Author: Taylor Huestis

The Doorway to a New Life: Chester’s Story

January 18, 2021

By Judy Layne

For homeless animals, there’s a doorway between heartache and happiness.  A key is needed to unlock the door.  The key is hope.  The Nova Scotia SPCA gives hope and unlocks doors to happily-ever-after for thousands of homeless animals that cross its doorstep each year.  Chester is one of those animals.  Here’s his story.

In August last year, SPCA Enforcement Officers brought Chester to safety at the Dartmouth SPCA.  He was suffering from terrible skin and ear infections.  Chester’s ears were so painful that he didn’t let anyone go near them and he had to be sedated in order to treat them.  He also had unknown allergies that led to the loss of much of his fur.

Treatment was complex and involved several different medications. But medical care was just the first critical step in Chester’s healing.  Rescued animals need to heal emotionally too.  Over the next two months, staff and volunteers showered Chester with love and attention and worked hard to build re-build his trust in human beings.

At the beginning of October, the SPCA decided that Chester should be placed in a foster-to-adopt home, so he could settle in with a family while still being treated medically at the SPCA.  That’s when Chester’s life changed.  Thia was on the Jack 92.9 Facebook page and saw a photo of Chester, who had been featured on Wet Nose Wednesday.  Thia shares “I wasn’t looking for a dog per se. In fact, I’ve been a cat person most of my life.  But something in Chester’s eyes drew me in – they told a story of neglect, defeat and sadness. I filled out at application but figured that my chances were slim.  I was thrilled a few days later when the SPCA contacted me to advise that my application was approved and to arrange a meet-and-greet.”

At the shelter, staff discussed with Thia the long-term care that Chester would require.  She relates “It was a bit daunting as a first-time dog parent, but I fell head-over-heels in love with Chester and knew that he and I were meant to be together.  A few days later, I brought him to his new home, along with 3 medications, special shampoo that he needed to be bathed in every 3 days and special food.  I knew that Chester and I could figure things out together.”

There was shared joy as Chester crossed the doorway of his new home.  “He walked into the house like he ran the place!” chuckles Thia. “He claimed a chair as his favorite and was very respectful of my two cats who are 13-year old brothers. They warm up to Chester more every day.”

Chester will be on his allergy medication long-term.  Thia explains “He’s a good patient; he’s never been difficult with any of his pills, but still dislikes having his ears touched.  I’m also very careful with his food since he needs to eat a limited-ingredient diet.  We check in with our veterinarian periodically to make sure we’re on-track.”

Chester now has the life that he deserves, and his transformation has been remarkable.  He’s happy and doing so much better health-wise.  Chester’s expression in his ‘after’ photo says it all – he realizes he is home, safe and loved.  “Chester loves going for long walks (we’re talking 3-5 kms most days), going for rides in the car and he’d never say no to a good nap,” laughs Thia. “He also loves any toys that involve food!”

Sometimes, amazing transformations work two ways.  Thia exclaims “Not only did Chester convert me to a dog-person, but he’s winning over my friend and walking partner Debora, who was also not a dog-person!  Debora calls him ‘Love with Fur.’  Chester has brought so much love and laughter into my life; I can’t remember what life was like without him.”

Thia shares her thoughts about the SPCA’s role in unlocking the door to a new life for Chester.  “I can’t imagine what would have happened to Chester given the poor condition he was in.  The SPCA stepped in and provided him with all the care and love he needed to start a new life.  They never tired of my endless questions and I have nothing but praise and thanks for their dedication and efforts.”

 

You can help make a life-changing difference for homeless animals like Chester.  Please donate today.

 

Prepare for cuteness………..here’s a favorite anecdote from Chester’s fur-mama Thia……….

“Chester really loves to be bathed. This is great since his medicated shampoo has to sit on his fur for 10 minutes.  While we wait for the time to wind down, we play a game of ‘Which hand is the kibble in’? After his first bath, all that I would have to say is “Does Chester want a bath?” and he’d run excitedly to the bathroom, stopping only to make sure the kibble was coming too!”

 

Judy Layne

Judy is a dedicated volunteer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive fur-mama to Gracie. She is committed to speaking for animals who cannot speak for themselves.

Bindi’s New Beginning

January 18, 2021

By Judy Layne

The Nova Scotia SPCA is dedicated to rewriting the story of homeless animals’ lives.  They work tirelessly to ensure that each animal’s story has a happy ending.  Sometimes, they can give a homeless animal a new beginning to their story too. So it was for sweet Bindi.

