Year: 2023

The Thing About Threes

December 12, 2023

By Taylor Huestis

They say bad things happen in threes. But sometimes you’re lucky enough to have something that helps you get through them. For me, that thing had four legs and a wet nose.

You can imagine working in this environment it can be tempting to adopt every animal. Over the past six years with the Nova Scotia SPCA, I’ve witnessed thousands of inspiring pet transformations.

Deep down I always knew the most perfect match for that pet was out there. And my (or realistically my husband’s) willpower was strong.

Well, that all went out the window when I met Hazel.

It was a regular Tuesday morning. I had walked into the shelter to film a video of a cat to highlight on Jack 92.9’s Wet Nose Wednesday when I saw Hazel’s puppy dog eyes.

I began asking questions and talking faster than any East Coaster – ever.

The shelter staff explained that Hazel, 14-years-young, was the newest member of the Palliative Care program. She found herself in the SPCA’s care when her owner sadly passed away. And I found myself frantically calling my husband.

Just like that, Hazel came home with us.

With Hazel’s age and health conditions, we committed to giving her adventures and love in her sunset years. Little did we know Hazel would become our rock through three big life challenges.

Only weeks after adopting Hazel, wildfires hit our community.

While my colleagues at the SPCA jumped into action to help displaced families, we fled our home – unsure if we would ever see it again.

My husband, a Firefighter, went to work while I, like many others, anxiously listened for updates. I didn’t know how to get out of bed. That is, until I felt a nudge from Hazel. She did some of her best work giving unconditional love that week.

A few months later, she was called into action for the second time.

I ended up suffering from a freak fainting spell home alone. Because of this, I ended up with a concussion and a tear to my rotator cuff.

While I recovered, Hazel became my shadow. She stuck by my side no matter what I was doing.

Just as I was starting to feel back to myself again, we were hit with the third and most devastating blow – losing my gramps.

Hazel, the pup who refused to sleep on beds of any kind, crawled into bed with us every morning. She would lay her head on my chest as I cried and lick away tears. I’m convinced Hazel knew what we were going through. Hazel had experienced before what it was like to suddenly lose a loved one.

After these three things happened, I was out for a walk with Hazel and was convinced that 2023 was awful and unlucky. But this is when she taught me her best lesson to date.

It was pouring rain but Hazel was experiencing pure joy. I chuckled to myself about how pets live permanently in the present. They are only thinking about today and right now. They are grateful and can find the good in everything.

She was simply happy because she was with me.

While we continued our walk, I shifted my outlook. Maybe this year we were actually extremely lucky.

  1. With the wildfires, our garage went up in smoke and the fire came within feet of our home… but somehow, our home and family members were all spared.
  2. With my accident, I needed 8 weeks of physio… but didn’t require surgery.
  3. With my gramps, he left our world… but we were able to be with him in his final moments to surround him with love.

So, as this year comes to a close, I’m choosing to have a Hazel mindset where I look for the pawsitive things in life.

For the pets here at the SPCA, you are their silver lining. Whether you are donating, volunteering, advocating, adopting, thrifting, studying, or supporting, we are thankful you are a part of our SPCA family.

Our wish this year is that you have a magical holiday season. If you have pets, make sure you give them a cuddle from our team. We’ll make sure to give our shelter pets extra lovin’ from you.

And for Hazel? Well, after her hard work giving us hope this year, her photo is at the very top of our Christmas tree. It was only fitting. Hazel is both an angel and a star.

Taylor Huestis

Taylor is the Communications & Development Officer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive fur-parent to two cats named Bonnie and Boy (yep - that is his real name) and a palliative pup named Hazel. Connect with Taylor at thuestis@spcans.ca or 902-222-0378 today.

Helping People and Pets Smile in Pictou County

November 23, 2023

By Creston Rudolph

When I contacted Stellarton native Dr. Grace Richardson in October 2021 about the Nova Scotia SPCA’s plans to build a new animal welfare facility in Pictou County, she immediately got excited and wanted to learn more about how she could help.

Soon after, I met with Grace at her office to share our plans. The new facility would be centrally located in Stellarton’s Albion Business Park and fully accessible. It would include a shelter, thrift store and veterinary hospital. In addition to treating shelter animals, the hospital would be open to the public.

