Author: Taylor Huestis

Most Cats Hate Water… Except Sammie

October 19, 2023

By Taylor Huestis

Our feline friends are notorious for hating water. The sweetest kitten can transform into a stretched-out scrambling mini lion when they accidentally touch water.

Despite the majority despising bathtubs, Sammie is a kitty who is absolutely fascinated with anything and everything water related.

No matter if it is dripping from the shower or tap, Sammie races there to play.

We’re not sure why Sammie loves water or enjoys getting wet. We wonder if maybe it is a familiar kitten feeling. Sammie used to be a stray kitty, so perhaps playing in puddles was his form of a fun toy.

Sammie’s shelter name used to be Unagi. His siblings were all lovingly named after different types of sushi too: Sashimi, Edamame, Miso, Roe, and Sushi.

These stray kitties were brought into safety at the SPCA and spent five weeks in a loving foster home.

Sammie and his siblings were socialized and medically treated to set them and their future families up for success. This included spay/neuter surgeries thanks to our friends at PetSmart Charities of Canada™. Spay/neuter surgeries at this age are less stressful and have a shorter recovery period. Plus, they won’t have any accidental litters of their own!

When it came time for adoption, the kittens were brought to an SPCA adoption partner, PetSmart Dartmouth Crossing. Karina had visited the store to purchase some worms for her bearded dragon, Rhubarb, and was over-the-moon excited when she spotted them.

“I went over to look and had seen a few grey kitties and Sammie, and right away I said OMG I need that kitten,” Karina recalled. “He came right up to the glass and put his little nose on it and was so playful. I instantly fell in love with his little face and extra toes on his paws.”

“Sammie LOVES water,” Karina giggled. “Every time he hears the shower faucet turn on, he runs from the other side of the house and jumps into the shower. He even jumps into the shower when I’m in there!”

“I’ve never met a cat who loves water and playing in water like him,” Karina continued. “Every time I brush my teeth and he hears the tap on, he runs and jumps onto the counter top and licks the water. He’s so cute.”

While Sammie’s obsession with water might be quirky behaviour. Everything he does is endearing to Karina.

“He loves to sleep on top of you or right by your face,” Karina smiled. “He’s a spoiled little dude with so many toys and treats. I love him so much. He brings me so much love and happiness. I 100% recommend people to adopt from the SPCA and give all the fur babies a loving happy life.”

When you adopt a kitty from the SPCA, you’re gaining a new furry BFF that will love you… and most likely hate water.

But you never know! Even though most adopted cats will turn into mini lions near water, you might end up with a unique kitty like Sammie, who only ever turns into a lion when he dresses up on Halloween.

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.

She’s a Fabulous Foster; He’s a Fantastic ‘Mr. Fix It’

October 18, 2023

By Judy Layne

Danielle and Brian Peddle are truly a dynamic duo when it comes to helping homeless animals. In addition to being regular donors, Danielle has volunteered as a dog walker at the Kings SPCA since moving to Nova Scotia in 2019. Becoming a foster parent was something that she always wanted to do. But the couple’s three dogs are reactive to cats, so when the call went out in May for a foster family to care for mama dog Aphodite and her nine newborn puppies – yep, NINE! – Danielle stepped up.

The puppies were just two days old when Danielle brought them home, along with their mom. She was asked to name them. Danielle said “I chose names based on their personalities. There were six girls: Addie, the smallest of the litter, Roxy, Maggie, Molly, Sadie and Shelby. The three boys were: Buster, Tucker and Cooper, the largest fellow.”

The motto of the Nova Scotia SPCA’s foster program is ‘You supply the home and the love; we supply everything else.’ “This model worked great,” exclaimed Danielle. “The SPCA provided crates, blankets, puppy food, adult food and required medications – everything we needed to help the dogs have a comfortable stay in our home. They were always just a phone call away for advice and were very supportive. They asked for updates and any photos I could send to show the puppies’ progress.”