On December 10th, 2019, SPCA Enforcement Officers rescued 35 dogs.  Not long after being in the SPCA’s care, 3 pregnant moms gave birth to 18 puppies, bringing the total to 53 puppies and dogs! This was one of the largest dog seizures in Nova Scotia – ever.  Bindi was one of the babies born in the safety of the SPCA.

Bindi and her siblings, her mom and all the other rescued dogs were housed in emergency infrastructure where they were safe and warm.  They received needed medical treatment, food for hungry bellies and patient loving care.  A long road to recovery lay ahead.  But now there was hope.  Now they could heal.  Generous animal-lovers like you helped to change their story from one of heartache to hope.

Shortly after birth, the 3 litters went into foster homes where they stayed for the first few weeks of their lives.  Then, while the adult dogs were in training and foster homes, the puppies joined the SPCA WOOF Program.  WOOF, which stands for Working On Our Future, pairs puppies with screened inmates.  Under the direction of an expert SPCA trainer, the puppies learn skills, gain confidence and are well socialized.  The inmates learn responsibility, patience and respect – skills that can help change the direction of their lives too.

The pups stayed in the program until they were ready for adoption.  All were ready except sweet Bindi.  She was the smallest pup among the entire bunch.  She had developed chronic skin issues that required baths in medicated shampoo twice a week and additional nutritional supplements. So when Bindi was 8 weeks old, she was put into the trusted foster care of Amy, a staff member at the Colchester SPCA, until her skin issues were deemed to be resolved.

“We fell in love with Bindi at first sight”, says Amy of herself and husband Sam.  “She has the sweetest little ‘freckles’ on her nose that are adorable.”  Amy recalls Bindi’s first night in their home.  “She cried a lot, missing her littermates.  All she wanted was to be cuddled, and she slept on my shoulder all night.  After a few days, she settled right in and we got to see her sweet loving nature.”

Bindi’s new beginning included acquiring a talented big brother, a border collie named Blue that the couple had adopted previously.  “We think having Blue around really helped Bindi adapt to her new surroundings.  She followed him everywhere,” relates Sam.  “Interestingly, Blue is almost completely deaf.  It doesn’t slow him down though – he loves going to obedience classes and is even trained in scent detection,” Sam adds.

 It didn’t take long for Bindi to melt the couple’s hearts and they adopted her at 6 months old once she was medically cleared.  “She’s a bundle of pure joy; she’s always happy and brightens your day.  We can’t imagine life without her now,” they share.  “It’s also been very helpful for Blue to have Bindi as a sister and playmate.  Because he can’t hear, we see him observing her and he’s now able to know when someone’s at the door.”  Sam adds “Bindi is absolutely obsessed with her brother.  If they’ve been apart, she immediately runs over and gives him kisses.  They love to play outside together and she is always pressed up against him when they nap.”

Bindi has truly blossomed.  “She enjoys swimming, playing ball and jumping in the snow,” says Amy.  “She’s a quick-study too and has already completed one obedience class as well as a beginner agility class.  She gets such a big smile on her face when she’s running through tunnels and over jumps.  We’re so proud of her.”

The couple’s final thoughts?  “Bindi got a new beginning thanks to the SPCA.  We are excited to help write the rest of her life story.”

 

A special thank you to everyone who donated, fostered, adopted, fundraised and raised awareness. Because of you, 53 puppies and dogs got a second chance for a safe, happy and healthy life. Please give other homeless animals like Bindi a chance to live the life they deserve. Be a hero and donate today to help the next pet in need.

 

Prepare for cuteness…………here are two more anecdotes from Bindi’s fur-mama Amy……….

“We brought Bindi home in February and it was freezing cold! We quickly determined that she hated the cold and refused to go outside without a sweater on.  She enjoys the snow much more now that she is older.  In fact, now she never wants to come back inside!”

“We jokingly call Bindi a mermaid. She is absolutely crazy about water! I think that might come from having to have baths twice a week in medicated shampoo for her skin… in the beginning she would get treats in the tub, so she learned that baths are a good thing. Now she’ll jump right into the bathtub or shower with you and if you’re not paying attention a ball might get dropped in with you as well! You can’t turn on the tub and walk away while it fills because she will just jump right in and have her own bath! In the summer, she had her own sprinkler that she would play in for hours and we would take her to the lake for swims- it was difficult to get her to leave. She knows where the tap is for the sprinkler and will jump at it and try to turn it on herself!”

