Year: 2023

A Night of Laughs for a Great Cause

September 19, 2023

By Creston Rudolph

This summer has been a busy one on the site of the new North Nova SPCA located in Stellarton’s Albion Business Park. Construction has been progressing quickly on the new facility over the past couple of months. The building is looking great with trusses and sheathing completed over the shelter and the hospital, and the roof bracing completed. The community is buzzing with anticipation of the facility’s expected opening in late Spring 2024.

The North Nova campaign committee has been working diligently behind the scenes to raise funds to pay for the new facility. In addition, various community groups have stepped forward offering to help with the project.

One of these groups was the Curtain Call Players, a theatre group comprised of talented local actors and led by brilliant writer and director Colleen Hawley. For several years, they’ve partnered with local charities to help them with their fundraising efforts while entertaining the community.

The Nova Scotia SPCA and North Nova campaign committee is excited to announce that it will be partnering with the Curtain Call Players for a night of laughs at The Hockey Monologues—The Highlight Reel – Presented by Stones Superior Homes. The show is scheduled for October 20th at the North Nova Education Centre in New Glasgow. All funds raised will support the new North Nova SPCA.

Written and directed by Colleen Hawley, the play is the best of It’s Not Just a Game, The Second Period, and The Final Buzzer. The show is a comical look at hockey-related situations based on things she has witnessed at the rink during the more than 20 years she’s been involved with amateur hockey.

Volunteer event organizer and North Nova campaign committee member Emma Enman is excited to be part of such an important community event and project. She said that event guests will get to learn more about the new facility and the tremendous impact it will have on families living in Northern Nova Scotia.

“The Hockey Monologues fundraiser will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn about the new North Nova facility and how important ongoing community support is to the sustainment of the SPCA. The new facility will house a shelter, veterinary hospital, enforcement office and thrift store that will serve Pictou, Antigonish and Guysborough counties. It will improve access to these services for generations to come.”

Emma said that spectators have lots to look forward to at the show.

“Attendees can look forward to a fantastic, hilarious show along with an auction, delicious snacks, and beverages, and of course, the feeling of fulfillment from supporting our new North Nova SPCA. It will be an entertaining evening for all!”

Doors open at 6:00 pm and the play will start at 7:00 pm. Emma encourages everyone to purchase their tickets early to avoid disappointment.

“We’ve had a lot of interest in the show so far. The Curtain Call Players always put on a great performance and so many people want to support the new North Nova SPCA. We hope to sell out quickly.”

For more information, to purchase tickets or to make a donation, click here.

To learn more about the North Nova SPCA, click here.

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.

Meet Dr. Mike West

September 13, 2023

Dr. Mike West does not try to hide it; there is one thing that rises to the top of the reasons he loves being a veterinarian. “I love getting to cuddle the dogs and cats,” he says. “Oh and bribe them with treats!”

Dr. West has worked as a veterinarian for almost 30 years. He, like many DVMs locally, graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College. While living in England he also obtained certification in Veterinary Dermatology from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1999. “Additionally,” he says, “I have a special interest in small animal dentistry.”

When he applied to work at SPCA Veterinary Hospital, he learned that the SPCA wasn’t only opening that social enterprise, they were also about to start their first class of Veterinary Assistants at the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare. He was hired in August 2021 and began a dual role of working at both.
“I really enjoy re-learning all kinds of information that has been lost in the mists of time,” he says when asked about what he likes about the college. “And coming up with ways to make it accessible and comprehensible to the students.”

Working alongside colleagues and teaching the next generation of veterinary assistants has Dr. West reflecting on the future of veterinary medicine. “I am concerned about the lack of veterinarians and staff and the effect it has on people’s pets. I am concerned about the lack of availability of folks in the profession to do the hard job of providing emergency services out of hours and I am concerned for the health of those stalwart members of the profession who are shouldering the load of this part of veterinary medicine.” For his part, Dr. West is happy to have the opportunity to share with students the lessons he has learned, as well as suggesting tools to help them maintain balance and foster good mental health in a challenging profession.

Never far from his mind are the pet owners who love their animals, and the challenges they are facing. As part of a project with PetSmart Charities of Canada, the SPCA Veterinary Hospital is piloting a non-profit care model where the goal is encouraging families to access preventative care before they are in crisis. The fundraising team helps by raising money to support payment plans and discounts for low-income families when families experience an urgent situation.
“I hope that by presenting alternatives to for-profit veterinary hospitals, we will help to remake the veterinary hospital into a place where the majority of clients can find affordable care for their pets and where veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants and other staff find a rewarding environment in which to work,” Dr. West says.

