy.
Big Thank you to Smithers Feed and Pawlicious PupCakes
All we can say is THANK YOU we have been absolutely blown away by the generosity of our community...more
Why spay your dog?
Why spay your female dog ? You don’t plan to breed her and you watch her when she is in heat, right? You make sure there is no chance of pregnancy ? Well… here is a size comparison for you....more
Lessons in love, loss and life: Thoughts from Bill and Tara
You never know what life has in store for you. You may think you do; I mean you have that great plan and all. That plan based on personal experience, disciplined and consistently applied action and well thought out forecasting. But you know, sometimes life just has other plans.....
Livia - Mother of the Year (so far)
Livia, mother of the year! A family of 4 kittens were orphaned recently when the mom was accidentally killed...more
The stories Solar could tell, if only she could talk….
She is an incredibly sweet cat that had a small strange lump near her rib cage.....
Thank You True North Raw
Thank you so much, True North Raw, for your ongoing support of the Northwest Animal Shelter - we appreciate it so much! 15% of the earnings from the Grab & Go treats gets donated to pets in need, and they are highly recommended by NWAS alumni Josette and Rango.
What happens to the animals that don’t get adopted right away….
People often ask us what happens to the animals in our care when they do not get adopted…here is your answer folks.
Thank You - Betty White Challange
Thank you to everyone who donated to our Betty White Challenge Fundraiser. We raised $8821.65 for the companion animals of the Bulkley Valley and surrounding areas. An extra special thank you goes to Scott and Erin Rowsell of Pro-Tech Forest Resources Ltd and Ryan and Missy Hinds of SilverKing Helicopters for your generous support.
A Hidden Treasure - Shelter dog Gaily
When people are looking for a dog at the shelter they tend to be looking for puppies or young, healthy dogs. But there are many hidden treasures for those lucky enough to find them....more
FOSTER homes needed!
NWAS needs your help! Our list of available foster homes is getting very low. We need temporary homes for dogs and cats between Topley and Hazelton. You can have other pets and still foster! Each animal has different needs and requirements. We have some long term fosters and some short term....more
Celebrating 20 Years!
In late May the NWAS celebrated the 20th anniversary of becoming a registered charity. It has taken a lot of people, hard work, and dedication to get to where we are today. It will .... more
Lemonade please….
Iza (10y) and Taylor (8y) wanted to help the animals at the shelter. During the heatwave they came up with the idea ... more
Paw Month at Total Pet!
Did you know it’s Paw Month at Total Pet? They are currently collecting donations for NWAS in store and you can put your (or your pet’s) name on a paw to go in the window! Thank you to everyone who has already donated! They will be collecting until the end of the month.
NWAS Online Auction Fundraiser Finale
Happy Monday Everyone!!! I am happy to announce our Final Total of Funds raised for North West Animal Shelter from this Online Auction....more
Fostering the Runner Litter - Part 4
The title of these articles is a bit misleading now, when Part 1 was posted I was only fostering the 3 Runner kits. Then, to my great relief, Ivy and her 4 kits came along. For four weeks or so, Ivy took over a large part of the kitten care.....more
Fostering the Runner Litter - Part 3
Ivy, the Runners feline foster mother, has been great for the Runners. They are all gaining weight and otherwise benefiting from her nursing and grooming....more
Fostering the Runner Litter - Part 2
A good friend has a strong belief that our thoughts affect our lives, we can choose how we interpret various situations and if we are in need it can be useful to focus on what we want, literally “putting it out to the Universe”. The Runner kittens and I were certainly in need.....more
Fostering the Runner Litter - Part 1
The good thing about modern technology is how easy it is to get in touch with people. The bad thing is how easy it is for people to get in touch. So when the “ping” of a text message sounded at 10.30 pm on a Sunday evening I knew there was a problem, probably with the shelter.
NWAS Online Auction Fundraiser!
Something Super fun and brand new is in the works for North West Animal Shelter! We will be holding our first ever Online Auction! Fundraising has become a bit of a challenge for NWAS during this Pandemic, but our commitment to caring for animals in need, and finding the best furever homes, has never been more important....more
Membership Matters!
