Author: Taylor Huestis

Desi-Lou Helps Turn Loss into Love

February 13, 2023

By Judy Layne

Anyone who has ever loved and lost a pet knows that the pain of saying goodbye cuts deep. We need to give ourselves time to mourn the loss of our precious pets. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve, no set time. Some of us are afraid that opening our hearts to another pet means that eventually, we’ll experience immense sorrow again. But the greatest honor we can pay to our deceased pets is to reach out to another animal in need of a good home and let the gift of love they brought us live on.

Glenn and Anita know this first-hand. In May 2021, they lost their beloved adopted greyhound Malachi to cancer. For 6 years, Malachi was the couple’s best friend and constant sidekick. “He was so special,” said Anita. “Malachi was a true gentleman, never jumped up at people and was flirty with all girls of all species! Long walks on trails or in parks and afternoon naps were high on his list of favorite things.” Malachi was also a major ‘foodie.’ “He loved barbecue, blueberries and would attempt to steal your food, even when you were still eating it!” Anita chuckled.

One day in May 2021, Malachi had a sudden fall that resulted in a broken leg. Glenn shared “X-rays showed that he had advanced cancer. Malachi was getting older and we understood he wouldn’t have an easy or pain-free end. We knew we had to find the strength to let him go, out of kindness and love. It was one of the most difficult decisions we’ve ever had to make, but it was the right one.”

The couple’s home felt empty after Malachi’s passing. Anita recalled “Coming home without him was super-hard; we were used to him being wherever we were. We missed the special things that made Malachi unique – his sighs, whines and horse-like ‘raspberries’ when he was annoyed or wanted something and the chittering of his teeth when he was happy.”

There’s no manual that can tell you how to mourn and for how long. Everyone handles grief and loss differently. When it comes to considering getting a new pet, you’ll be ready when you’re ready – your heart will tell you.

“We missed having a dog to care for, to make us laugh and help us stay active,” recalled Anita. “We were searching for our new family member when we came across 9-year-old Desi-Lou’s photo. Her eyes drew us in – it’s as if they were saying ‘Look at me.’ When we met her, we fell in love with her great smile, big personality, cheery nature and wagging tail. We knew she was the perfect match for us and on August 4, 2022 we brought her to her fur-ever home.”

And what an amazing girl Desi-Lou has turned out to be.

Glenn proudly shared “She is smart and obedient, does tricks and loves to cuddle (belly rubs are a favorite). She’s definitely a ‘people-dog’ and has to be touching us at all times. Desi-Lou will even push the bed covers aside to get under them with us! She will also sneak a lick in when least expected, especially after drinking water – a wet sloppy kiss.”

I asked the couple what advice they would give to people who have lost a beloved pet? “You need time to grieve, but it’s definitely worth adopting another deserving animal as soon as you’re ready. Desi-Lou has given us purpose again, and has brought us the devotion, joy and love we needed to fill the hole in our hearts.”

 

Judy Layne

Judy is a dedicated volunteer with the Nova Scotia SPCA. She is committed to speaking for animals who cannot speak for themselves.

Lost and Found

February 13, 2023

By Taylor Huestis

Lost pet is something every owner fears, and sadly it can happen in the blink of an eye. That’s exactly what happened to Debra and Jeff.

They had their kitty, Frida, ever since she was baby. “Frida was a kitten discovered by an older lady at the Shur-Gain feed mill in Port Williams in 2007,” Debra remembered. “She was a beautiful little cat, about 10 months old it was guessed, and probably because of her hard start in life, was very small in size and very wary of people initially. After a couple of visits Frida came home with us and after a few weeks became the friendliest cat and loved to be with you.”

“We named her after Frida Kahlo,” continued Debra, “Frida Kahlo overcame great adversity to become one of Mexico’s greatest artists. It seemed a fit.”

As Frida the kitty got older, she started to lose her sight and hearing. So, they started their own special way of communicating with each other. Debra and Jeff knock on the floor and the vibrations let Frida know where they are in the house.

But randomly one day when Jeff was away and their granddaughter was visiting, Frida didn’t come when she was called.

“She was nowhere to be found,” worried Debra. “Luckily it was a warm night, but I was so scared as I thought maybe she got turned around and couldn’t find her way home. We have never lost Frida before and always trusted that she would turn up at the door meowing to let her in.”

Thankfully, someone found Frida wandering on the side of the road in the dark, and they brought her to safety at the Kings SPCA.

As with all pets brought in, our team first scanned for a microchip, and then checked to see if anyone reported a missing cat. They took an adorable picture and posted it on Facebook to hopefully find her family.