Having lived in the community for most of her life and visited the SPCA’s current shelter in Pictou County numerous times, she knew how badly it needed to be replaced. She also knew how difficult it had become for those in her community to access veterinary care for their companion animals. She committed right then and there to making a financial pledge to help with the construction costs of the new facility making her one of the first to do so.

Caring for animals and supporting her local SPCA has always been in Grace’s DNA.

“I was born with a love for animals.  I was three years old when we got our first puppy and I recall being madly in love with her: a smaller brown curly haired little girl Suzie who lived to be 17. It would break my heart to see an injured animal and I was always trying to save them – which often involved having my parents assist me. I think I inherited this trait from my mother who was also a lover of animals and always supported the SPCA.”

“I once wrote an article about the cruelty of trapping and killing feral cat colonies in Pictou County and published it in the local newspaper (the Evening News) in a letter to the editor column when I was a teen. An employee from natural resources responded to me by calling me at home.  His mission was to change my opinion that these wild animals were not worthy of saving and were not your typical friendly house pet. I disagreed with him then and now almost 40 years later am happy that public perception of these animals has changed.”

She also fondly remembers her experience raising funds for the local Pictou Shelter in her late teens.

“My first volunteer job was selling barbequed hamburgers at the old Superstore location in New Glasgow when I was an older teen/young adult. The irony was at that time I did not eat meat, but I didn’t let this stop me from raising money for the SPCA.”

In her twenties, Grace made the difficult decision to leave Pictou County to further her education in the field of dentistry and orthodontics. She enrolled in dental school at Dalhousie University in Halifax where she graduated at the top of her class. She then went on to graduate from Marquette University’s Orthodontic program in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

Several years later, she was approached about an opportunity to start treating patients in Pictou County and she jumped at the chance.

“I was asked by a local dentist to consider treating patients in the area as there was not a practicing Orthodontist in Pictou County. The dental community appreciated that a specialist was providing treatment to their patients, and I was able to fill a void in the area. Eventually, I set up a second location in Antigonish. I love this community and it is my honor to be able to help people achieve their smile goals and provide this service.”

Grace moved back to Stellarton in 2011 where she lives with her husband Tim, daughters’ Brooke and Carly, dogs Poppy and Tessa and cats Murphy and Princess Chloe (SPCA alumni).

Since moving back to Pictou County, life has been extremely busy for Grace with the pressures of raising a young family (human and furry) and building a business. In spite of her busy schedule, she’s always found time for her first life passion of helping animals. She’s been one of the most loyal supporters of the SPCA’s Pictou shelter on Granton Abercrombie Road. In addition to being an annual sponsor of one of the Pictou shelter’s kennels, she’s also helped her daughter organize summer bake sales to raise funds for the shelter and set up a donation jar at her annual dental continuing education event.

Now that her practice is well established and daughters are older, she looks forward to volunteering again for the SPCA when their new facility opens in the Spring of 2024. This is something that is even more special to her as she will be able to do it with one of her daughters.

“With the new build – conveniently located in Stellarton’s Albion Business Park, my youngest daughter and I look very forward to helping out in the facility as much as possible.”

She encourages others to consider volunteering too.

“Once the facility is open, a significant number of volunteers will be required to help with animal enhancement in the shelter and retail operations in the thrift store. The thrift store is primarily run by volunteers and will be a substantial revenue generator for the SPCA.”

“Please consider volunteering for this wonderful charity! It’s a great way to support the new facility in addition to making a financial donation. You will be helping your community, as well as providing the most vulnerable animals a chance for a loving home and a deserving future.”

When asked about what the new facility will mean for the community, Grace said,

“I think the new shelter will build a stronger relationship between the SPCA and our wonderful community, connecting more people with this charity. Like the tag line on the SPCA’s website says, “Saving Lives, Creating Families.” I think the new location will be highly visible and create a greater connection and sense of pride. I am confident many more deserving animals will find their forever homes.”

If you’re interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities in the new facility, click here or call Catherine at 902-835-4798.