Did you know that Dr. West has coined a term for the fluff between cats’ toes? Watch and learn what Dr. West calls it.

To Be or Not to Be: This is the question ‘Should it be a requirement for Animal Hospitals to provide After Hour Animal Emergency Care?

September 13, 2023

Veterinarians and animals are struggling – particularly those veterinarians and animals who practice and reside in rural locations like Cape Breton and Yarmouth. For both – this conundrum around after hour animal emergency care could be a life-or-death situation.

While this is typically not an issue for those veterinarians who live within 80 kms of a 24-hour emergency clinic, the requirement to provide 24/7 emergency care for rural veterinarians can be a real emotional and physical strain. The Nova Scotia SPCA does not believe it is reasonable to put the burden for so many on so few. This is also causing a strain between generations of veterinarians with many senior vets feeling ‘I did it – now it is your turn and you agreed to this’. But my question is ‘did they agree to this and if so, should we have asked them to agree to it?’ What if they agreed while in vet school but then years later they end up having to care for a child with significant needs, aging parents who can no longer care for themselves, or they find that 5 years into their vet career they have different physical abilities due to personal disease or illness? Do we still hold them to that standard? How are we judging them if they refuse to comply? Are they forced out of the industry? Is that helping animals? While we might not all agree that after hour emergency services should be required by all hospitals – I think we can all agree that this is a loaded quandary with no easy answers.

It is the SPCA’s belief that if you eradicate the need for after-hour emergency services, animals will be better served overall and in higher numbers as more veterinarians will be available to provide service during the day which is when the demand for services primarily exists. Pet owners will continue to have options for after-hours service, even if it is to drive a few hours to the nearest clinic offering after hour service, which is like what is expected in other provinces across Canada. As we all know, NS is the only province to tie the provision of emergency services to a distance boundary – Ironic given that NS is not considered a large province spatially. Further, in the very near future HRM will soon have 2 new 24-hour clinics entering the market.

While we agree removing the requirement for after hour emergency services would increase the pressure on the limited number of clinics open throughout the night, at that time demand is lower, and those clinics could charge higher fees to better compensate veterinarians who choose and who are willing to work through the night. Let the nature of supply and demand find the balance rather than potentially creating circumstances where veterinarians are required to provide service when their personal situation is not conducive to providing services throughout the night.

To support our veterinarians in Cape Breton, the Nova Scotia SPCA came up with a unique solution which we believe allows us to remain open and stay within the bylaws of the NSVMA. This was not done with the intension to be problematic but when we see that our veterinarians are struggling to meet the demand and find balance to protect their mental health, we made it a priority to help bring about positive change because we know that when you protect and support veterinarians you are protecting and supporting animals.

On a Bright Note, in the most recent missive received by the NSVMA it was highlighted that…

“A motion will be put forward at the upcoming NSVMA Annual General Meeting on October 21, 2023 to revise SC-12 of Annex A to the Bylaws, to remove the specific kilometer and time requirements that currently define the emergency services distance.”

EXCITING NEWS! However, for this bylaw to be amended the quorum would need to be met (81 members in attendance) at the meeting and 2/3 of the vote (approximately 55 members) must be in favour of the change. No small feat! But a vote to support this motion would give rural veterinarians and RVTs the flexibility they need to make personal choices that fit their needs!

The Nova Scotia SPCA is going to encourage all their staff who are members to attend this meeting so they can cast their vote! Please, if you have NSVMA members on your staff communicate to them how important it is for them to participate and vote.

For you to participate in the AGM you must be REGISTERED for the Meeting by SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

REGISTER HERE

Become involved with the NSVMA Council:

To put your name forward for one of the open council positions you must contact Dr. Jane Corkum at registrar@nsvma.ca by Friday, September 15 to let her know you would like your name to be placed on the ballot.

Living His Best Life After Being Surrendered: Timber’s Story

August 30, 2023

By Judy Layne

It’s easy to automatically assume that someone who surrenders their pet is an uncaring person. But we shouldn’t judge because we don’t know the circumstances behind why someone surrendered their pet. Imagine how sad and painful it must be for people forced to give up their beloved pet if they feel they don’t have any other choice. Surrendering a pet is not a bad thing and it doesn’t mean that you failed. It is putting that pet’s needs first. The Nova Scotia SPCA recognizes that unexpected life situations occur and they are always here to help. Case in point – Timber.