“I recognized her right away,” Debra beamed. “It was such a relief to see her lovely face.”

Debra and Jeff drove down to the shelter right away.

“When we arrived at the SPCA, we found that Frida in a short time had made quite an impression on everyone,” smiled Debra. “She really is a special cat. It was such a relief to have Frida back. I must say I felt so guilty, and I hated for this to be her end. She settled right into my lap on the way home and we snuggled for quite a while after.”

Although our team was sad to see Frida go, we were thankful she was able to be reunited with her loving family.

“For a small little cat she had quite a presence in our lives,” Debra shared. “She settled back in home and has no interest in going out anymore. Thank goodness. Just a special thanks to those who keep their eye out for strays and go out of their way to find them their home. We are so thankful for those folks that helped us reunite with Frida.”

 

A microchip gives your lost pet the best chance of being returned home safely. Shelters, rescues, and animal hospitals scan for microchips looking for your contact information. It’s safe, simple, and small… but makes a big difference.

Your pet can be microchipped at our SPCA Veterinary Hospitals in Dartmouth and Cape Breton.

Dartmouth – Email vet@spcans.ca or call 902-706-4155

Cape Breton – Email hospital@spcans.ca or call 902-241-2240

 

Taylor Huestis

Taylor is the Communications & Development Officer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive paw-rent to Bonnie and Boy. She is passionate about raising awareness and funds for local pets and loving families. Connect with Taylor at thuestis@spcans.ca or 902-222-0378 today.

Bonded Besties

February 13, 2023

By Taylor Huestis

No one knows about their history, or what their past life was like… But what we are certain of, is Indie and Dupont have a special love story.

Spotted roaming the streets together, concerned animal lovers reached out to the Nova Scotia SPCA for help. Indie and Dupont were extremely nervous of humans and would dash away as soon as anyone got close.

After multiple attempts to bring them in, we knew we needed to try a humane kennel approach. To rescue them, we left out a kennel filled with tasty food.

What happened next… no one could have expected.

Dupont went into the kennel and the door automatically shut. And although Indie could have run off, she chose to stay by Dupont’s side. The two pups were safely brought into our shelter – together.

While in our care, they continued to want to spend all their time with one another, always looking to each other for support. Indie, a six-year-old Great Pyrenees mix, was like a soft, gentle giant. She slowly warmed up to the staff whereas Dupont, a five-year-old lab mix, took a lot longer to gain his trust.

Our team worked hard to teach them that humans are kind and loving. Some days there were setbacks, but slowly they made positive progress.

Being fearful dogs, we knew they would need people who were patient and understanding. Where they had been each other’s support system through everything, we hoped to find a special home for both of them together.

That’s when they met Danielle.

“Indie caught our eyes immediately and very quickly warmed up (with the help of food bribes) but Dupont was pretty nervous,” Danielle recalled. “We visited them multiple times and it just felt right.”

So, they made it official. The two pups were adopted and given new names for their new lives. Indie is now called Rosie, and Dupont is named Kevin – full name Kevin Bacon.

“Kevin only let us pet him very briefly at the SPCA but the first night we brought them home Kevin realized we were his friends, he just opened right up,” Danielle smiled. “He was immediately pretty cuddly and taking selfies with us. He loves cuddles! Our friendship has just strengthened since then. Rosie was always pretty welcoming to us, but she’s been even more so now.”

“We’ve had plenty of nice memories along the way,” Danielle continued. “Kevin gets so excited for kibble that he dances on his back legs, loves the couch more than anything, and sleeps under our bed at night. Rosie loves looking at herself in the mirror, sitting cross-legged like a princess, and frolicking in the snow.”

With the cold winter weather, we’re so thankful that we were able to rescue and rehabilitate these bonded besties.

Although we thought we were teaching them, it turns out they have some lessons to teach us. “No matter how busy life gets, you always have time to cuddle a dog on the couch,” Danielle shared.

And maybe the biggest lesson of all? You can get through anything with a special friend by your side.

 

Taylor Huestis

Taylor is the Communications & Development Officer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive paw-rent to Bonnie and Boy. She is passionate about raising awareness and funds for local pets and loving families. Connect with Taylor at thuestis@spcans.ca or 902-222-0378 today.

A Category 4 Hurricane Can’t Stop These 4 Women

January 18, 2023

By Ryan Toomey

I think we can all agree that 2022 seemed to throw curve ball after curve ball. It was no different for the Putts Fore Pets committee organizing the annual golf tournament fundraiser for the Cape Breton SPCA.

