Haiti Chihuahua! It was a diagnosis of a puppy who had gotten into a stash of marijuana. The owner was convinced the dog had brain damage. But after some diagnostic tests, the small dog was treated and sent home to sleep, and while the wound wasn't too bad, it was a reminder to keep dangerous food out of reach. However.
This story follows the music captured on camera during the first two seasons of the TV show Pets & Pickers, which centers on life at the Regional Animal Welfare Society (RAPS) in Richmond, British Columbia, and shared across North America. It's just a part of it. Hour-long documentary episodes come and go at the RAPS Thrift Store. There, a team of “pickers” scavenges donated boxes containing the contents of abandoned storage lockers to find treasures that generate income that aids general veterinary care and saves the lives of imprisoned animals. . Together with animal protection groups.
The camera then moves to the nearby RAPS veterinary hospital. There, desperate people bring in cats, dogs, ferrets, iguanas, snakes and other animals for life-saving treatment.
“It’s a cross between two TV genres,” says RAPS CEO, who also shares the good news on-screen with anxious pet parents that hospitals will help pay for treatment. A certain Eil Lichtman says: “It's themed around the real world of treasure hunters and ER.”
Lots of laughs. The things people put in storage lockers and forget about can be hilarious and intimate, and the pickers include some unforgettable figures. But in the hospital, there's also some edge-of-your-seat drama and tears. Anxiety and relief.
The international award-winning show has just finished filming its third season, which will air this year. In 2023, Pets & Pickers won the North American Telly Award for “Best Documentary Series.” The first two seasons air on Warner Bros. Animal Planet in the U.S. and are available in Canada on Animal Planet, Crave, CTV.ca and the CTV app.
“We captured something special,” says Tyson Hepburn, head of Tyson Media and producer of Pets & Pickers. “Everyone intuitively understands that there is a strong bond between animals and people, that animals are part of our family. We capture that on screen. The magic of this show is , to be able to go from tears and anxiety to joy and laughter in a matter of seconds.”
Pat Johnson is the communications manager for the Regional Humane Society.
