Author: Taylor Huestis

A Purrrrfect Murmur Match

July 15, 2024

By Taylor Huestis

When you read “eeny, meeny, miny, moe” do you catch yourself humming the famous nursery rhyme? Well, after this you might be thinking of four adorable kittens instead.

Kitten season is the busiest time of the year for shelters and rescues. While it sounds like it would be a magical time with their tiny toe beans, SPCA shelters become flooded with kittens who were abandoned, injured, or orphaned.

Kittens just like Eeny, Meeny, Miny, and Moe.

Struggling to survive as strays, these three-week old babies were brought to safety at the Pictou SPCA. To give them some extra TLC and socialization, they went home with a lovely foster family. All the kittens learned how to play, purr, and find the perfect spot for a cat nap.

To set them and their future families up for success, when the kitties were big enough, they went in for spay/neuter surgeries. This way, they would live longer, healthier, and happier lives AND they wouldn’t have accidental litters of their own.

But during that veterinary visit, the SPCA team discovered something unique. Eeny was diagnosed with a 2/6 heart murmur.

Normally, when listening to a heart you would hear lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub… but with Eeny’s heart, you would hear a loud shooshing sound. Eeny needed a special family that would monitor his heart condition and give him lots of love.

Luckily, Eeny met Alycia.

“I was searching the SPCA websites in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia,” remembered Alycia. “Eeny, now Ollie, caught my eye because of his heart shaped nose.”

“Out of all the kittens I saw, he is the one that caught my eye the most,” she continued. “They sent me a few videos of him and he couldn’t stop making biscuits.”

Although Alycia lived miles away, she felt drawn to him. They shared a special connection… Alycia also has a heart murmur.

“Having a heart murmur myself I was born with, it did not stop me from adopting him,” Alycia shared. “He settled into his new home right away and was playful, making biscuits. When I go upstairs he always beats me by running up the stairs and jumps on the bed waiting for me to join. He has a toy (a bouncy stick with a feather like toy at the end) I’ll play with him, but if I’m not he will grab the toy and walk it all around the house until he finds me to play with him.”

Their love has only gotten stronger from there.

“My son adores playing with him and holding him,” smiled Alycia. “And when my husband comes home from work in his truck (he hears it coming around the corner) he runs downstairs meowing at the window excited to see him.”

The family is truly in heartfelt harmony now.

“We lost our senior cat Sebastian of 15 years which brought a lot of grief to our family,” explained Alycia. “It has definitely helped with bringing joy back into our life’s, and our home doesn’t feel so empty.”

Heart murmurs sometimes scare some potential adopters away… but in this situation, it really hit home for Alycia and Eeny.

Alycia didn’t need the nursery rhyme to help her choose who to adopt. Their hearts spoke to one another, almost as a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected connections are the ones that heal us the most.

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.

Two Small Kittens. One Big Adventure.

July 15, 2024

By Taylor Huestis

Pip and Posy is a popular children’s book and television show. In the series, the animals are best friends who love to go on adventures together.

Just like their namesakes, Pip and Posie were small kittens about to embark on a big journey. Only theirs started when a kind animal lover found them outside in a ditch.

Hoping a mama cat would return and care for the two babies, the spotter positioned security cameras towards the ditch and watched. But sadly, they were all alone.

Pip and Posie were rushed into the Colchester SPCA.

Estimated to be around 1-2 weeks old, they had just opened their eyes to the world and saw Georgia Tofflemire’s caring face. Georgia works in animal care and reception and was immediately invested in the baby kittens.

“They were covered in fleas and too young to survive on their own,” Georgia recalled. “They were extremely cold and honestly, we were not sure if they would survive the night. I had always wanted to experience fostering bottle babies, so I took them home that day.”

The first step was trying to get their body temperatures up so it would be safe to bottle feed Pip and Posie some kitten milk replacer (KMR).

“Luckily, they suckled very well and I did not have any problems with feeding them, although little Posie was always screaming for food so she always had to be fed first while Pip patiently waited,” grinned Georgia. “I had to stimulate them using a warm cloth so they could urinate and defecate. As well, since they arrived covered in fleas, I did give them a little bath in dawn dish soap and then used a hair dryer to dry them off since they were still too young to receive any other topical treatments.”