A beautiful Shepherd mix, Timber was adopted by a family when he was just 10 weeks old. The family was loving, but the arrival of a newborn baby meant that they couldn’t give Timber the time and attention he needed and deserved. Timber was super-active and it was important that he had a family who could keep up with his adventures and give him the mental stimulation he required. They wanted Timber to have the best life so when he was 9 months old, they selflessly made the decision to surrender him to the SPCA’s care. They trusted that the SPCA would find this special boy the perfect home. And that’s just what they did.

Enter Fran and her family, Jason and Zoe. Their beloved dog Woody – a lab-staffy mix – had passed away at the age of 12 in 2016. The time just wasn’t right to get another pet until November 2022. Fran explained “We had been looking to adopt a dog and when we saw Timber on the SPCA adoptions page and read his description, he seemed like he would be a great fit for our family. We were drawn to Timber by the fact that he was still fairly young, so there was time for training before he became a ‘teenager’. We also liked that he was a little older than some other puppies (and already house-trained – yay!)”

The family went to visit him the next day at the Kings shelter. “His big head was really the first thing I noticed when meeting him in person”, said Fran. “I’m a sucker for dogs with big goofy heads! We could see immediately that he was a fairly large, strong dog but he was also very gentle, with no jumping up. He was just keen to get outside and walk with us.”

It didn’t take long for the family to fall in love with Timber. Fran shared “Another reason I felt that Timber was meant to be ours was his name. To go from ‘Woody’ to ‘Timber’ felt like this was a forest-related sign! Timber was definitely well taken care of at the shelter and he clearly felt comfortable with staff – so comfortable that he didn’t want to leave at first and when we tried to put him in the car, he ran back to the shelter!”

The family has had Timber for 10 months now and he feels 100% at home. “Reflecting on bringing him home, it’s clear that there were adjustment periods,” said Jason. “We kept him close to home for the first several weeks, so he could learn that he was safe and that his needs would be met. The first few nights we heard him whine a bit at bedtime, but he’d settle himself after. Soon, we could just say ‘Time for bed, Timber’ and he’d head straight to his bed. Another challenge was walking down the basement steps (which lead to the garden). He was very reluctant to do this at first, so we didn’t push it. We tried to tempt him with a whole sausage at the bottom, but he was having none of it!  After a month, we managed to get him to take a few steps and when he’d managed it once, he was up and down the steps all the time.  We knew he was feeling more confident after a few months when he walked into the living room with a tennis ball in his mouth and looked at us as if to say, ‘I want to go and play.’”

The family is committed to training Timber to be his best self. Fran related “We have completed basic and intermediate classes and are currently taking part in urban-dog walking classes. The classes have helped my confidence with Timber and build trust in his capabilities. Timber’s a smart dog and we are working hard to improve his on-leash behaviour. He was a real puller on-leash at first, and being a bigger dog, we knew it was something we had to work on right away. We use a head collar which helped immediately and in obedience classes, we have worked hard on loose-leash walking as well as building his (and my) confidence to walk past other dogs calmly.”

Timber is clearly living his best life. Jason said “He is a very affectionate dog and would love to be petted endlessly! He also enjoys being outside as much as possible – hiking, relaxing in the garden, or walking around the neighbourhood. He didn’t play fetch when we first adopted him, but Zoe was determined to teach him and now he likes chasing balls. He also loves playing soccer- we’ve gone through a few balls in the past year! Zoe loves to play hide-and-seek, so we have made it a game to play with Timber. He gets so excited when he’s told to ‘Find Zoe.’”

And how does Timber relate to his four-legged siblings? “L.C is our 16-year old cat,” stated Fran. “She was one of our main considerations when adopting Timber, but she’s dog savvy and she established her place in the hierarchy with Timber. They seem to happily co-exist with enough love and food for each of them. I think Timber would love to cuddle with her, but she’s not going to let that happen! Mini is our daughter’s hamster. He lives upstairs so there’s not much interaction between Timber and Mini, other than Timber loves to sniff any place that the hamster has been!”

Timber has brought so much to the family’s life. Perhaps Zoe sums it up best – “Timber is amazing!”  Fran added “He does a great job of getting us up and out. Even on rainy days, Timber is ready to go so we don rain gear and head out. Timber’s always so happy to see us when we get home, and there’s nothing better than the full helicopter-wag he gives when he’s excited to see us and ready to play.”

The family’s final thoughts? “We are so happy and grateful to have Timber. We’re sure that it is never an easy decision to surrender a pet, but Timber was clearly well taken care of by his first family as we were given his veterinary and immunization records. The Kings SPCA gave Timber a safe, kind, caring place to land when he was surrendered. They were clear about his strengths and challenges when talking to us, to ensure a great match. We are certain that we will have many wonderful years ahead.”