Support NWAS in our efforts to help domestic animals in the Bulkley Valley - take out a membership!
NWAS Alumni taking Training with Noel Pepin
The following lucky dogs, all NW alumni, and their dedicated owners took part in the Noel Pepin Canine tracking and obedience classes....more
Rogue Fund Donation
In May, 2020, an extremely generous donation of $50,000 was made to the Northwest Animal Shelter Society, under the Rogue Legacy fund....more
COVID-19 and the Northwest Animal Shelter
In order to protect our staff and volunteers, and continue to be able to assist animals in need in the Bulkley Valley, we are restricting our intake of animals to the most urgent cases only....more
Houston Guns & Hoses Fundraiser
A big thank you to the organizers, volunteers and those who laced up the skates for the Guns & Hoses Hockey game between the Houston RCMP and the Houston Volunteer Fire Department on Family Day....more
Guns & Hoses - Houston
Looking for a fun Family Day activity? You should head to Houston for the Guns and Hoses charity Hockey Game. This year all proceeds will be going to NWAS and we plan to have a representative at the game
Staying Sane in the Cold - by Tara
How Stevie and I are staying sane at -20.....more
Parvo Alert!
Just a reminder to those who have dogs in their lives that there are current cases of Canine Parvovirus in the Bulkley Valley....more
Thank you Outdoor Essentials!
The Banff Mountain Film Festival results are in!
NWAS Garage Sale Huge Success!
Thank you everyone! Our Annual Garage Sale was a huge success.....
Banff Mountain Film Festival
It's back - September 26 at 6:30. Come out and enjoy an evening of amazing films....
Donation in Rogue’s Memory- thank you!
Northwest Animal Shelter is the very grateful recipient of the largest single donation in our history to date....
Results are in - Iron Chef Bulkley Valley All Stars 2019!
The results are in, and the NWAS is the grateful recipient of a whopping $4,500 as our share in the Iron Chef Bulkley Valley All Stars 2019!
Thank you Wetzin’kwa Community Forest Corp!
A big shout out to the Wetzin'kwa Community Forest Corp.....
Northern Animal Groups Hold “Big Build” July 6th to Keep Dogs and Cats Out of the Cold and Heat
In the house with their family is the best shelter for dogs and cats. However, there are still dogs and cats who spend their days and nights outdoors.....more
Disaster Preparedness
The forecast is for a hot dry summer, so some essential tips....
Adventures of a NWAS Volunteer - CATS? byTara
“Yeah, but I’m not a cat person…”
Iron Chef Bulkley Valley 2019
What an amazing night at the Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge last night....
Adoption Fair April 27-19 - Total Pet
Paw Month, come and Meet the animals at Total Pet April 27
Puppy Voodoo (by NWAS volunteer Tara)
Guys.. it happened. A couple of Saturdays ago, my ice-cold, puppy-disliking heart just shattered. Ugh.I wanted this puppy so bad,.....
Gus
Meet GUS. This sweet old man showed up as a stray in Houston. The caring home owner immediately recognized that something wasn't right with poor Gus.....
Happy New Year, and thank you!
The start of a new year is also a time to reflect on the year just passed.....
Tis the Season of Giving
Thank You Total Pet!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. We just cannot say "Thank You" enough to the amazing staff and management at Total Pet in Smithers. This store voluntarily showcases cats that we have available for adoption....
Spotlight on a Foster/Volunteer
My name is Mikayla Adema, I've been a foster mom for almost 6 years. In those 6 years we've had over 25 dogs come and live with us....
Adventures of a NWAS Volunteer THE BIG FAIL
THE BIG FAIL “Okay. OkayOkayOkay. Okay.. OkayOkay.” Not sure why I’m saying this, it’s mostly for my sake. I’d hoped it might calm the excited brown blur in the pen in front of me. This small Pitbull would shoot out like bucking horse in a flurry of ecstatic wiggles when I opened the door, grimacing as her whip-like tail hit her face over and over.....(read more)
The story of Quinn
Free roaming animals and vehicles do not mix well and if ever proof is needed just talk to the Northwest Animal Shelter. In the span of a few months late last summer and fall, we took in 5 dogs and 4 cats with injuries due to motor vehicle accidents, injuries which have meant pain, suffering and major life changes for the animals and huge vet bills for the shelter....