With around-the-clock care and love, the kittens began to make positive progress. But while cheering them on as they gained weight and energy, Georgia noticed Posie was developing a little differently than her sister.

“Posie was diagnosed with bowed front elbows,” explained Georgia. “Her front legs have not grown a lot and is a little bit of a munchkin kitty. Although she may be tiny, she is still a big bundle of energy, and nothing seems to bother her.”

Fostering Pip and Posie brought Georgia and her kitty, Rocky, so much happiness. So much so that she decided they were all destined to stay together.

“Once they had their vaccines and had been with me for a while, I allowed them to meet Rocky (also a foster fail haha),” Georgia shared. “Rocky jumped in and was a great big brother, he was constantly grooming them, and he would even pick them up and bring them up on the bed so they could all cuddle together. I had felt Rocky needed a friend, so I made it official and adopted Pip and Posie.”

The cuteness only continued from there.

“I allowed them to free roam my apartment and they developed little chirps to call for each other and then they’d run and chirp until they found one another,” smiled Georgia. “I realized they are most likely bonded. To this day, they still do it, and it is the most adorable thing to hear and see.”

Even though Georgia cares for shelter pets all day, sometimes she takes “work” home with her. Over the years, she has fostered 8 dogs and cats and encourages anyone interested to give fostering a try.

“The nice thing with fostering through the SPCA is that you can specify what types of animals, the ages of animals, or needs you may want to foster,” Georgia explained. “I would recommend if you’re on the fence to maybe try with an adult cat, that way there isn’t too much training involved, just to get a taste of fostering and how rewarding it is to see an animal’s progress and when they find their forever home.”

With the SPCA Foster Program, and the help of dedicated foster families, pets like Pip and Posie get to experience a beautiful beginning of a new chapter.

Happily-ever-afters aren’t just on TV and in books. By fostering, you help make them happen.

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.

From Rough Starts to Runway Royalty: The Story of Ru Paul and Raja

June 19, 2024

By Judy Layne

You just never know when, where and how you’re going to meet your new best friend. This is the story of two kittens who came to the SPCA at different times, from different backgrounds and different geographical areas who ultimately became BFF’s (Best Feline Friends).

The first kitten had a rough start in life. She came to the Kings Shelter in October 2022 through the SPCA’s (Trap-Neuter-Return) Program in Digby. She belonged to a colony where many of the cats had Panleukopenia which can be fatal. Thankfully, the kitten tested negative. She received medical care at the shelter for an upper respiratory virus along with socialization to make her comfortable with people. The shelter named her Campfire. She was put up for adoption and eagerly awaited her fur-ever home.

At the same time, Haley was looking for a kitten. Her birthday was right around the corner and she knew she couldn’t get a better present than a kitten! So, Haley and her mom went to the Kings SPCA. Haley said “We called ahead and learned that a group of kittens had just been spayed. There were lots to choose from, but Campfire stood out. She had a beautiful long tri-colored coat and was super-friendly. She loved being held by my mom and when you meowed at her, she meowed back! She was 5-months old so a bit more mature with an established routine.” Haley fell head-over-paws in love and took the kitten home on December 21st.

Campfire not only got a new home, but a new name for her new life. Haley shared “My partner Laura and I named her Ru Paul. We love the show RuPaul’s Drag Race and thought we would honour our kitten by naming her after a favorite celebrity.”

Ru Paul (Ru for short) adapted quickly to her new home. “She was greeted calmly by our dog Meave, a Wolfhound/greyhound cross who’s a gentle giant,” said Laura. “Ru took several days to warm up to Meave but they became good friends. Since day one, Ru has always stuck close by our side through the day and night. She even slept on our chest and heads the first night she came home!”

Ten months after adopting Ru, Haley and Laura decided Ru needed a playmate. Haley explained “Ru was an active kitten, but once she matured, she loved to laze around and seemed a bit lonely. We often take Meave with us on outings and we felt bad leaving Ru home alone for the day. We wanted to get her a playmate to keep her company and get her a bit more active around the house.”