The Nova Scotia SPCA has an open admission policy and does not charge surrender fees. They accept animals into their care regardless of age or health. They never judge and understand that unexpected life situations happen. If you need to rehome your pet, please call to schedule a time to come in. This allows the shelter to prepare a cozy space for your pet to make the transition as smooth as possible. They understand how difficult emotionally it is to surrender a pet and thank all owners who are able to make the best decision for their pet. If you or someone you know is struggling with the decision to surrender a pet, please contact the Nova Scotia SPCA for guidance. Please help us share this important message.

 

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.

When Taking a Chance Pays Off

August 30, 2023

By Paula Nalbaru

Sometimes it takes longer than expected for dreams to come true. And as Bailee Sampson would say, “celebrate the wins and never give up.”

It worked for Bailee. It took her five years to find her perfect fit with the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare and its Veterinary Assistant (VA) Program.

She was always drawn to animals and knew she would thrive in an environment where she could help. She admits she took a chance on the animal welfare industry. For Bailee, the support and hands-on experience were key when deciding on a Veterinary Assistant school.

Luckily for her, the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare had both.

“One thing I didn’t know about this program is how supportive the instructors would be and how many hands-on skills we would actually learn. I am so thankful that we have had the opportunity to learn a broader range of treatment and clinical knowledge,” says Bailee.

The hands-on experience during the one-year Veterinary Assistant program comes in different shapes and sizes, offering students experiences that will help them become well-rounded Veterinary Assistants. Students stay quite busy with classes such as Animal Nursing or Handling – some of Bailee’s favourites -or field trips to farms.

They start small, practicing on stuffed animals. Once students gain more confidence in their skills, this is where the Veterinary Assistant class’s mascot, Audrey, makes her debut.

Audrey is calm and patient with each student she meets, allowing them to practice nail trims and grooming among other things. Of course, she gets a lot of breaks and treats in between immense amounts of hands-on training and even some snuggle therapy. Bailee says, “I believe Audrey is the reason we graduated with such confidence in our hands-on training. We love her!”

A unique bonus for students is that the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare is steps away from the Nova Scotia SPCA Dartmouth Shelter and the Nova Scotia SPCA Veterinary Hospital. This gives students the chance to experience different environments and be supported not only by expert staff and teachers but the entire Nova Scotia SPCA community.

Another way our students get hands-on experience is by doing a four-week internship before they graduate. Bailee chose a dog lodging facility in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. About her internship she says, “I chose to work at this facility because as a Veterinary Assistant, there are so many places you can work. I decided to see how being a VA in a facility other than a clinic would be, before starting my career.”

As Bailee’s journey with the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare comes to an end, she reminisces on the first day of classes. She admits there were some nerves, but between meeting her new classmates and learning about everything the next year would offer, the enthusiasm grew.

Bailee credits the instructors for playing a huge part in making the first day, and the rest of the year, exciting. “Jen and Barbara made us feel so comfortable and welcomed right away. I was very excited to start after our first day.” Bailee says they connected with students on a personal level and supported them every step of the way.

After gaining more knowledge and perspective, Bailee tells students that there’s nothing wrong with exploring options. She understands the future can be overwhelming, and the right fit can be in the most unexpected places. The first step can be the hardest, but no one has to do it alone, and our students know that firsthand. Bailee’s advice, “If you’re thinking of going into the Veterinary Assistant program with the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare, book an appointment with Jen to go over the program and she will make sure you have all the information to make the right decision!”

It has been quite a long journey for Bailee, but now she has even more wins to celebrate. A fresh graduate of the Veterinary Assistant program, in the top three, and a new job as Technician Assistant at the Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

 

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.

The Rescued Rainbow Crew

August 30, 2023

By Taylor Huestis

Skin and bones. That’s all Greenie and his dog friends were. They desperately needed help.

Our SPCA Enforcement team rushed the dogs in for urgent care. All five were starving and dehydrated. They had rocks in their bellies and zero energy. When pets are this emaciated their organs begin to shut down.

Their fragile bodies were hard to look at. Even for us here at the SPCA. In fact, some staff with years of experience had never seen dogs this skinny. It was heartbreaking. But there was hope.

The five dogs started a special refeeding schedule of small, frequent meals so it wouldn’t overwhelm their tiny bodies. Although their gains at first may not have seemed like a lot, we knew they were giant leaps in the right direction.

After all, it is important to remember that animal rehabilitation isn’t a sprint… It’s a marathon.