 

Judy Layne

Judy is a dedicated volunteer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive fur-mama to Gracie. She is committed to speaking for animals who cannot speak for themselves.

‘Tis the Season for Saving Lives

December 16, 2020

By Taylor Mundy

Are hurt and homeless pets on your Christmas list? They were for Nancy.

Nancy has been an animal lover her whole life. She has volunteered, adopted and donated to help care for innocent pets. For the past 37 years, Nancy dedicated her time to rehabilitating and caring for dogs.

Sadly, Nancy’s sweet rescue dog, Mavi, made his way to Rainbow Bridge this year. Nancy was absolutely heartbroken.

While grieving, Nancy found hope that Mavi’s legacy would live on by helping pets just like him. “Mavi’s story ended with his second life – a ten year run of everything that was happy and fun,” shared Nancy. “Most important, Mavi had safety and trust in his new life, and I had my 4th shadow.”

“Knowing about the endless number of creatures who need saving, I realized that all their stories are the same, yet different,” exclaimed Nancy. “Most of the time suffering, filth and hopelessness are involved, and if they are lucky… love will enter their lives.”

Nancy is right. Some pets were abandoned, left out in the cold, or lived life at the end of a chain. No matter their story… they all desperately need help.

Nancy made a kind donation to the Nova Scotia SPCA and hopes to inspire others to do the same this year. Will you open your heart to help thousands of animals that have no loving family to call their own? Here are three ways to donate and help this holiday season below.

 

SPCA Gift Guide

Give a gift and save a life.

Choose a present in the SPCA Gift Guide and celebrate that special someone who has everything by giving back to a pet who has nothing. Your gift will spread holiday cheer to your loved one while providing hope and healing to pets in need.

As a thank you for your gift, you will receive a printable certificate (Hint: a perfect holiday gift).

 

SPCA Tribute Tree

Looking to honour someone special or a pet that left paw prints on your heart? Make a donation on behalf of a loved one and we will add a paw ornament with their name on our SPCA Christmas tree. Your meaningful gift will celebrate the pets and people you care about, all while helping to save hurt and homeless animals.

 

Howliday Wish Lists

Grant a wish and play Secret Santa this holiday season. View our holiday wish lists and add any of the items to your cart. You can send a surprise gift directly to the shelter of your choosing. You can also use this list for ideas if you are shopping at your local pet store and want to help hurt and homeless pets.

 

Thank you for helping to save pets this holiday season. Happy pawlidays!

 

Taylor Mundy

Taylor is the Communications & Development Officer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive fur-mama to Bonnie and Clyde. She is passionate about raising awareness and funds for local animals in need.

Worth the Wait – Ginny Finds the Purr-fect Home

December 16, 2020

By Judy Layne

It’s been said that good things come to those who wait.  There’s a special kitty who knows this is true.  Her story began in April 2019 when she was surrendered to the Pictou SPCA by her owners as they were no longer able to care for her.

At approximately 5 years old, Ginny had severe dental disease.  She was in a lot of pain so all her teeth had to be removed.  After being on antibiotics for several weeks, she finally started to feel better.  But Ginny was still very frightened and timid.  It took her a long time to warm up to shelter staff and volunteers.

Over the next 3 long months, Ginny watched as people passed her by to adopt other cats.  She was often overlooked as she was quiet, introverted and would hide in her kennel all day.  All she could do was wish for a special family who would look into her eyes and see the sweet loving soul inside.

In July, she was adopted but sadly, was returned two weeks later as she was so scared in the home that she never came out from under the bed.  Would Ginny’s wish ever come true?  On August 3rd, it did!  Ann Archibald and her husband Al were out for a drive and decided to stop in at the shelter for a visit. “We had recently lost two of our beloved strays – Kahlua and Buddy – to illness and weren’t ready to adopt as our hearts were still broken,” shares Ann. “Then one of the staff introduced us to Ginny and it was game over.  We felt so bad that Ginny had been at the shelter for so long and then returned through no fault of her own,” Ann relates. “We made up our minds that she was coming with us to her forever home and would never be going back!”

“We knew that Ginny would need lots of love and patience,” says Al.  “We set her up in her own safe room with a big bed and lots of toys.  We spent an hour that evening laying on the floor talking softly to her and coaxing her with food to come out from under the bed.  She finally did and incredibly after that, she was never afraid of us,” he continues.