That’s where kitten number 2 comes in. She was brought to the Yarmouth SPCA in October 2023 as part of an accidental litter but was transferred to the Kings Shelter due to lack of space. The kitten had a severe upper respiratory infection and ended up being treated for yellow discharge from her poor little nose. Shelter staff named her Vicky. Sweet Vicky waited patiently for a family to call her own. She would soon meet Haley and Laura and that’s when her life changed.

On November 12th the couple went back to the Kings Shelter because they had adopted Ru there and she was such a great kitty. “A number of the cats needed special care or a single-pet home, which wouldn’t work for our lifestyle,” said Haley. “Then we spotted two 12-week-old black-and-white kittens. One of the kittens came up to Laura’s hand and wanted to be cuddled. Laura held her for 30 minutes and the kitten didn’t even move. She loved the attention and constantly tried to lick us. Knowing how affectionate Ru was, we knew that Vicky would be a great fit. We changed her name to Raja after another one of our favorite characters on Ru Paul’s Drag Race.”

Interestingly, it wasn’t love at first sight for Ru and Raja. “Ru would do a low growl when Raja came near her and Raja would hiss at her,” recalled Laura. “Like the two celebrities they’re named after, they were uncompromising and not afraid to speak their minds!” chuckled Haley. “Raja was scared of Meave for the first few weeks, but over time, they learned to co-exist as roommates and will even take naps together.”

Soon, Ru and Raja became BFF’s and are inseparable. Laura shared “They love to chase each other around the house and eat treats. They will sit together on their window perch or by the screen door and watch the birds and bugs outside. If anyone sits or lays down, either Ru or Raja will come running and lay on you. Ru loves going under the covers and laying on our heated blanket. Raja loves Q-tips and will pull them out of the garbage can. They both LOVE to cuddle and are always looking for attention.”

There hasn’t been a dull moment in the house since adopting Ru and Raja. Haley chuckled “At times I work from home and it’s not long before they are both walking all over my keyboard and distracting me. They love to sit on the edge of the bathtub while it is in use – not one at a time, but together. Often Ru’s fluffy tail will dip into the water. Raja will think it’s a game and try to play with the drips and water on her tail. One day, Raja got so distracted doing this that she lost her footing and fell into the tub! Ru took off, not wanting to be the next victim and Raja zoomed out of the tub faster than she fell in! Although it was a good lesson for Raja, it has not deterred her from joining Ru on the edge of the tub.”

“Ru and Raja have added so much joy to our life”, said the couple. “It’s fun to see them explore and try to guess what they will get into next! Their loving personalities spoke so loud to us at the SPCA and they have not disappointed. They love us as much as we love them.”

If this story of purr-fect friendship has inspired you, please donate to help more homeless kitties like Ru and Raja go from rough starts to strutting the cat-walk!

Judy Layne

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

A Patient Owner Makes All The Difference for a Timid Dog: Chanel and Doug’s Story

June 19, 2024

By Kirsten Millar

Doug Harris has always had a big heart for rescue dogs, especially those who came from bad situations. His last dog, a rescue poodle, recently passed away. When Doug decided he was ready to welcome another furry family member into his heart and his home, he looked to the nearby Cape Breton SPCA and that’s where he saw a Pitbull named Chanel up for adoption.

“I love all dogs, but Pitbull breeds get a bad rap,” says Doug. “When I met her for the first time, she was so thin I could count her ribs. I could see her hanging underbelly and could tell she had been used for breeding. I thought to myself that she needed to be loved.”

Chanel was extremely timid when she met Doug, and it was clear to him that this dog had been through a lot.

“She looked so sad, it broke my heart. The first time I took her for a walk, she was so timid that she walked behind me and would stop and sit down. I kept saying to her, ‘come on, no one will hurt you if I have anything to do with it.’ Then I’d give her a treat and she would walk a little more,” he says.

Doug returned to visit Chanel every single day for weeks to spend time with her and take her for walks, letting her build trust at her own pace. He was committed to her from day one.

