Author: Taylor Huestis

Certified in Unconditional Love

October 15, 2020

By Taylor Mundy

Graduating as the top pup of her class, Olive participated in the SPCA WOOF Program. WOOF, which stands for Working On Our Future, pairs puppies with screened inmates at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility. Through the award-winning program, an SPCA dog expert teaches inmates how to train puppies.

Puppies learn basic skills and are socialized. The inmates learn responsibility, patience and respect – skills that can help change the direction of their lives, too. As one participant explains, “The puppies appreciate what we’re teaching them and we appreciate what they’re teaching us.” To date, more than 700 puppies have successfully completed the program.

While Olive was busy training and dreaming of the day she would be adopted, Kelly was assisting with pet therapy visits dreaming of adopting a new puppy.

“My little shih-tzu mix at home was a nervous little guy, so getting him a new best friend seemed like a good idea,” says Kelly. After learning about adorable adoptable Olive, Kelly pounced on the adoption application. “I put in my application, crossed my fingers and was over the moon to be selected. The day we got to pick her up was great – she saw my son first and immediately cuddled up to him. When we returned home she met our other dog and they became instant best friends.”

With Olive’s WOOF Program training and her affectionate personality, Kelly knew she would be a perfect therapy dog. “She was well socialized with people,” shares Kelly. “She’s a quick learner and it doesn’t take too much for her to catch on to a new command – including giving us high fives!”

Olive became a certified therapy dog and began visiting long-term care homes every week. “She was a hit!” giggles Kelly. Through her therapy visits, Olive brings comfort and provides unconditional love.

“The smiles that she brought out in some of the clients were wonderful and chatting about a sweet little dog has the ability to bring up some special memories, especially for some of our seniors,” says Kelly. “Of course, not everyone is at the same cognitive or mental space at the same time, and one particularly sweet moment was when a client inquired about the wool on my little sheep. It was a good opportunity to practice being in the moment with the client and just allowing her to experience the joy of an animal.”

Kelly shared that the most special part of Olive being a therapy pet is “Having the opportunity to see the joy and connection that others experience when they are with animals. Connecting with other people can be difficult, for a variety of reasons. Connecting with animals is less complicated and is very pure in nature, which can have emotional benefits.” We couldn’t agree more!

Olive went from a homeless puppy to a proud certified therapy dog. We are so inspired! Please join us in giving Olive and Kelly a round of appaws for all the amazing things they do to help others. Thank you!!

 

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.

Being There, Always

October 14, 2020

By Christa Jensen

From the moment Laurel came into the world, Orlean knew her daughter was special.  At just 2lbs 11oz, Laurel had beaten all odds when she was born. Even though her body was tiny, everything else about Laurel was mighty — her smile, her spirit, and especially her heart.

After spending childhood in and out of the hospital, Laurel was inspired by the many nurses she met. It became her mission to show others the same kindness that she had been given. So after high school, Laurel pursued a degree at Saint Martha’s School of Nursing. Over the next 28 years, Laurel worked as an RN in hospitals throughout Canada and the USA. She spread comfort to thousands of people along the way.

It was Laurel’s caring nature that led her to Zeus. Zeus had been waiting for the perfect owner with the patience and understanding to handle his chronic digestive disorder. Laurel was certain fate brought them together to give Zeus the best life possible. But when she fell sick shortly after adopting him, Laurel realized that Zeus was just as much of a blessing to her.

As Laurel sought treatment for stage 4 Mesothelioma, Zeus never left her side.  Remembering back, Orlean said her daughter was happiest with him around. “She pushed herself to walk with him every day,” said Orlean, “and when she slowed down, he just seemed to understand. She fought hard because of him.”

October marks one year since Laurel lost her heroic battle with cancer. In loving memory of her daughter, Orlean has made a generous donation to the Nova Scotia SPCA so that more families could have the same happiness that Zeus and Laurel shared.

The Nova Scotia SPCA cherishes every gift made in memory of a loved one. It is an honour to be able to continue the legacy of animal lovers like Laurel.

 

Pets give you unconditional love… and you have the powerful opportunity to make your love unconditional too.  By leaving a meaningful gift for the Nova Scotia SPCA in your will, you continue to transform the lives of local animals. Learn more here.