Danielle related that after four weeks, the puppies’ mom – a beautiful St. Bernard/Great Pyrenees girl – grew reluctant to nurse them. “I brought her to the Kings Shelter and she was sent to Dartmouth to be examined. We learned that her belly was becoming quite raw from the puppies scratching her with their nails while they nursed. The SPCA showed me how to help mom by holding her sides, wearing leather gloves, so the puppies could continue nursing. They also provided me with some lanolin cream to apply and a powdered milk supplement to add to the puppies’ water. I began giving them moistened kibble, then canned food. Mom gradually weaned them.”

The foster fur-babies brought loads of smiles and laughter to the couple’s home. Danielle shared “When the puppies arrived at my house, I put a kiddie pool filled with blankets in a safe room and that worked fine for four weeks. I slept in the room with them. Around the four-week mark, they started jumping out of the pool and wandering in the bedroom at night. There were many mornings that I inadvertently stepped in warm puppy pee and poop as they tended to wake up around 4:00 a.m.!” Mom Aphodite (lovingly called Aphie for short) was not to be outdone when it came to laughter. “I learned that Aphie apparently only knew Gaelic commands for ‘sit’, ‘down’ and ‘stay’ so I had to research this on Google. I was never able to master the ‘sit’ or’ down’ in Gaelic, but Aphie did respond to “fan” for stay – a command which I used a lot. She was truly bilingual!” chuckled Danielle.

The couple fostered the dogs for 8 weeks. Danielle explained “It was very hard to say goodbye to them. I took them back to the Kings SPCA on July 6th. Of course, I cried all the way home and the house felt very empty for a few days. Imagine going from three dogs to thirteen, then back down to three! I went to the shelter every day to spend time with the pups and Mom, taking her for walks and the puppies outside in the runs at the back. They were spayed/neutered on July 18th and went up for adoption on the 19th. Four went home that day and the other five on July 20th. I was happy to see Aphie get adopted quickly too. I’ve had news from her new family and she is much loved. I got to meet some of the puppies’ new families and received news and photos from the people who adopted Sadie and Cooper (now named Bear). I also understand that Bulwark Cider will be putting pictures of SPCA animals on their products and Shelby’s face will appear on some cans.”

Danielle found fostering to be a hugely rewarding experience and she encourages everyone to consider becoming a foster family. “While it was hard to say goodbye, I was glad to give the puppies a good start in life and Aphie a second chance for happiness. I knew they’d be adopted into wonderful homes,” she said. “The SPCA does an excellent job of matching the foster animals you take home to what works best for your lifestyle and schedule.”

Brian shares Danielle’s commitment to the SPCA. He stated “All three of our own dogs are rescues and are a big part of our lives. We have a strong belief in the organization and its mission.” Brian has become the Kings Shelter ‘handyman extraordinaire’ and we are so lucky to have him volunteer his time and talent. Most recently, the shelter’s doggie doors were in rough shape. Brian came in and fixed them all. He replaced all the old equipment with heavy-duty new equipment that will last the shelter for years to come. He did this at no cost to the shelter and bought all of the upgraded materials out of his own pocket!

When Brian learned that the volunteer who used to cut the shelter’s lawn was unable to do so anymore, he stepped up to do this. He also whipper-snips the grass in the outdoor runs and picks up any litter around. He is always happy to do whatever is needed, whatever can help.

Danielle and Brian are definitely heroes to the animals. You can be a hero too. The SPCA is always looking for more foster families. Please don’t wait for ‘some day.’ You can make a difference today by signing up. To learn more about fostering opportunities, click here.

The SPCA always need volunteers to join the team too. Are you ready to put your paw up to help, but not sure how to start or what opportunities are available? The perfect opportunity is waiting for you. Click here.

Judy Layne

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

‘The Phone Lady’ Brings Textbook Learning to Life for SPCA College of Animal Welfare Students

October 18, 2023

By Judy Layne

The Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare emphasizes a hands-on real-life approach to learning. They know that many people learn best by bringing textbook learning to life and practicing newly acquired skills. It’s important for the 24 students in the College’s Veterinary Assistant Program to develop outstanding customer service skills. That’s where ‘The Phone Lady’, Mary Jane Copps, comes in.