“Eventually, ever so slowly, she began to accept me. Then one day, she was walking beside me and no longer behind me. I knew she was mine and she was coming home with me,” says Doug.

Chanel, lovingly nicknamed Nelly by her family, fit into her new home seamlessly. “The minute Nelly jumped in my truck, it’s like she knew she was going home, and it made my heart swell,” says Doug.

With her new home and new confidence, Chanel’s silly personality has gotten to shine. She often makes Doug laugh, especially when she acts like she’s a lap dog, jumps up in his lap, falls asleep and snores like a chainsaw.

“And Nelly has the energy of a hurricane!” says Doug. “My wife, Char, and I take her to the dog park here in Glace Bay where she is a rock star. Dogs and people alike just love her. It took a while, but even our cats love her now.”

All Chanel needed was someone patient to give her a chance to become her best, happiest self. And luckily, Doug says he has always been a patient man.

“Nelly is my best friend – I lover her and she loves me. The best decision I’ve made since moving to Nova Scotia was bringing Nelly to her forever home. This is her last stop!”

There are many more animals like Chanel in our shelters, waiting for their Doug to come along and give them their chance at a happy life. Click here to see some of the cuties ready for their forever home.

Kirsten Millar

Kirsten is an animal lover and proud “dog aunt” who recently lost her two cats that she adopted from the SPCA in 2007. She volunteers at the SPCA to honour their memory and help other animals like them.

A Forever Kind of Love

June 18, 2024

By Christa Jensen

Even though they weren’t Corgis, Lila’s beloved dogs were still royalty in her eyes. Much like the queen, she treated them to a life of luxury, complete with spa days, the very best doggy fashions, and jewel encrusted collars. She even bestowed her pups regal names, Prince, Princess, and Princeena.

Lila’s friends joked that they wanted to be adopted by her to receive the royal treatment too. But the truth is, it wasn’t just her own dogs that Lila doted on. Lila believed that all pets were precious gifts and should be treated accordingly. That’s why, whenever an animal was in need, Lila was first in line to help.

Her companion, Dave Crowe, recounts the time that Lila was living in Florida and spied a dog that appeared to be in trouble down an embankment,

“She stopped the car on the turn pike, threw off her high heels and down she went. It happened to be a greyhound, one of the fastest dogs in the world, but there was no stopping Lila when a dog needed help! She somehow managed to get him up into the car and to a shelter.”

Lila put her whole heart into everything, especially when it came to animals. And it was that love and fierce determination that established the Colchester SPCA nearly 30 years ago.

Back then, the Truro branch consisted of a small group of volunteers set up in a backyard shed. Space was limited but their dream was big – to build a proper shelter so that they could help even more animals. When Lila learned about the vision, she immediately rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

Over the next 8 years, Lila found every opportunity to tell others about the project. Rain or shine, she never missed a fundraising event, participating in raffles, yard sales, barbecues, Christmas sales, bowlathons, park festivals, and more. Through her passion and sales background, Lila built strong connections and raised thousands of dollars for the SPCA.

Thanks to the incredible efforts of the small but mighty group, their labour of love became a reality in 2002 when the long-awaited Colchester SPCA animal shelter opened. Remembering their time together, fellow volunteers Leah McDonald and Colleen Nelson said,

“Lila was definitely one of a kind! She had a great sense of humour and a heart of gold. She didn’t take no for an answer and that’s why she was able to achieve so much for the SPCA. When Lila spoke, people listened. She used this power to stand up for what she believed in. We were very lucky to have her on our team.”

After working tirelessly for so long, one might think about taking a well-deserved break. Not for Lila! Opening the shelter only fueled her flame even more. Lila took great pride in the new location and would visit often to make sure that the animals and staff had everything they needed, including thoughtful treats to boost everyone’s spirits. If something needed tending to, Lila made sure that it was handled without delay.

Right up until the age of 85, Lila could be found freshening up the garden and dropping by with goodies. Lila supported the SPCA for nearly three decades as one of the longest serving volunteers. But even after committing her entire life to helping animals, Lila still wished to do more. She wanted her love to last forever.