The room remained Ginny’s safe zone for a few months to use whenever she wanted.  “We were very careful how we introduced Ginny to our dog Minnie and other cat Precious.  It took her some time to feel comfortable around our other fur-babies, but calm settled in once they realized that Ginny was the new boss in the house!” Ann chuckles.  “Our sweet Minnie has since passed away but a new stray kitty – Patches – has recently joined our family and Ginny has definitely taken a liking to him.”

The presence of the right family helped Ginny to open up, trust and thrive.  “Ginny’s personality has blossomed ten-fold since being adopted,” shares Al. “She is a very playful happy cat these days.”  Ann adds “Ginny enjoys playing with her catnip fish, exploring boxes and bags and being brushed. She is very affectionate and jumps up on the sofa beside us each evening for cuddles.  Her all-time favorite thing to do is eat!  She’s put on some weight since being adopted and even though she has no teeth, it doesn’t stop her from eating kibble which she likes better than soft food!”

The couple says that Ginny has enriched their family. “She is so adorable and a delight to be around every day.  We never know what she’s going to do next to give us a laugh or put a smile on our faces,” they relate. “We are grateful to the SPCA for their loving care of Ginny and for never giving up on finding her a forever home.” They encourage people not to pass up shy or older pets when adopting.  “They will be a great addition to your family and will bring you years of unconditional love and joy.”

If homeless animals could talk, they would tell us that the greatest present is a forever home where they feel safe and well-loved.  Your gift to the SPCA can help make happily-ever-afters possible for homeless animals like Ginny.

 

Judy Layne

Judy is a dedicated volunteer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive fur-mama to Gracie. She is committed to speaking for animals who cannot speak for themselves.

Melvin Pays Love Forward

December 16, 2020

By Judy Layne

Anyone who has adopted a homeless animal knows that they are a true gift, bestowing unconditional love, laughter and joy on their adoptive family.  Some remarkable animals are so grateful for their forever homes, that they pay it forward by giving the gift of love to other homeless animals.

Case in point, Melvin.  Here’s his amazing story.  Melvin was found alone, afraid and huddled under a car in someone’s driveway.  A kindhearted person brought him directly to safety at the Kings SPCA.  At only 4 weeks old, Melvin was so tiny, weighing only 0.4 kg!  He was very dehydrated, starving and covered in lice.  He also had a bad case of upper respiratory infection.

Due to Melvin’s condition upon arrival, SPCA staff were not sure if he would make it. However, with ongoing round-the-clock care including fluids, medications and syringe feedings every 3 hours, he survived. After several months of supportive care, love and attention in a foster home, Melvin was given a clean bill of health and continued living with his foster family until he was able to be put up for adoption.

His foster mom Shelby Peters recalls Melvin’s brave road to recovery.  She shares “When he first came to our home, Melvin had to be quarantined since he was sick.  He was so small and helpless. His body was shaved because he had lice and he was very congested with a respiratory infection.”  Shelby goes on to say “As he got better, he was allowed around our other cats, including my sister Bryanna’s cat Ron.  Ron is a special-needs kitty – he had to have one of his legs amputated due to injury – who was also adopted from the SPCA Kings Shelter.”

As Melvin recovered, his big personality started to blossom.  “He and Ron became best buddies,” relates Shelby.  “Despite his small size, Melvin was feisty and wouldn’t back down when rough-housing with Ron.  Ron babies Melvin and was more than happy to teach him what being a cat was all about.  He even taught Melvin a few bad habits!” chuckles Shelby. “It took Melvin longer to warm up to our other cat Guinness, but they get along well now.” It was clear that Melvin also loved people and was a real cuddle-bug, regularly curling up around Shelby’s neck and turning into a little purr machine.

“Melvin was with us for several months while he was getting better and by the time he was well enough to be put up for adoption, I had fallen completely in love with him and decided to adopt him myself,” shares Shelby.

Besides being full of love, Melvin is full of surprises.  “Our biggest surprise was how Melvin took to all the kittens I have fostered,” says Shelby.  Sister Bryanna relates “Melvin’s a carbon copy of ‘Mama Ron’ who helps me with orphaned foster kittens.” “Melvin loves to watch and play with the foster kittens.  He’s still pretty much a kitten himself, so he loves to play,” shares Shelby. “We currently have a senior foster dog named Bubba.  When they were first introduced, Melvin was a big scaredy-cat, but now they get along great. In August, we moved into a house with an acre of land so he gets to go outside now – closely supervised by me – and loves exploring the property and playing outdoors.”

