March 23, 2006. For immediate release. Homeless animals in the Queen Charlotte Islands are getting a helping hand from partners at the Sunshine Coast SPCA Branch in Sechelt and Pacific Coastal Airlines.

A new program entitled "Wing and a Paw" has been launched to transfer homeless animals from the BC SPCA's Queen Charlotte Islands Branch to the SPCA shelter in Sechelt, where they have a greater chance of finding a new, loving home. The animals are being transferred free of charge by Pacific Coastal Airlines, which has donated space on their regular flights from Masset to Vancouver International Airport. The animals are picked up by SPCA staff and volunteers at the Vancouver airport and transported to the Sunshine Coast for adoption.

"This kind of partnership, and the generosity of Pacific Coastal Airlines, will enable us to save many more animal lives," says Bob Busch, General Manager of Operations for the BC SPCA. Since the program launched 16 cats and dogs have been transferred.