Pet Parents Guide 2026

APRIL 2026 | TRUENORTHLIVING.CA

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Pet Parents Guide

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Experience the excitement at the Canadian Pet Expo — where pets are welcome, brands come to life, and unforgettable moments happen all weekend long. Get your tickets and join the celebration!

LEVI & SMUCKERS:

The Duo Bringing Heart (and Chaos) to Pet Parenthood A look inside the playful, unpredictable, and deeply rewarding journey of life with two unforgettable companions.

How Has Levi & Smuckers impacted your life?

Follow them on Instagram @levithehuskyrescue and read the entire interview on truenorthliving.ca.

They’ve impacted my life in ways that go far beyond what I ever expected.

Yes, they’ve played a big role in building my career by sharing their quirky personalities online — but more than anything, they’ve brought so much joy into my life and have been a constant through every season, including some of the hardest ones.

Humane Education Helps Stop Animal Cruelty and Gender-Based Violence By teaching empathy and respect, humane education addresses the connection between animal cruelty and human violence, helping build safer communities.

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u ma ne educat ion teaches empathy and respect for all living beings, helping to address both animal cruelty and human violence. Humane Canada’s Promising Practices Project, funded

by Women and Gender Equality Canada, supports programs that engage men and boys as allies.

Animals are often used to control victims, highlighting the need to reach youth and tackle root causes

of violence. By educating children and youth, we can help break this cycle. Research shows that those who harm animals are more likely to harm people. Humane education fosters positive behaviours, conflict resolution, and kindness, contributing to safer communities.

Humane Canada is a leading national charity dedicated to animal welfare, representing over 60 humane societies and SPCAs across Canada.

Learn more about Humane Canada’s Promising Practices Project at humanecanada.ca/promisingpractices.

This article was sponsored by Humane Canada.

Living with them day to day has taught me so many things that I didn’t even realize at the time would carry over into motherhood. Patience.

Consistency. Staying calm in chaos. Showing up every day, even when you’re tired.

And when I became a mom to twins, I realized how much of that translated.

They’ve been more than just pets — they’ve shaped how I move through life, and ultimately, how I show up as a mom.

How Humane Canada Accreditation Is Raising the Bar for Animal Welfare Humane Canada Accreditation recognizes organizations that meet rigorous standards for animal care, governance, and transparency, strengthening trust with communities and donors.

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rganizations are independently assessed to ensure they demonstrate the highest standards that meet continuous improvement and ethical operations. Accreditation provides confidence that they are operating ethically, responsibly, and in the best interests of both animals and people. The Ottawa Humane Society led the way as the first organization in Canada to achieve Humane Canada Accreditation, setting a powerful example of sector leadership and accountability. More recently, the Edmonton Humane Society and the Hamilton/ Burlington SPCA have earned their accreditation seals, joining a growing movement of organizations voluntarily committed to nationally recognized standards that you can trust.

Hu m a ne Canada Accreditation represents more than just a seal; it signifies a commitment to excellence and a pledge to care for animals with transparency and integrity.

Learn more at humane canada.ca.

This article was sponsored by Humane Canada.

Publisher: Malcom Sharples Business Development Manager: Luca Bidini Content & Client Success Manager: Nicole Kansakar Country Manager: Samantha Taylor Creative Director: Kylie Armishaw Digital Traffic Manager: Vansh Chandwaney Designer: Christina Morgan All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created

by Mediaplanet and did not involve Maclean’s Magazine or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.

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Fur, Mess, and Muddy Paws: A Pet Parent’s Guide to a Cleaner Home Pet-friendly homes need appliances that go the extra mile when it comes to tackling pet hair and dander.

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eing a pet parent means more than cuddles, cute tricks, and joyful greetings at the front door. If you have a dog, cat, or rabbit, you already know about the everyday realities of life with a furry companion: pet hair and fur ending up on every surface, muddy paws, allergens and dander, and the never-ending laundry pile.

But did you know there’s a laundry system specifically engineered for homes with pets? The Maytag® Pet Pro Laundry System is built with powerful filtration and cleaning performance designed for pet-friendly homes. It’s a reliable solution to keep your home clean and healthy year-round.

A system designed for pet owners ​​​​ According to the Canadian Animal Health Institute, m​​​​​​ore than half of Canadian households have at least one cat or dog. And while pets bring us joy, they also bring extra cleaning demands. ​ ​​ Pet dander and hair can accumulate quickly in clothing, blankets, and pet bedding.

Veterinarians often recommend washing pet bedding every one to two weeks to reduce allergens, bacteria, and dander buildup.​But washing frequently is only half the battle — having the right machine makes all the difference.​​​ That's exactly what the Maytag® Pet Pro Laundry System was built for​​— a clean you can see.

S​imply ​​press ​​the Pet Pro option to activate the​​​​​ built-in Pet Pro Filter​, which traps and removes​​​ pet hair from clothes​. In​​​the dryer​,​​the Pet Pro option lifts and captures r​ emaining hair from fabrics​,​collect​ing​it in an extra-large lint trap​

—​so pet hair ends up where it belongs, not back on your laundry.