Mary Jane is passionate about creating excellent communication. She has worked with over 700 clients since launching ‘The Phone Lady’ in 2006 and has trained over 15,000 individuals, giving them the skills needed to improve all of their conversations – phone, video, in-person or email – with clients and stakeholders. The Nova Scotia SPCA is grateful that Mary Jane is volunteering her time and talent with the college.

Mary Jane explained her decision to volunteer. “I’ve definitely been an animal lover all my life and we always had dogs when I was growing up, but as an adult I’ve discovered I’m definitely a cat person. The work that the NS SPCA does is amazing. They deserve my support as well as support from all animal lovers. And while the majority of my clients are corporations that have a budget to pay me, when there’s an organization like the NS SPCA whose values align with mine and I have the ability to say yes, I do it.”

“Veterinary clinics and their staff have been very important in my life,” shared Mary Jane. “I’ve had such positive experiences dealing with them, that I’m proud to be a part of creating that experience for other clients. People have a very deep emotional connection to their pets and when you walk into a vet clinic, it’s so important how you are treated.”

“It’s interesting to note that communication skills, and in particular phone skills, aren’t as commonplace as they used to be,” said Mary Jane. “There are many reasons why. Most students today did not grow up in a house with a home phone. They didn’t get the opportunity to practice phone communication skills and they actually don’t have those skills. In order for them to get the job they want and to start that job with confidence, it’s important for them to have those skills.”

Jen Welshman, Associate Director of Veterinary Education Programs at the Nova Scotia SPCA College agrees. She related “Most students come to us with no prior customer service experience and have never picked up the phone to answer or call anyone. The veterinary team, especially Veterinary Assistants, spend a lot of their time communicating on the phone with clients. They answer general questions, book appointments, follow up with clients, triage and provide client education. Mary Jane provides training on how to properly answer phones, create client loyalty, de-escalate arguments, deal with emotions, and work through many other challenges.”

Here’s how the training works. Mary Jane calls each student, presenting as an incoming client at a veterinary clinic, before they even meet her and prior to the class. She records each conversation, sends them a recording, and they grade themselves out of 10 points for 10 skills. Jen listens to each conversation and gives each student feedback after they finish speaking with Mary Jane. She assesses their confidence, tone, and volume to get a better understanding of where everyone’s skill level is at. A week later, Mary Jane will be there in-person and will do a presentation that includes another role play around listening skills and empathy. There is a lot of interaction and discussion. And while we are primarily talking about phone skills, those skills – for example, how to work with a grieving client – are transferable to dealing with clients in a clinic/hospital.

Jen explained, “With Mary Jane’s training, development of communication skills, practice and role play that takes place throughout the program, students develop the knowledge and confidence needed to become competent employees. After graduation, they can work at veterinary hospitals/clinics, shelters, boarding kennels, doggy daycares, training facilities, etc. Most workplaces require them to have customer service skills.”

Through the College, the SPCA is helping to address the shortage of veterinary professionals across the province. Graduates of the Veterinary Assistant Program feel confident and empowered to fill important workforce needs.

And more great things are coming. The Nova Scotia SPCA is working towards a start date of September 2024 for its new Veterinary Technician Program. The college is excited to be able to train more veterinary professionals who will make a positive difference in the animal welfare world.

Judy Layne

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

Where Sales and Compassion Meet: Heidi Fennell’s Journey at the SPCA Thrift Store

October 18, 2023

By Kirsten Millar

With a passion for sales and customer service, and a heart for animals, Heidi Fennell found her happy place at the Dartmouth SPCA Thrift Store.

The thrift store was an obvious choice for Heidi, a seasoned sales professional who has been working in sales since her first job as a cashier at age 15. “Volunteering at the SPCA thrift store brings the fun back into my life. I’m fortunate to be able to do something that I love while also helping a great organization.”

