Healing. Hope. A second chance. Three things that every homeless animal who comes to the NS SPCA can count on. Just like Survivor did. Here’s his story.
On August 10, 2024, a Good Samaritan brought a 7-year old stray cat to safety at the SPCA’s Dartmouth Shelter. We are grateful to this person as he likely saved the kitty’s life. The cat had a huge neck wound that was infected and a fever from the infection. He was rushed into emergency surgery, where he also underwent required tooth extractions. Shelter staff named him Survivor, for all he had been through and for all the challenges that were yet to come.
Survivor’s wound healed extremely slowly and didn’t want to close completely. There were times that he scratched at the wound, so he ended up with bandages and sweaters, neither of which he tolerated for long. Then the poor boy got conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the eyes. And yet, through everything, Survivor had a calm, gentle manner and was so very sweet. By the end of October, Survivor was feeling much better. He was medically cleared and put up for adoption. Everyone hoped that this senior boy would find a special family. And he definitely did.
Andrea and her husband Andre had lost their beloved cat Tequila in early 2024. Andrea said “We thought that perhaps Tequila would be our last cat, as we had just retired and wanted to travel. But the house seemed so empty, and we decided to drop into the Dartmouth Shelter ‘just to see’. When we met Survivor, he was hiding in his ‘tent’ and although he was very timid, he let us pat him. We asked the staff about him and after hearing his story, our hearts went out to him. We knew right away that we were meant to be together.”
But as fate would have it, pan leuk – a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease – had just broken out in the shelter and all adoptions had to be put on hold, including Survivor’s. Over the next three weeks, Andrea and Andre visited Survivor every few days to let him know how much they loved him and that they hadn’t forgotten him. Finally, on November 16th, Survivor was cleared for adoption, and he was off to his forever home!
The couple decided to give Survivor a new name for his new life. And his new name had a very special meaning. They explained “We changed his name to Cabot because the Cabot Trail has proven to be a place of tranquillity and solace for us, especially during times of crisis.” They unselfishly shared a heartbreaking personal experience from the early 1990s, when they lost their premature baby boy. He passed away at 8 months, but Andrea had to go full-term and through labour to deliver him stillborn. They named him Brighton. Then in 2024, Andre was fighting endocarditis – inflammation of the lining of the heart and valves – before having surgery. “We sought refuge each time on the Cabot Trail,” said Andrea. The couple are true survivors, too.
Cabot was understandably timid in his new surroundings. Andre related “We set him up in one room with his tent and took things very slow. We spent a lot of time with him in the room but never pushed ourselves on him. Eventually, we just opened the door and let him explore at his own pace. It took several weeks but he came out a little more every day and now he has the run of the whole house.”
Cabot now has the life that he deserves. He knows he is home, safe and loved. “Cabot’s favourite things (other than food!) are rubber bands. He chases them around the house until inevitably, he loses them under a door or furniture. He also loves dryer balls. We found out quickly that store-bought cat toys just don’t cut it with Cabot,” chuckled Andre. 
“Cabot has made our house a home again,” said Andrea. “He has brought so much love and laughter into our lives, and he definitely repays our love many times over. He is also incredibly supportive and sensitive. Last year, when Andre was recovering from heart surgery, Cabot never left his side. He curled up on Andre’s lap and still does every day. Knowing that we could give this wonderful boy a new start in life brings us much joy.”
The couple shared their thoughts about the SPCA’s role in Cabot’s journey from heartache to happiness. “There is no doubt that the SPCA was instrumental in saving Cabot’s life. The amount of care, surgeries and medical treatments they provided, as well as love from the staff, was phenomenal. It was an amazing experience for us as well. We are so thankful for their dedication and efforts. We are also grateful to the Good Samaritan who rescued Cabot. We hate to think of what would have happened to him without that person’s help.”
There are so many older pets like Cabot who have been waiting a long time to find their forever families. All they want is for someone to love them. All they need is a chance. Please consider opening your heart and home to one when you’re looking for a new furry family member. You’ll be richly rewarded by their love.