 

Christa Jensen

Christa is the Director of Development for the Nova Scotia SPCA. As an animal lover, she is very passionate about animal welfare and working with philanthropists to give pets the happiness they deserve. Christa and husband Matthew, are proud parents of two children – one with paws and one without.

Little Critters, Big Love

September 24, 2020

By Judy Layne

Dogs – check.  Cats – check.  Most people know that the Nova Scotia SPCA has lots of amazing cats and dogs looking for their forever homes.  But did you know that the SPCA often has adorable small animals that need loving families? From rabbits to rats, bearded dragons to mice and even roosters – there could be a cute little critter that’s just right for you!

These pint-sized pets, like their bigger shelter buddies, came to the SPCA through no fault of their own and are equally deserving of love and happiness. Last year, 161 small animals were adopted from the SPCA.

We’re thrilled to share updates on some of the SPCA’s awesome itty-bitty alumni.

 

Ava BunBun

This sweet gentle soul was found stray.  At the shelter, Ava Bun-Bun was very social and energetic.  It didn’t take long for a loving family to find her.  With her unique cute-as-a-bug appearance, we think that Bun-Bun may give Grouchy Cat some competition!

Her dad Dan McCarthy gave us the scoop.  “As soon as I saw Ava BunBun’s photo, I knew my other rabbit Angus had to meet her.  I set up a ‘bunny date’ at the SPCA Animal Redemption Center. On the big day, Angus was a little nervous and was hesitant to leave his carrier. Ava BunBun scampered around a bit, had a few sniffs and approached the carrier. Then she stuck her head in the door and hopped right in! It was love at first sniff! Her and Angus have been inseparable since.  She has blossomed into an independent little lady who will only do things on her terms. Angus is a doting ‘husbun’ (both fixed of course).  She has her own Instagram account (@Ava.BunBun) and they have a shared Instagram account (@the_dustbunnies). They’re gaining followers and I love that we can utilize their adorableness to raise awareness about rescue, adoption and getting a second chance.”

 

Steak and Taters

These adorable boys were surrendered because their owner couldn’t care properly for them any longer.  You could tell immediately that they were a bonded pair, so it was rat-tastic when the boys were adopted together!  And besides, two rats are twice as nice.

Their proud mom Kati Scopie told us that “Thanks to the amazing staff at the Dartmouth SPCA, Steak and Taters were already very socialized and loved human contact.  Taters is obsessed with any attention he can get and if he thinks you have a treat, you will never get him off you!  Steak is my own personal groomer and loves to eat snacks in his hammock.  They both love coming out to play, eating snacks (peas and pasta are favorites) and using me as a human tree.  Taters loves a full body scratch and Steak prefers gentle pats on his cheeks.  I am so happy to give them a forever home.  Their story is going to be included in every Christmas card I send this year!”

 

Pancake

This beautiful bearded dragon was seized along with several other pets. Pancake’s owner was charged under the Criminal Code of Canada.  Pancake was very weak when she arrived at the SPCA and was diagnosed with a fractured femur.  Two months later Pancake was adopted by an amazing family.

Her doting mom Abbie Offman shared this update.  “Pancake is a funny little character who loves to explore.  When I let her out of her enclosure for exercise, she runs all over the place, finally finding some nook or cranny to hide in. I’ve had her outside, on a little leash, to explore the backyard to get some sun. She’s met the neighbors and is a big hit.  She is a light sleeper and loves to give me the stink eye if I try to take a picture of her while she is sleeping! I am completely obsessed with taking photos of her, she is so photogenic.  August 27th is her 1 year ‘gotcha’ day and I can’t believe it’s been that long.  We’ve dealt with a number of health problems along the way but despite all of the obstacles, she is our little girl forever and I don’t mind her extra care one bit.”

 

Hercules

This wee fellow was surrendered and with his attractive coloring, cuddly nature and charming personality, Hercules was adopted quickly.  Now, he’s the chief mouse of the house!

His mom Nanci Bond shared this update.  “Hercules has done exceptionally well since we brought him home. He has settled into his new house and he’s very interactive and increasingly social. He will perch on my daughter’s hand and likes to ‘boop’ it with his nose – hoping for a blueberry for a treat. He has been a great addition to our house.  It’s always fun to watch how busy he is – especially after cleaning his cage when he likes to redecorate to his own style!  Many thanks to the SPCA for taking in these little critters; we’re very happy to have him with us.”