It felt as though they were about to cross the finish line and see all their hard work pay off in the form of lasting impact on local pets in need. Linda, Barb, Laura and Joanne had just buttoned up the planning for the SPCA’s most ambitious golf tournament to date in mid-September 2022. Dozens of phone calls to loyal supporters to secure sponsorships and very few spots left for registration; Everything was pointing to another fantastic year for the committee to raise much need funds for the local shelter.

On September 19th, just days from tournament set to take place on the 23rd  when they got word about heavy rains going into the weekend. The committee agreed it wouldn’t be an ideal day but it looked as though the rain wouldn’t start until the very end of the tournament. Little did they know, these heavy rains would turn into one of the most devastating storms to hit Cape Breton Island in decades…

They watched as the rain amounts doubled… then tripled… and then the news broke. A category 4 hurricane was set on a clear path towards the island and would begin to make landfall during the tournament. Work began immediately to try and salvage all their efforts to help pets in need.

While others were out stocking up on supplies and preparing for the storm, the committee was hard at work postponing the Putts Fore Pets Tournament. It took over a hundred phone calls but through their dedication to the cause, they successfully moved the tournament to October 7th.

Linda, Barb, Laura and Joanne’s super hero story doesn’t end here! You might already know how this part of the story goes… Hurricane Fiona devastated the island, leaving some of our favorite places nearly unrecognizable. For those of you who were in the direct path of Fiona like the committee was, you likely know someone who had been displaced or severely impacted or maybe you were yourself. It was a very emotional time for our community as we tried to find words to express the profound loss we all felt.

I was on the ground during Fiona assessing the damage done to our operations in Cape Breton. The power was out, our generator was running out of propane, and we had sustained major damage to essential portions of our shelter. We needed immediate help to protect the animals in our care and to ensure we can continue to be there for Cape Breton’s pets and their families. Of course, I reached out to the committee immediately to let them know what was happening.

Although the committee was facing their own issues related to Fiona, they found the time to ensure the local pets were also getting the help they needed. They quickly refined there plans for the tournament to ensure the SPCA was able to fully recover from Fiona. Barb’s family even agreed to match donations for the day!

The day of the tournament felt like a much-needed break from the reality that was Fiona. For the day, we all left our homes that were ravaged by the storm. Some were even dealing with destroyed roofs and construction fans drying out their homes as they spent the day raising much needed funds for local hurt and homeless pets. This was an act of selflessness that very few people can boast. Of course, we all checked in with each other often but the general message I heard was “There is nothing else I can do to help myself right now, so I need to help others.”

$32,000 was raised through the selflessness of these four incredible, caring women. In a time of crisis, the Putts Fore Pets committee responded with grace and compassion. We can all learn a lesson from Linda, Barb, Joanne and Linda.

 

Ryan Toomey

Ryan is a Development Officer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive fur-papa to Jake and Sam. He is determined to ensure homeless pets get the help they deserve.

The Fido Bursary – Strengthening Veterinary Care in Cape Breton

January 18, 2023

By Ryan Toomey

Cape Breton needs more veterinary care and we aren’t the only ones who think so! The SPCA has responded to the lack of accessible veterinary care across the province by founding the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare to provide high-quality education and help fill the workforce.

One generous SPCA supporter wanted to take it a step further by specifically helping their home, Cape Breton Island. We worked with the donor to develop a plan to bring more animal welfare professionals to the island in the form of the $5,000 Fido Bursary. The Fido Bursary is awarded to a student enrolled in any program at the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare and gives preference to those looking to bring their skills, post-graduation, to Cape Breton Island and those who may have financial barriers to success in their education.

The first Fido Bursary has been awarded to a loyal Cape Bretoner and future Veterinary Assistant, Bailee Sampson.

“I was born in Halifax and spent the first 5 years of my life living in East Hants,” Bailee explained. “My family then made the move to Cape Breton, where I still live (except during the week when I am in Halifax for school!). Most of my family has always been tied to Cape Breton. A lot of my family has owned businesses in and around St. Peter’s and established their life there. It is the place that has shaped me into the person I am today and I am forever grateful.”

When asked about how the Fido Bursary impacted her life and education, here is what Bailee had to say. “It provided me with financial assistance so I can continue my education without worry. This bursary allows me to focus more on my education and less on the financial stress of being a student. While being a student is stressful, all of that student debt follows you into the work field. This bursary will not only support me in getting better education which will allow me to thrive in a work environment, but it will also cause less financial stress when I am working after graduation. Student loans are expensive, and every little bit of extra support helps.”