Creston Rudolph

Creston is a Development Officer with the Nova Scotia SPCA. He and his partner Terri are proud parents to a cat named Tony (Colchester SPCA alum) and two Shiba Inu dogs named Charlie and Kuma. He loves connecting with SPCA donors to thank them and to let them know how big of an impact their gifts are making.

Finding Love on Love Day: Mr. Freeze’s Story

November 23, 2023

By Paula Nalbaru

Imagine a cold and wet January day. The wind is whipping across your face, your fingers and toes struggle to keep warm, you move as quickly as possible from one inside location to another. Now imagine all of that, but you are a homeless cat.

It happened in January when a white and orange ball of fur found himself trapped for an entire night and half a day in a frozen pond.

The cat was brought into our Kings SPCA Animal Shelter by our Enforcement team who found him trying to survive by hiding in a runoff pipe. He was hypothermic, his fur was matted and covered in pond debris.

He was barely clinging to life.

Animals brought into the Nova Scotia SPCA get thoroughly checked to make sure they receive the best care possible. Mr. Freeze, as staff at the shelter named him, had to be bundled in warm blankets the moment he came through the doors.

Hopes ran high that he would continue to be a fighter and Mr. Freeze proved worthy of all the gold medals. His temperature went up and he finally got some well-deserved cozy rest and lots of food.

Not ready to meet his perfect adoption match, Mr. Freeze had a couple of weeks of ups and downs, not always feeling his best. Timid and reserved, he was sure to let everyone know when he was ready for pets and, his favourite, neck scratches.

Staff at the Kings SPCA Animal Shelter tried to get his fur back to its beautiful condition by removing the matts. But Mr. Freeze hated the clippers and wasn’t shy to vocalize it with a hiss or two. So, the last solution was to shave the areas with the worst matting, the hips and shoulders. With a new haircut, Mr. Freeze was still a handsome fella slowly getting ready for this big debut in the world.

The good news was that a little after a month he was brought in, Mr. Freeze was ready for adoption.

It was love at first sight with a loving family who took him home, ready to offer him the warmth he was missing in his life. But upon meeting another cat, Mr. Freeze found out that being the only cat in the house was a lifestyle better suited for him.

Thankfully, his story continued to be a hopeful one.

A few days later, Cupid’s arrow hit the shelter because he found his purrfect match on Valentine’s Day.

Amber Miner walked into the Kings SPCA Animal Shelter ready for a new family member. She had cats most of her life and was looking for a new furry best friend who would also be a great fit for her five-year-old son. “The staff at the SPCA told me that he [Mr. Freeze] was great with kids. He reminded me very much of a cat I had previously- he’s a big, long-haired cat with some Maine Coon evident. My last cat that he [Mr. Freeze] reminded me of had a way of acting more like a dog than a cat- more needy than many cats, but also more tolerant. He was just so friendly I figured his temperament would be similar, and it was,” says Amber.

Mr. Freeze met his new family, including Amber’s five-year-old son, who wanted a dog. After some cuddles, he changed his mind about the new addition to the household. He even chose a new name: Bob.

Bob was, understandably, skittish at first, mostly hiding under beds. But it didn’t take too long for him to warm up to his new human fur-parents and sibling. Now he rocks the only cat lifestyle, enjoying the sun, and even joining the fun.

Most of the time, Bob will lie on the floor as kids run and play around him. But his favourite toys include nerf bullets and that’s where you will find Bob in the middle of the action. “He is always attacking them. He will run after nerf bullets when the kids shoot them,” Amber says.

While at the shelter, Bob always let staff know when he was ready for some love. And he isn’t any different with his family. He still loves neck scratches, and sitting on Amber’s lap is part of Bob’s morning routine, when it’s just the two of them before he has to share her with the rest of the world.

“He likes to sit on me, which I like,” Amber says, “he doesn’t wait for me to finish sitting down before he plunks down on me. Most cats fuss around kneading and looking for the right spot, Bob doesn’t at all- it’s like he doesn’t want to waste any time.”

When asked about her favourite memory so far, Amber recalls, “He walked across the street with my son and husband. They were going to visit grandma, and Bob followed them. He waited with them for traffic to clear, walked across the street with them, waited in the bushes in her yard, and then walked back across the street with them an hour later when they came home. My son was thrilled.”