 

Edward

This handsome young man was found wandering by himself and came to the SPCA through Animal Control.  With his good looks and spunky personality, Edward was adopted quickly.  We hear that he has lots of new female friends in his new home and is soaking up all the attention!

His mom Fran Morrison gave us the latest.  “I adopted Edward in early July.  He is a gorgeous little bird.  From day one he took over the barnyard.  When I open their door and let the birds out in the morning, he is the last one to go… he lets all the ladies out first!  And if there is a hen in the nesting box, Edward keeps the others in the barnyard until she goes out.  Then they venture around the property hunting for bugs. They made a mess of my garden, but I don’t care – animals come first in my world!  Edward crows all day long which is hilarious because he has the cutest squeaky little crow. You’ll see that he is half the size of the hens, but clearly, he’s the boss!  That’s why I call him ‘King’ Edward.”

 

Thinking about adopting a little critter??  There is a lot to know before deciding to adopt a small animal. 

Many little critters find themselves in a shelter because their previous family no longer had time for them or their children lost interest.  Small animals should never be thought of as ‘starter pets’, easy to care for or inexpensive.

Every animal has their own unique requirements.  You need to learn what to feed them, how much exercise and attention they need, what type of enclosure they need, how to live with and care for them.  You need to be sure that the animal fits well with your lifestyle and budget and that you can make the long-term commitment that comes with adopting a companion animal – even a very small one! The SPCA can provide you with the information you need to ensure that your pint-sized pet will have a safe, happy and healthy life.

 

Check out the SPCA adoptions website regularly for little critters that need loving homes.  Your new companion may be just a click away!

 

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.

Love Wins

September 23, 2020

By Taylor Mundy

Many things changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Your love and dedication for homeless pets never wavered. Animal-lovers stepped up and found creative, new ways to help. We compiled a list of some of the many that made our hearts swoon.

 

Masks & Fundraising

SPCA supporter, Sonia Cumminger, began making masks to protect people and help homeless pets in need. “I decided to get into making masks but didn’t feel right about profiting from it,” reflects Sonia. “So, I thought I would donate all proceeds to the SPCA as I knew they would be affected by this pandemic greatly.” Sonia started out with a goal to raise $100 and ended up making just over $1,400!

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be able to raise this much,” exclaims Sonia. “Once the word got out that 100% of the money made was going to help the SPCA the orders started coming in. I was overwhelmed by the response.”

Sonia ended up making approximately 300 masks and gave away many to people she knew desperately needed them. “I placed 15+ on a power pole on Sackville Drive with a sign that said ‘if you need a mask please take one’ and within 24 hours they were all gone.”

Sonia wants to thank everyone who supported and bought a mask from her. And we want to give a big THANK YOU to Sonia for generously donating her talent and time to help save lives.

 

Toys & Treats

12-year-old Jane was stuck at home during quarantine and felt her cats were bored. “This may sound silly, but I looked for some ways to keep them entertained and found ideas on the internet created by other cat lovers,” Jane reflects. “From March until the end of June I made different types of toys, pillows, bandanas and bow ties. I wanted my project to have meaning in the local community so I chose the SPCA.”

“I loved creating the toys mainly because one of my cats is an SPCA kitty and it’s nice to see a little excitement after a while of quarantine and tough times,” Jane shares. “Even the animals felt the effects of this pandemic with limited cuddles, so I hoped this would brighten up some pets’ days.”

“I feel it’s important to help animals in need because they don’t have a voice and we can give them one,” she exclaims. “Every animal deserves a loving human in their lives, and it’s important to advocate for them as vulnerable members of our society.” And Jane doesn’t stop there! She hopes to continue working with animals and someday become an equine veterinarian.

Jane’s kindness and compassion goes to show that you can never be too young to make a BIG difference. On behalf of our shelter pets, thank you!

 

Online Birthday Pawty

Christian Selig is not only an app genius but an amazing supporter of animals in need. After working with Apple, he began working on an app called Apollo. Two years later, he proudly released Apollo and has been working on it ever since. He even uses it to raise funds for furry friends in need!