“Melvin is a true gift; he has brought a lot of joy and energy to our home,” Shelby relates. “He is very mischievous, so there’s never a dull moment when he’s around.  He’s always working on his play-fighting skills, hoping to beat his big brothers one day!” There are even more of Melvin’s high-jinks below.

 

Thanks to the constant presence and support of the SPCA, Melvin is now a healthy, spunky boy and has a family that truly loves him.  Please give other homeless animals like Melvin a chance to live the life they deserve.  Be a hero and donate today to help the next pet in need

 

Prepare for cuteness………….here are two more anecdotes from Melvin’s fur-mama Shelby ………………

  • ‘When Melvin was younger, he would always lay right across my neck while I was sleeping or lying in bed reading, and he would fall asleep like that. It was really cute, but as he got bigger, that wasn’t really an option anymore even though he’d like it to be!’
  • ‘I just bought a robot vacuum, and the first time I used it all the cats, including Melvin, were really freaked out by it. It was pretty funny. I have a few videos of them watching it from a distance, trying to figure out what it is, and then freaking out when it turned around and started coming their way. But they kept following it, full of curiosity, then it would turn around again, they would freak out, rinse and repeat!

 

Judy Layne

Judy is a dedicated volunteer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive fur-mama to Gracie. She is committed to speaking for animals who cannot speak for themselves.

Family Finds Their Missing Link

December 16, 2020

By Taylor Mundy

In 2014, the Nova Scotia SPCA spent four hours rescuing 127 cats from a hoarding situation. It was one of the largest seizures in years. Link, an adorable orange and white tabby, was one of those kitties.

Often, cats from hoarding situations have spent more time with other cats than with people. Because of this, they can be fearful and may not know how to live in a home. Things that may seem like normal behaviours, like using a litter box, are brand new. They may even be scared of everyday things like dishwashers and television noise.

With Link, he was scared of humans and would only come to you on his own terms – usually when there was food and treats involved. SPCA staff and volunteers worked to build up Link’s trust and teach him that people are kind and loving. Once Link was medically cleared, it was his turn to leave his shelter life behind and find his forever family.

And then fate stepped in.

Ryan had just purchased a new fish tank and made a trip to a pet store to get some fish. On the way to the back of the store, he saw a multi-level kennel with a single cat for adoption. They locked eyes.

“I saw this underweight, partly shaved cat with giant fluffy cheeks, spent about 5 minutes with him and instantly fell in love,” remembered Ryan. “I most certainly did not expect to adopt a cat that day but here we are, 6 and a half years later and I could not picture my life without Link. I constantly feel like I won the cat lottery.”

After a few days of hiding and sneakily exploring, Link began to warm up and parade around the house. “After he realized that he was in a forever home he became a playful, affectionate cuddle bug,” Ryan laughed. “He is known for his running headbutts. If he sees someone new he will wait for them to get settled and then vigorously headbutt them until he gets ear scratches.”

Everyday household items still fascinate Link. “Link loves to play with pens, coins, and coasters,” shared Ryan. “I don’t think Link had toys for the first few years of his life. One of my earliest memories of him was when I dropped a mechanical pencil in the first month I had him. He instantly tackled it and spent a good hour chasing and batting it around.”

Ryan and Link love spending the holidays together. “Our pets get just as much out of the holidays as we do and I believe the upbeat attitude of the season has a huge impact on them,” exclaimed Ryan. “Even if it’s extra treats under the tree, the more time at home, or extra affection you can see the positive change in them… even if that positive change involves being extra playful and trying to knock down the bulbs on the tree.”

I think cat owners everywhere are giggling and can relate to that.

“There are always animals in need though,” Ryan continued. “If you cannot bring a new furry family member into your home, consider donating what you can to help out the shelters. You might not think a few dollars donation could help but maybe that donation means they get that extra bit of affection, that new blanket or new bag of treats they would not have had otherwise.”

“Monetary donations are a great way to support a cause like the SPCA, especially at this time of year,” Ryan smiled. “Without them there are so many of us who wouldn’t have our little best friends.”

 

Feeling inspired? You can make more happily-ever-afters like this by donating to the Nova Scotia SPCA. Click here.

 

Taylor Mundy

Taylor is the Communications & Development Officer with the Nova Scotia SPCA and proud adoptive fur-mama to Bonnie and Clyde. She is passionate about raising awareness and funds for local animals in need.