Bob and his human sibling are so close, that when Amber’s son counts family members, no surprise, Bob gets counted first. They love to play together, and Bob has come a long way from his days at the shelter. Now he’s spreading warmth in his family’s life.

Just like Bob, there are a lot of animals in Nova Scotia SPCA shelters looking for their forever home and someone to count them first. You can keep an eye out on the adoption page or visit the shelter near you where staff will make sure finding your perfect match is a smooth process.

“We’ve had a great experience adopting from the SPCA,” Amber says as a final thought on Bob’s journey to become part of her family.

Being adopted on Valentine’s Day was a coincidence, but one thing is for sure, for Bob love is in the air all year round.

Paula Nalbaru

Paula Nalbaru is the Philanthropy Communications Coordinator with the Nova Scotia SPCA in Dartmouth. She’s a proud fur-parent and referee between her dog, Summer, and cat, Marshmallow.

Harris Gets a BFF (Best Feline Friend)

November 23, 2023

By Judy Layne

Sometimes, fate finds you a best friend when you least expect it. Just like Harris and Pirate. Here’s their story.

The kitty was in terrible shape when a Good Samaritan found him wandering stray and brought him to safety at the SPCA Kings Shelter. He had chipped teeth, was covered in fleas and was missing his right eye. He needed medical care including surgery to stitch his eye back together. Shelter staff named him Pirate. Approximately 6 years old, Pirate seemed to know that people at the SPCA were helping him. He would snuggle into their chests to show his gratitude and trust. After 44 days of healing and lots of love, Pirate was ready to find his fur-ever home.

At the same time, Harris and his mom Janet were ready to adopt a kitty. Janet explained “Harris had recently lost his cat Spice. While Spice wasn’t overly affectionate, Harris was still sad to lose her. He really wanted a new cat and after looking at many online, he saw a kitten on the SPCA website he wanted to meet. When we got to the shelter, the kitten had already been adopted so we decided to look at the other cats there. Pirate was such a big fellow and was hard to ignore with his big meow. He looked desperate for affection, so Harris opened the kennel door and Pirate immediately jumped into Harris’ arms. He wrapped his giant paws around Harris’ neck, gave him a cat-hug and didn’t want to let go. It was like he was telling Harris to take him home. We almost made it out of the shelter when Harris asked to go back and find out more about Pirate’s history. We couldn’t help but fall in love and we brought Pirate home the next day!” Janet thought that Pirate should have a new name for a new life, so she suggested several. But Harris decided that Pirate suited him best.

It took Pirate a few days to adjust to his new home. Janet related “We took him straight to Harris’ room so he could learn the smells of the house in safety, without being bombarded by our two dogs, Penny and Hank. He didn’t eat much the first two days – I think it was a big change for him – but by day 3, he was completely part of the family! Milo, our 6-month old kitten, took to Pirate right away and would try to engage him in wrestling matches. At first Pirate was having none of it, but now wrestling matches are an everyday occurrence! We’re not sure if Pirate had ever played with toys before. We bought him cat toys but he wasn’t interested. Milo loves to play and eventually, Pirate joined him chasing balls around the house. Aside from running into a few things and falling off the couch a couple of times, having only one eye hasn’t slowed Pirate down”.

Harris has always loved animals. When the family moved to Nova Scotia in 2016, he wanted a cat. “We  took in a stray kitten and named her Spice,” said Janet. “Spice didn’t like to be touched or picked up; she just wanted to be fed. So when Harris met Pirate, this big one-eyed cat that wanted hugs, it was a perfect match! This poor cat just wanted someone to love him and Harris just wanted a cat that would love him back.”

“Pirate is still super-affectionate,” shared Janet. “He loves to give hugs, sit in your lap and savor the attention. He sleeps in Harris’ bed with him every night. Given the rough life Pirate had before being adopted, it’s amazing what an affectionate cat he is. All he needed was someone to love him.”

It’s said that growing up with pets teaches kids some important life lessons. As a parent, Janet agrees wholeheartedly. “In terms of responsibility, Harris and I take turns cleaning the litter box, and Harris and his brother Jax take turns feeding the pets supper. Harris was also responsible for paying Pirate’s adoption fee and was proud of himself to use his own money to do that”.