“My girlfriend Jess and I adopted our two cats from the SPCA, so we were able to see firsthand the great work they do and benefit for it with our cute pets,” shares Christian. “The SPCA posted that due to an influx of kittens in kitten season they were low on food and supplies and requested community help. Rather than just make a donation myself I thought about involving the people who use my app to give it an extra boost, and tell them I’ll donate the proceeds from the app for the day to my local SPCA animal shelter.”

Just like that – he started fundraising and saving lives – and hasn’t stopped since.

This year, with the SPCA needing extra help, Christian was determined to raise more than ever before.

For his birthday on July 20th, Christian pledged to donate all app and custom icon proceeds, $1 for every retweet via his @apolloreddit Twitter account, $0.10 from every reddit comment, and donations through his personal CanadaHelps fundraising page. We hit the floor and our jaws dropped when he shared his total. Drum roll please…. $42,657.10!!

“I’d definitely recommend fundraising if you have your own business because you can do a lot of great things for a very deserving group of animals,” shares Christian. “Even small amounts of money can go so far!” We hope you had a birthday as amazing as you are Christian. THANK YOU for being a humane hero for homeless pets.

 

Love for animals inspires people to do amazing things. Thank you for helping to save lives!

 

Want to start your own fundraiser for furry friends? Check this out – 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.

Loki Leaves His Past Behind

September 23, 2020

By Judy Layne

On November 2nd last year, Mandy Morgan and her parents adopted a deserving dog from the Nova Scotia SPCA. An 8- year old Siberian Husky mix, the shelter had named him Rocky. When they adopted Rocky, the family decided he should have a new name for his new start in life. They called him Loki.

Loki led a sad life before he was rescued by SPCA Cruelty Officers following a complaint in August 2019.  His ‘home’ was a lonely place without love.  He had no soft bed to lie in and no toys. And it got worse. His owners skipped town and abandoned Loki in their rental home.  He was left with no food or water.  When SPCA officers found him, they believe he had been alone for about 2 weeks.  He managed to get some water from a toilet. The home was a disaster and showed his desperate and futile search for something to eat.

Loki was discovered cowering and afraid.  He was weak and could barely stand.  Rescue was just the first step on his road to recovery.  Loki arrived at the Dartmouth shelter stiff and very lethargic.  He was overweight from lack of a healthy diet and exercise and had issues with eating and diarrhea.  His teeth were in poor condition and he needed dental surgery. He was diagnosed with Addison’s disease which requires him to be on medication for the rest of his life.  Emotionally, Loki was fragile.  There were times he would refuse to go back in his kennel.  Some nights, the staff would let him sleep in the office or lunchroom where he felt a little more safe and secure.  He was likely terrified of being left alone again. After 2 weeks of rehabilitation, volunteers were allowed to handle Loki.

That’s when Loki’s life changed.

Mandy Morgan, one of the SPCA’s awesome volunteers had fallen in love with Loki at first sight.  Mandy related “I was thrilled when I finally got to take him out in the yard and interact with him.  I was itching to spend time with him and give him snuggles.  Loki’s such a teddy bear.  He just wanted love.”

“I wanted to adopt Loki so badly, but my family has a cat and another Husky mix and Loki was listed as a dog who would ideally go to a home with no other pets,” explained Mandy. “Every Thursday I would go in for my volunteer shift and would fall more in love with him. As the weeks went by and no applications to adopt him came in, I started thinking it was worth a shot submitting one.  Unfortunately, another family with no pets beat me to the punch and so that adoption proceeded. Sadly, things didn’t work out in that situation and Loki ended up back at the shelter.”

Mandy considered this to be a sign she was meant to adopt Loki. “The staff helped me to do a very gradual introduction between Loki and our other dog Kiya, spread over four different visits.  It didn’t start out overly promising, but luckily, everyone was patient and willing to put in the extra effort.  On the fourth visit, we put them outside together and to everyone’s surprise, they immediately started playing with each other!  It was so heartwarming.  Not only did I get the seal of approval to adopt Loki, I had never seen Kiya play with another dog like that,” said Mandy.