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Wash pet bedding more often than you think:

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Choose pet-safe detergents:

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Heavy-duty cleaning and proven reliability Standard washers aren't designed to capture pet hair — often redistributing it onto other items or clogging over time.​​​​The Pet Pro Laundry System features deep clean cycles built for heavily soiled loads and the Extra Power option, which boosts stain-fighting performance on any cycle with an intense pre-wash and extra agitation so you can walk away while stains wash away. Now, tackling muddy paws, pet accidents, and heavily soiled bedding just got easier.

Pet parents need a machine they can count on — every load, every time. Maytag has built its reputation on exactly that: dependability and performance for households that run multiple loads a week, backed by a 10-year Limited Parts W ​​ arranty*.

For busy families, that means less rewashing, less stress and more time for what matters. *See product warranty for details

WRITTEN BY Tania Amardeil

4 Pet Laundry Tips for a Cleaner, Fresher Home

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Pet beds, blankets, and covers can quickly collect fur, dander, and bacteria. Many veterinarians recommend washing pet bedding every one to two weeks to help control allergens and odors – more often during heavy shedding seasons.

Harsh chemicals and strong fragrances can irritate sensitive pets.

When washing pet bedding, blankets, or clothing, choose a gentle, fragrance-free detergent that cleans effectively without leaving behind irritating residues.

Match the cycle to the mess: Pet laundry often involves more than everyday dirt. Muddy blankets and heavily used bedding may need a more powerful wash. Features like the Maytag® Extra Power button boost stain-fighting performance on ​​any wash cycle and help ensure items are thoroughly cleaned and evenly dried.

Don't overload your washer: It may be tempting to wash everything at once, but overloading the washer can make it harder to remove pet hair and dirt.

From muddy paws to fur-covered blankets, trust Maytag to handle the mess. Scan the QR code to discover your next laundry upgrade.

This article was sponsored by Maytag.

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Choosing Pet Insurance Can Help Your Pet — and Your Wallet Protection for your pet, peace of mind for you. Let pet insurance help take the sting out of unexpected vet bills.

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here's no two ways about it, your pet is part of the family and you want what's best for your furry pal. You buy healthy food and make sure they get enough exercise. You play with them, love them, and do what you can to keep them safe.

Despite our best efforts, pets can get hurt. Accidents happen, pets get sick, and vet bills can add up quickly. Even routine vet care can be expensive.

Pet insurance can help pet parents get reimbursed for the covered costs of injuries, illness, and — depending on the plan you choose — preventative care.

Spot Pet Insurance is one of Canada’s best-rated pet insurance providers. It's an easy-to-use insurance program, with coverage for unexpected accidents and illnesses. Pet owners can visit any licensed veterinarian in Canada or the U.S. for treatment. Plus, Spot offers up to $1,500 in savings on pet essentials from partner brands with the Spot Perks program.*

Get to know Spot Pet Insurance Shertmann Falzchuck, Global Head of Growth at Spot Pet Insurance shares more about the company that now covers more than a million pets in North America.

What milestones have you hit at Spot as you grew?

There's been so many amazing milestones during our five year journey to a million pets across Canada and the U.S. The first one that comes to mind would probably be the first “1,000 pet” day that we had, where we were able to cover 1,000 cats and dogs in one day. We had been nearing it, week after week, trying to close that gap. Finally, we were able to

hit it. We pulled up our sleeves and we figured it out. After that success, I knew we would have continued success at Spot.

Do you have a favourite partnership or collaboration Spot has worked on?

I think my favorite partnership is probably our work with well-known YouTuber Mr. Beast. Our Spot brand did a YouTube collaboration where we helped empty out a pet shelter in Florida. 100 pets were adopted over the course of a weekend. I think the partnership really benefited both sides, where he provided awareness, we offered life changing pet insurance, that's what we really aspire to do.

Shertmann Falzchuck Global Head of Growth, Spot Pet Insurance

What has Spot done that makes you proud?

We have done an amazing job in the Employee Benefit space across North America. We offer Spot plans as a voluntary benefit there, and seeing the growth of that particular sales channel made me particularly proud. It takes a long time for us to build those relationships, build the trust for the brokers that we work with, to allow us to be a solution for them. We're here for our customers. We're here for pets, and we love what we do every single day.

WRITTEN BY Jen Mallia *No purchase necessary. Based on total combined Spot Perks discounts applied to avg. vendor cart value. See https://spotpetinsurance.ca/spot-perks.

For all terms and conditions visit www.spotpetinsurance.ca/sample-policy.

Insurance plans are underwritten by Northbridge General Insurance Corporation and administered by PTZ Insurance Services Ltd. Insurance plans are marketed and produced by Spot Pet Insurance Services, ULC. Media Planet is not a licensed insurance agency nor an underwriter of insurance. All inquiries regarding insurance should be directed to the licensed insurance agency.

Visit spotpetinsurance.ca to learn more.

This article was sponsored by Spot Pet Insurance.