Besides learning about kindness, empathy and caring for others, having a pet can teach kids some really tough life lessons about death and grief. Janet shared “Our beloved dog Bob had been with the family since the kids were born and when he passed away several years ago, it was really hard for them and extremely sad for everyone. But as a family, we got through it. The kids learned that it’s nice to share stories about our pets that aren’t with us anymore and to cherish all the good memories we have of them.”

I asked Janet what advice she would give to other parents about the opportunity for life lessons that adopting a pet presents. “I think it’s really important to make sure kids understand that having a pet of their own is a big and long-term commitment. Pets should be considered as members of the family and needed to be treated with love and kindness.”

And Janet’s final thoughts? “I still can’t believe that my 12-year old fell in love with a 6-year old one-eyed cat, but we’re all so glad that he did.”

Judy Layne

Judy is a dedicated volunteer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive fur-mama to Linc. She is committed to speaking for animals who cannot speak for themselves.

More Than a Canine Companion – Benson is Myles’ Bestie

November 23, 2023

By Judy Layne

There’s no doubt that kids and their pets share a special bond unlike any other. Learning and growing together, it’s a bond to be cherished. Just like the bond between Benson and Myles.

Benson was found wandering stray by Animal Control and was brought to safety at the SPCA Kings Shelter on June 28, 2022. Approximately 5 years old, Benson was in rough shape. He was missing some fur and had dry skin on his back. A dog’s fur coat is usually a mirror reflection of their health and the shelter veterinary team discovered that Benson suffered from food allergies. They knew however, that with the right diet, he could feel fabulous. And with the right family, Benson would blossom.

Finding the perfect family for Benson was challenging. He was older and had some food allergies and skin issues. Due to Benson’s size (70 lbs), the right family would be one with older children and no other pets. Because Benson was high-energy and very intelligent, he needed a home with a large fenced yard, lots of exercise and mental stimulation.

Maegan and her family were dealing with a challenge of their own. Maegan shared “Our rescue dog Sasha, a beautiful King Shepherd, passed away a few years ago. Our son Myles grew up with Sasha from his birth to when he was 3 years old. Myles missed her terribly when she crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Soon after Sasha’s passing, Myles developed a fear of dogs when a large one jumped on him while barking loudly and caused him to fall. He wasn’t hurt but grew quite scared of strange dogs approaching him. He would ask to cross the street if he saw large dogs approaching.”

In August, Maegen and Myles were on the SPCA website when they saw Benson’s face. Maegan said “Myles was instantly drawn to him, perhaps because Benson was similar to our Sasha in terms of his size and coloring along with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Myles warmed up to the idea of meeting Benson.”

“When we went to the shelter, we learned that Benson had an adoption pending,” recalled Maegan. “That adoption fell through (maybe it was fate?) so we came back again to meet him. Our meet-and-greet was great. Benson was a big friendly goofy boy and didn’t jump up on us. He sat nicely at our feet and was a calm snuggly big fellow. We decided that Benson was a great fit for our family and took him to his fur-ever home.”

Myles and Benson worked to develop trust between them and it didn’t take long for them to become best friends. Maegan’s husband Aaron shared “Benson sleeping next to Myles’ bed each night and acting as a protector certainly helped, as well as knowing Benson would not jump, nip or push Myles. Their shared love of soccer bonded the pair together as well! Our large fenced yard is a great place for the two of them to play soccer and fetch. (we go through a lot of soccer balls!). Benson plays with glee and excitement and appears to smile the whole time. They both love all things snow and will play outside no matter the weather. One of Benson’s favorite parts of the day is greeting Myles when he gets off the school bus.”

Myles and Benson are definitely learning and growing together. Maegan explained “Myles has been working with Benson on his leash manners, but due to his large size, this is still a work in progress. Benson had an initial fear of water, especially waves, but with their bond Myles was able to coach Benson into the water. Myles is still a bit leery of strange dogs, but with Benson’s help, we have seen his confidence grow.”