It took a couple of months for Loki to fully acclimate to his new home.  “We made sure to do things slowly and keep barriers up when needed until all three of our pets got comfortable with each other.  Now they all get along great!  Kiya and Loki are best buds, while our cat Bear remains the king of the house!” chuckled Mandy. “For the first few months, Loki was in my bedroom most of the time and followed me everywhere I went.  If I went out, he would be laying by the door waiting for me to get home.  He just wants to be close to someone,” she added.

Loki’s favorite things to do? “Eat, eat and eat!” exclaimed Mandy.  “He is very food driven. Loki’s a voluptuous pup so we have to watch how much food and treats we give him.  He also loves going for walks. Kiya, Loki and I try to get out every morning.”  What about taking his medication? “Loki has hypothyroidism and has to take a pill twice a day.  That’s where his love of food comes in handy.  He gets his pill in a little piece of cheese and we never have any issues getting him to take his meds. Quite the opposite really. He can’t wait to get his cheese every day!” laughed Mandy.

To anyone adopting a pet, Mandy urged “Don’t give up on them. Be patient. Like any relationship it takes time to get to know each other and get used to being in a new place with new rules. It also takes work and effort. But it is well worth it knowing you’re a part of their second chance at a happy life! Like Loki, they will return your love every day in so many ways.”

Mandy’s final thoughts?  “The staff at the SPCA are absolutely amazing people! They truly went above and beyond to give Loki a second chance, as they always do.  The extra care and consideration they gave, the attentiveness and patience, helped Loki to transition not only to the shelter but to our home. A special thank you to Kathy, Josh, and Amy for taking extra time to work with me and allowing us the chance to give our amazing boy a forever home.”

In his previous life, Loki woke up to the cold reality of yet another lonely dismal day.  Now he wakes up happy each morning knowing that he is home, safe and well loved.

Please give other homeless animals like Loki a chance to live the life they deserve.  Support the Nova Scotia SPCA in their lifesaving work.

 

“I volunteer Thursday mornings with the dog care team. A typical morning is pretty busy. We work to quickly get all the pups out to handle their business. While they’re outside we clean their kennels, provide fresh blankets and toys when needed, and make sure each pup gets their breakfast and fresh water. There are always copious amounts of laundry to do, poop to pick up and pups to play with. I wouldn’t want it any other way! It’s so fulfilling volunteering at the SPCA, knowing you’re making even the smallest difference in these animals’ lives.” – Mandy Morgan

Inspired to volunteer or lend a helping paw? Click here.

 

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.

Win Big & Save Lives

September 23, 2020

By Taylor Mundy

With no ongoing government funding to support our shelters, COVID-19 hit the SPCA hard.

All fundraisers and events for the SPCA were cancelled right at our peak busy kitten season. We knew others were struggling and wanted to find a way to help animal-lovers and raise crucial funds for homeless pets.

Just like that – the SPCA weekly 50/50 lottery was born!

We launched an online weekly lottery so folks can win big and support the SPCA from the comfort and safety of their home.

Every Wednesday, one lucky winner takes home 50% of the jackpot. The other 50% helps support shelter pets in need. When purchasing tickets, you can choose which SPCA region you want to support to help local pets. Or, you can choose to spread the love throughout the province to help those most in need.

We caught up with Susan Connolly, who was crowned the lucky winner for week 6. That week, the jackpot hit $9,350!

“I’m still in disbelief that I won,” shares Susan. “Wow! Thank you so much – everyone!”

Susan isn’t big on gambling or lotteries but animal welfare is important to her. She loves the work the SPCA does with spay/neuter services most. Susan grew up with dogs but has recently become a big cat lover thanks to her rescue kitty named Jeffrey.

“Jeffrey isn’t a boy who likes to be picked up… He was apparently very traumatized when he was found,” Susan reflects. “Jeffrey has come a long way over this year. With lots of love.”

After Jeffrey settled into his new home, his quirky personality started to shine. “He’s a hoot,” laughs Susan. “He puts himself in the funniest positions.” Check out the cute pictures Susan shared to demonstrate his adorable antics.

Susan’s first reaction to winning the lottery was to spend it all on her grandchildren. After thinking a bit more, she has decided she is going to treat herself – and probably spoil Jeffrey, too! She hopes that other supporters are inspired to participate in the 50/50 draw every week as it is a true win-win!

 

Feeling lucky? Click here to get your paws on tickets today

 

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.