The Power Litter
The “Power litter” were given strong names, Electra, Diesel, Hydro, Wind, Nuke, Geo and Solar as they needed all the help they could get just to survive....
Adventures of a NWAS Volunteer
An indescribable, never previously scientifically documented smell has invaded my nostrils.....
Support NWAS - Canada Helps Fundraiser to Help with Veterinary bills
Another call or email, a dog has been injured and had to be dragged off the road. Can we help? ... read more...
Porter update
Thanks NWAS supporters!
Bulkley Valley Insurance BBQ Fundraiser - Thanks so much!
Thanks to Bulkley Valley Insurance Services (BVIS) for organizing a fundraiser BBQ for the NWAS! We received a much needed $1,375 from this event.
Thank You Total Pet!
Store manager Janet and Kathy presented the NWAS with a cheque for $1,662.23, raised during their Pet Appreciation month last April!
Wetzin’kwa Community Grant
In 2013 the NWAS received a grant from the Wetzin'Kwa Community Forest Corporation to construct an Isolation/Wash Unit, where at risk animals can be segregated and animals cleaned as needed. The Community Grant Program was established to distribute profits from the operation of the Wetzin'kwa Community Forest tenure back into the community.
Royal Bank Day of Service - they aren’t kidding!
NWAS was the recipient of the Royal Bank Day of Service grant! On June 1, 9 volunteers came to the shelter to work, and did they ever! Grass was cut, slash loaded on a trailer, painting, fencing, and general cleanup. A big thank you to Tara, Raeleen, Lisa, Tina, Shawn, Ian, Adele, Don and Ada - pictured above with Tooley, NWAS dog available for adoption.
Mansi’s Story - A small dog in need
Mansi came into NW's care on Feb 4th, mat bound and scared after a number of winter months running loose in the country unable to be caught. Sadly her litermate disappeared, probably the victim of predators. Mansi spent a full month in foster care rebuilding her confidence and getting back to who she really is.
Roscoe’s Story
Roscoe came into our care with an old injury to his front leg that was not going to be an easy fix. It was suggested that extensive physiotherapy, including water therapy, might help, so we decided it would be best to get him south where there were more resources available. We, and more importantly Roscoe, had an amazing advocate agree to accept him into care.
Shelter property progress report
The NWAS had an exceptionally busy summer and fall 2012, developing the shelter property and moving our portable kennels and fencing out. Much work had to be done, from clearing trees, leveling the property, putting in the water line and hydro. The kennel buildings were moved to the property, as was the Atco trailer purchased last spring
Steti Transport donates gravel and sand to the Shelter!
A big thank you to Steffen Apperloo of Steti Transport for donating multiple loads of sand a gravel to the shelter property this fall!
Smithers Rugby Club scrums for the Animals!
The Smithers Rugby Club helped out at the shelter property clearing slash, stumps and firewood. A BIG thank you to Martin Hughes, Deric Belke, Cheryl Gilbert, Matt Mazurek and Ben Harris for volunteering! A lot was accomplished in one afternoon (would have taken us a looooong time
Garage Sale Wrap 2012
Thank you to everyone who helped us with the garage sale. We made well over $3000.00 again this year. A huge thanks to those who donated and dropped by the sale, and all the volunteers that helped out! Rayla helped out again, raising almost $400 for the cause with her donation bucket! She certainly deserved her rest.NWAS buys property: Press Release
SMITHERS, B.C (June 21, 2012) - The Northwest Animal Shelter Society is one step closer to its goal of opening a permanent animal shelter in the Smithers area. They recently closed on the purchase of two parcels of land, equaling nearly 10 acres of property. The new site is within easy driving distance from Smithers, has road access, is fully serviced and has the required zoning for a shelter.