Because of the generosity of Cape Bretoners, Bailee has been given the opportunity to thrive in an exciting career that will help fill the gap in Cape Breton’s animal welfare industry.

Bailee certainly doesn’t shy away from expressing just how grateful she is for the philanthropists that prioritize impact through education opportunities. “I would like to say how grateful and thankful I am for the donor to the Fido Bursary. The kindness they must have to donate funding for a bursary to the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare will never go unnoticed. I am deeply appreciative to have been the selected recipient and for the support given by the donor. You have inspired me to help students one day and give back to the community when I am able.”

“Bursaries help with education more than anyone knows,” Bailee continued. “Sometimes they’re the only reason students can get a post-secondary education. School is so expensive which can be very stressful and burdening on an individual. Any little bit of support helps. To donors who are considering creating an award, I would just like to let you know that no matter how big or small, everything little thing is appreciated. Our future is brighter because of people like you!”

We couldn’t have said it better, Bailee! You can have a lasting impact on the animal welfare industry too by supporting education opportunities at the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare.

“My experience at the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare has been amazing so far,” Bailee beamed. “It really is such a unique education experience. Our instructors are the best! They truly care about how we learn and make sure we get one-on-one opportunities so that the schooling fits everyone’s needs. My favorite aspect is the hands-on experience we get. Being so close to the Dartmouth SPCA shelter, we take in animals, allowing them new experiences and to get socialized. While doing so, us students are also getting the exposure to all different species while learning handling, husbandry, grooming, and behavior. Some species we’ve had in the classroom so far are bunnies, kittens, rats, guinea pigs, snakes, and of course, our favorite furry assistant, Audrey, who is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, owned by one of our instructors. With their excellent class instruction and the hands-on opportunities, I truly feel as though we are getting the best education which is going to allow us to flourish as Veterinary Assistants!”

Are you looking for a thrilling career of helping companion animals? Maybe your looking to have a lasting impact on the animal welfare industry? If so, reach out to us here to chat more about the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare.

 

Ryan Toomey

Ryan is a Development Officer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive fur-papa to Jake and Sam. He is determined to ensure homeless pets get the help they deserve.

SPCA 50/50 Lottery Saves the Day!

January 18, 2023

By Judy Layne

Times are sure tough right now. There are some days when we wonder how we’ll make ends meet. It’s particularly challenging when unexpected major expenses arise. Just ask Arlene. A week before Christmas, she was suddenly faced with a huge car repair bill of almost $3,000. That’s when the SPCA weekly 50/50 lottery saved the day. The jackpot hit an amazing $15,845 – Arlene won half with the other half going directly to helping homeless pets in need this holiday season.

Arlene said “When the SPCA called to tell me the wonderful news about winning the December 22nd 50/50, I was thrilled and very relieved. Winning couldn’t have come at a more purr-fect time given the huge repair bill I was facing.”

It seems that the stars were aligned for Arlene’s win. She explained “I normally look at the jackpot amounts, but for some reason, I didn’t look at the December 22nd jackpot.  I just had a feeling that it might be my turn.  When I got the call and heard the amazing amount, my response was ‘Wow!’ It was the best Christmas present ever.”

Arlene has been a loyal supporter of the weekly 50/50 lottery since the beginning of 2022. She shared how she first learned about the 50/50. “I’ve been an animal lover all my life. In December 2021, I was planning to drop off some donations to the SPCA Thrift Store in Dartmouth. Since the store opened, any items I have to donate go there exclusively because it’s such a worthy cause. I was on the SPCA website checking out the store’s top-needed items when I saw reference to the 50/50. I started buying lottery tickets regularly in January 2022. My motto when I buy tickets is ‘It’s for the animals.’”

Arlene encourages everyone to support the 50/50 lottery in whatever capacity they’re comfortable with. “It only takes one ticket to win and the animals win every time! You’ll feel good knowing your purchase is making a difference for these beautiful animals in need,” she said.

So, while at its core the SPCA is all about animals, they are supporting Nova Scotia families as well. In fact, the SPCA started the 50/50 initiative because they wanted to find a way to help animal lovers AND raise crucial funds for homeless pets – a definite win-win. The 50/50 lottery gives people something to hope for and something that can positively impact their lives.

You can make a difference from the comfort and safety of your home.  Please show your support by buying a 50/50 ticket. Who knows – you could be one click away from being the next lucky winner! Click here.

 

Judy Layne

Judy is a dedicated volunteer with the Nova Scotia SPCA. She is committed to speaking for animals who cannot speak for themselves.