Maegan said “Benson does what we call his nightly rounds – he sleeps next to Myles until about midnight and then does some laps, checking the doors and laying down by our feet. This brings a sense of security to Myles and me as my husband is frequently away for his job. Benson loves his dog beds – yes, he has several and prefers memory foam! He also loves his toys and so far, avoids all slippers, stuffies and random socks that 9-year old boys seem to leave everywhere. Benson loves to sit at our feet at all times- I’m sure he’d be a lap dog if he could fit!”

“As we grew together in confidence and trust, we began to travel with Benson to our cottage and have taken many road trips,” stated Aaron. He’s great in the SUV and likes exploring new places. He absolutely loves people and gives them a full-body tail wag for every person that passes (or comes to our door). Everyone knows he’s waiting for a pat on the head. Benson had a wonderful first vet appointment and was excited to see one of the SPCA staff who had cared for him.

Maegan concluded “Benson is a great companion, always wanting to be by our side and always happy to see us. He has brought great joy to our home. There’s just something about a bond with a rescue dog, a mutual understanding that our lives are better together. It’s interesting that Benson’s ‘Gotcha Day’ was my husband Aaron’s birthday. We couldn’t have asked for a better gift for Myles and for our family.”

Judy Layne

Judy is a dedicated volunteer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive fur-mama to Linc. She is committed to speaking for animals who cannot speak for themselves.

Most Cats Hate Water… Except Sammie

October 19, 2023

By Taylor Huestis

Our feline friends are notorious for hating water. The sweetest kitten can transform into a stretched-out scrambling mini lion when they accidentally touch water.

Despite the majority despising bathtubs, Sammie is a kitty who is absolutely fascinated with anything and everything water related.

No matter if it is dripping from the shower or tap, Sammie races there to play.

We’re not sure why Sammie loves water or enjoys getting wet. We wonder if maybe it is a familiar kitten feeling. Sammie used to be a stray kitty, so perhaps playing in puddles was his form of a fun toy.

Sammie’s shelter name used to be Unagi. His siblings were all lovingly named after different types of sushi too: Sashimi, Edamame, Miso, Roe, and Sushi.

These stray kitties were brought into safety at the SPCA and spent five weeks in a loving foster home.

Sammie and his siblings were socialized and medically treated to set them and their future families up for success. This included spay/neuter surgeries thanks to our friends at PetSmart Charities of Canada™. Spay/neuter surgeries at this age are less stressful and have a shorter recovery period. Plus, they won’t have any accidental litters of their own!

When it came time for adoption, the kittens were brought to an SPCA adoption partner, PetSmart Dartmouth Crossing. Karina had visited the store to purchase some worms for her bearded dragon, Rhubarb, and was over-the-moon excited when she spotted them.

“I went over to look and had seen a few grey kitties and Sammie, and right away I said OMG I need that kitten,” Karina recalled. “He came right up to the glass and put his little nose on it and was so playful. I instantly fell in love with his little face and extra toes on his paws.”

“Sammie LOVES water,” Karina giggled. “Every time he hears the shower faucet turn on, he runs from the other side of the house and jumps into the shower. He even jumps into the shower when I’m in there!”

“I’ve never met a cat who loves water and playing in water like him,” Karina continued. “Every time I brush my teeth and he hears the tap on, he runs and jumps onto the counter top and licks the water. He’s so cute.”

While Sammie’s obsession with water might be quirky behaviour. Everything he does is endearing to Karina.

“He loves to sleep on top of you or right by your face,” Karina smiled. “He’s a spoiled little dude with so many toys and treats. I love him so much. He brings me so much love and happiness. I 100% recommend people to adopt from the SPCA and give all the fur babies a loving happy life.”

When you adopt a kitty from the SPCA, you’re gaining a new furry BFF that will love you… and most likely hate water.

But you never know! Even though most adopted cats will turn into mini lions near water, you might end up with a unique kitty like Sammie, who only ever turns into a lion when he dresses up on Halloween.

Taylor Huestis

Taylor is the Communications & Development Officer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive fur-parent to two cats named Bonnie and Boy (yep - that is his real name) and a palliative pup named Hazel. Connect with Taylor at thuestis@spcans.ca or 902-222-0378 today.