We named the dogs after bright colours to symbolize their bright futures ahead: Greenie, Orangie, Bluie, Brownie, and Pinkie.

Slowly but surely, the pups made positive progress. They were finally ready to continue their rehabilitation plans in homes to free up much-needed space at our small shelters.

With foster-to-adopt, thanks to generous donors, we continued to cover their care while they recovered. Families opened their hearts, homes, and made the adoption official when the dog was ready.

After months of hope and hard work, all five dogs were medically cleared and adopted.

Now, it’s officially been one full year since the Rainbow crew came into our care. To celebrate, their families graciously gave updates on how well they are all thriving now.

Greenie

Charlie, formerly Greenie, now weighs a healthy 29kg. He loves being brushed and is doing very well in his new home with his dad and mom. “It was hard seeing the pictures of him that and how sad he was,” they shared. “Now he is always keeping us on our toes and making us laugh. He is such a good dog for what he went through. We don’t know what we would do without him.”

Orangie

Orangie is now named Sophie and she is doing very, very well. “She gained all of her weight back and of course more,” her owner giggled. “Sophie is our lovely dog who loves to come with me to work in an Alzheimer/dementia unit in a senior home. The residents and employees just love her. She is very well-behaved with the residents and gentle and always happy to see them.”

“The first time we saw her was very emotional because of what she went through,” they continued. “She walked toward us and was looking at us…..at that moment I knew it was the dog I wished for…. My heart…….. I also knew that it would be a long road for her to trust us. For a few months Sophie didn’t want to get out of the driveway……then she started to follow us little by little. There were lots of tears for sure wondering if she will ever recover.”

“Now, Sophie is going almost everywhere with us,” they smiled. “She is more confident day by day. She loves car rides and loves our cats. Sophie is learning how to be a dog again and she is wonderful. I will never thank you enough for giving us your trust and the chance to adopt her. We love her very much and she will be in our life for a long time hopefully. I would love to say a special thank you to the ones who rescued her! I hope that they will see the pictures of what a beautiful dog she became.”

Bluie

“From the moment we first saw him there was something that pulled us to him,” Bluie’s new family recalled. “As cliché as it sounds, there was a connection, if you will. He was just this happy little guy, even after everything he endured in his life at such a young age. We lost one of our pups not long before I met Bluie, we had no plans on getting another dog. At least not for a while. But, there was just something about him that we loved right away. He is our happy little guy, and we just knew that he was the one. The moment that we knew 100% that he was the one was seeing how much our other dog loved him and the way he loved her. They are best friends and always want to be together.”

“He is such a silly boy there are so many funny moments that occur every day,” they shared. “One of the funniest things that is part of his daily routine is summersaults! No joke, he will do actual summersaults every morning on his bed. I have never met a dog as happy as him or as funny. He is so full of silly it is crazy, he makes us laugh every single day. Loves a good adventure too!”

Brownie

“We truly believe it was fate,” Brownie’s new family exclaimed. “We were out for a drive on a Sunday afternoon and I suggested to my husband that we should take a drive by the SPCA.  Usually he would say no because the last 3 times i asked to drive by we came home with a rescue. We must have been there for about 45 min hearing about this wonderful dog and how much pain and suffering he had gone through. They also told us he was the last one there (as he was there for about 5 1/2 months. We said our goodbyes and as we got in the car I did not say a word as I knew my husband said no more dogs as we had 3 home already. As we were driving out of the driveway I looked straight ahead not saying anything when my husband said “do what you gotta do.” The rest is history and now we have 4!!!!!”

“Every moment that we have with Brownie aka Brown Dog is amazing and memorable,” they smiled. “He is such a loving dog. He loves to cuddle, give kisses, play with toys, run outside and lay in the sun, and enjoy his new furever home.”

Pinkie

“When I saw the post from the SPCA my heart sank,” Pinkie’s new mama remembered. “I saw Pinkie and her little sad face and immediately imagined my life with her in it. I called right away to schedule a meet a great with her, jumped in my car, and made the two-hour drive. It was love at first sight.”

“I never adopted a dog before with a background that she was exposed to and I had no idea what her personality would be like,” she continued. “But I was determined to have her and show her the good life and let her know humans are good. She has turned out to be the most sweetest dog. She loves everyone she meets. She is funny, kind, and very spoiled. She’s my shotgun rider, loves the beach, and she has discovered swimming. She is a true blessing. Her new name is Regal Beagle (after my favourite show Threes Company).

 

The Rainbow Crew dogs all gained weight… But that is not all. They gained confidence, strength, and families who adore them. Thank you to everyone who helped along their journey.

 

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.