Inspired by the generosity she received from others all those years ago, Lila made a thoughtful gift to the SPCA through her estate as her final act of love. Lila’s memory now lives on through every pet that is cared for at the Colchester SPCA.

Lila is a true guardian angel, and her legacy will always be cherished by the staff, volunteers and animals she loved so much.

If you would like to become a guardian angel for animals, just like Lila, click here to learn about making a charitable gift in your will.

Christa Jensen

Christa is the Director of Legacy and Leadership Giving with the Nova Scotia SPCA. As a busy mom of two, Christa understands the importance of planning ahead for the future. She enjoys helping fellow animal lovers make a lasting impact on pets and families in need. Connect with Christa at 902-449-8513 or cjensen@spcans.ca

Courage is the Bear

June 7, 2024

By Sarah Lyon

When your last name is the name of an animal (albeit not a companion animal), and you are a Veterinary Assistant student, the comments write themselves. But for Jennah Bear, the connection to animals and the SPCA goes farther; it’s an integral part of her culture, and her childhood.

“When I was little and was asked ‘what do you want to do when you grow up?’ I always answered that I would work for the SPCA,” says Jennah. “But then an adult would always tell me, ‘No, that is not a workplace, that is for volunteers’, so I found a different career path.”

In 2022, Jennah graduated from Saint Mary’s University with a degree in criminology. A lover of reading true crime, she thought she had found her forever job. But life doesn’t always work out like we planned. “I spent a year working as a barista, and while I can make a great shaken espresso, I knew it wasn’t my calling.”

Jennah worked up the courage to start applying to go back to school. She remembered that love of, and dreams of, working with animals that she had as a child. “I started searching schools that had programs for veterinary technicians and that’s when I saw the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare.” Bear applied for the veterinary assistant program, knowing that she would have a better chance of getting a job after graduation.

After she was interviewed and accepted into the program, Bear reached out to her community band office on the Tobique First Nations (Neqotkuk). They have a program called the Tobique First Nation Post-Secondary Education Program. Bear received partial financial support to go back to school in Halifax.

Well known Mi’kmaq educator, Trevor Sanpass has been interviewed before about the seven sacred teachings that have been a part of Mi’kmaw life from the very beginning. He says, “The traditional laws, also known as the grandfather or grandmother teachings, are at the heart of many Indigenous cultures, including the Mi’kmaw culture. They are the basis for a worldview that is rooted in respect for one another and the natural world. That’s why each lesson is associated with an animal.”

Love is the eagle, respect is the buffalo, courage is the bear, truth is the turtle, humility is the wolf, wisdom is the beaver, and honesty is the sabe or Bigfoot.

In the Wolastoqey language, the word for bear is ‘Muwin.’ “But when the Europeans came over,” says Bear, “They started to ask us what the names meant, and they just ended up using the English version instead because it was easier for them to pronounce and remember. So instead of using the word Muwin, they started calling us Bear.”

Now Jennah is connected even more with animals. She is set to graduate from the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare in August and hopes that her current part-time workplace (the SPCA Veterinary Hospital) will turn full-time. “It has been great being a student while working in the Hospital,” she says. “I work with a few SPCA College alumni so they understand the stress of schoolwork and help me out where they can.”

Jennah recommends that if you want to work with animals, you apply to the college, even if you have a different educational degree. “And if you are an Indigenous student, talk to your band office, there may be a similar program available to help like Tobique First Nations (Neqotkuk).”

That little girl in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick was told she couldn’t have a career at the SPCA. Now, because the woman with the name Bear had the courage to apply to the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare, the future looks bright to Jennah having a career at the SPCA.

On June 21, for National Indigenous Peoples Day, we recognize and celebrate the history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada.

Sarah Lyon

Sarah is the Director of Marketing and Communications with the Nova Scotia SPCA. At home, she parents rescue dog Mz. Roxy Roller and son Lochlan. Telling the stories of adopters, donors, and volunteers is what makes her tail wag. Connect with Sarah at slyon@spcans.ca or 902-229-8620 today.