Some trips are worth making.
It could be that you want to see a specific place, eat at a unique restaurant, or, in this case, adopt your new best friend.
Joyce and her family unexpectedly lost their dog, Luna, to stomach cancer at the beginning of March 2025. As anyone who has lost a pet knows, it leaves a hole in your heart, and the house gets just a little bit quieter. They still had their resident cat, Zelda, and weren’t looking to add another furry friend to the family.
But everything changed in September.
“We weren’t actively looking to adopt at the time, but our two daughters, Jillian and Fiona, were browsing online and found Gizmo. Fiona was absolutely determined – she kept showing us Gizmo’s profile until we made the decision to go and meet her. We got up bright and early on a Saturday morning to make the seven-hour round trip from Dartmouth to Yarmouth, just to be there the moment the SPCA opened,” Joyce remembers.
Gizmo came into the care of the Yarmouth SPCA as a surrender. She had minor medical needs, so it didn’t take her long to get the all clear to find her loving family.
But days passed, turning into weeks, and Gizmo still waited for the right people to walk into the adoption room.
And she was right to wait. The family says, “The moment we arrived and asked to meet Gizmo, we could feel the genuine joy and relief from the staff. One of the team members told us she had whispered to Gizmo earlier that same morning, “I think today is going to be your day.” They all clearly loved her so much. Gizmo herself was front and center as soon as we walked in – social, friendly, and ready for all the cuddles. We knew instantly we wanted to bring her home.”
When bringing a new pet home, there’s always the question of how they will adapt. “It was seamless. Within 24 hours, it felt like she had always been part of the household. We took our time introducing her to our resident cat, Zelda, and just followed her lead with exploring the house. By evening of the first day, she had clearly decided that this was her house and we were her people.”
It’s been five months since Gizmo found her home. And she and her family keep making new memories and rituals every day. Some of Joyce’s favourites are the ones between Gizmo and her human siblings. “She’s already identified that Fiona is her bestie and loves to play. When she wants to relax and get some quiet, she’s figured out that Jillian’s room is a quiet, comfy, safe space.”
Gizmo is also staying busy by having appointed herself to keep both her people and her neighbourhood safe. “Her favourite ‘job’ is manning her ‘Command Center’ – perch at the top of the stairs where she can keep tabs on everyone. She actually has a hard time napping during the day because she has such a severe case of fear of missing out! We often catch her yawning mid-patrol, but she refuses to close her eyes if there’s even a chance of action,” Chris, Joyce’s husband, explains.
“In addition to guarding the stairs/kitchen, Gizmo has taken over the ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ post. Luna always sat in one specific spot in the front window to watch the world go by. Now, Gizmo sits in that exact same spot, directly under a memorial stained glass ornament.”
With her furry sibling, it’s still a work in progress. Joyce says that Gizmo is much more interested in becoming friends, but over time, Zelda has shown signs of opening up to the idea of another pet in the house. Everything is done at their pace, and we’re sure that soon enough, Gizmo will completely win her fur sister over.
While the entire family describes Gizmo as incredibly affectionate, silly, and the most relaxed cat they’ve ever known, there is a specific time when she’s feeling quite blue. When they adopted her, Gizmo’s fur parents were told their new family member needed to go on a weight loss journey.
“It’s a bit of a challenge. Gizmo is a highly skilled negotiator when it comes to food and can look truly tragic when she thinks a snack might be coming, but we’ve recently started a new metabolic diet with our vet’s help and are working hard to get her down to a healthy weight,” Chris notes.
But despite some bumps in the road, Gizmo’s family wouldn’t change a thing. “We are so grateful we made the drive to Yarmouth. It’s hard to imagine our home without Gizmo,” Joyce reiterates.
Gizmo’s story reminds us that sometimes it’s not about being ready for a new beginning or for a new chance, but embracing it when you know that it is meant to be. And that at the end of the day, it’s about how we grow when new challenges present themselves.
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Just like Gizmo, there are more pets in our care who are looking for their purr-fect families. You can visit our adoption page for more information or make a trip to one of our shelters. And if you’re not looking or able to add a new family member into your life but can help, you can make a donation and be a part of their stories.