An avid animal lover, Heidi is a certified therapy dog handler for the St. John Ambulance. She previously volunteered with several of her dogs to enrich the lives of seniors and the lives of children at the IWK. This made the SPCA a perfect fit for her.

Heidi, who joined the dedicated team of volunteers at the Dartmouth SPCA Thrift Store in June 2023, explains why she loves volunteering: “It’s a stress reliever for me. I enjoy connecting with customers by welcoming everyone who comes to the store and by thanking them for supporting the SPCA with their purchase. Every customer has the choice of where they spend their money and it’s important they all feel valued and that their purchase is greatly appreciated.”

Heidi recalls one day where the store had an infectious, positive energy. Customers who were strangers were chatting, laughing and having a good time together. A first-time visitor even remarked on the lively atmosphere.

“It was rewarding to see people enjoying their time while knowing the sales contributed to the SPCA’s mission. That day I made the highest sales of all my shifts at the store,” says Heidi. “It also felt rewarding when one of the store’s regular customers applied to volunteer at the thrift store. She said she enjoys the atmosphere and wanted to support the SPCA as a volunteer, as well as a customer.”

For those who don’t like working on the front line with customers, there are other important jobs at the thrift store like sorting clothes, restocking shelves, and setting up displays. It’s a great place for volunteers who want to support the SPCA but don’t want to work in the shelters. And volunteers still get to see animals stopping by. “Customers often come in with their dogs. The regular pups know that treats await them behind the cash register and will make a beeline towards it,” says Heidi.

Heidi emphasises the quality that they maintain at the store. “The volunteers who sort donations go over everything to ensure we can be proud of the items we sell. The store is very well taken care of and in my opinion it’s the best thrift store out there. Customers are happily surprised when they learn we don’t charge sales tax because we’re a non-profit. If you like thrifting, you have to check it out.”

Heidi wholeheartedly encourages others to volunteer. “I can’t emphasize enough how much I enjoy my time volunteering,” she says. “I truly get back more than I give.”

Why not consider joining Heidi in this fulfilling journey? Visit one of our SPCA thrift stores or explore other volunteer opportunities to be part of this incredible community.

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.

Living His Best Life After Being Surrendered: Timber’s Story

August 30, 2023

By Judy Layne

It’s easy to automatically assume that someone who surrenders their pet is an uncaring person. But we shouldn’t judge because we don’t know the circumstances behind why someone surrendered their pet. Imagine how sad and painful it must be for people forced to give up their beloved pet if they feel they don’t have any other choice. Surrendering a pet is not a bad thing and it doesn’t mean that you failed. It is putting that pet’s needs first. The Nova Scotia SPCA recognizes that unexpected life situations occur and they are always here to help. Case in point – Timber.

A beautiful Shepherd mix, Timber was adopted by a family when he was just 10 weeks old. The family was loving, but the arrival of a newborn baby meant that they couldn’t give Timber the time and attention he needed and deserved. Timber was super-active and it was important that he had a family who could keep up with his adventures and give him the mental stimulation he required. They wanted Timber to have the best life so when he was 9 months old, they selflessly made the decision to surrender him to the SPCA’s care. They trusted that the SPCA would find this special boy the perfect home. And that’s just what they did.

Enter Fran and her family, Jason and Zoe. Their beloved dog Woody – a lab-staffy mix – had passed away at the age of 12 in 2016. The time just wasn’t right to get another pet until November 2022. Fran explained “We had been looking to adopt a dog and when we saw Timber on the SPCA adoptions page and read his description, he seemed like he would be a great fit for our family. We were drawn to Timber by the fact that he was still fairly young, so there was time for training before he became a ‘teenager’. We also liked that he was a little older than some other puppies (and already house-trained – yay!)”

The family went to visit him the next day at the Kings shelter. “His big head was really the first thing I noticed when meeting him in person”, said Fran. “I’m a sucker for dogs with big goofy heads! We could see immediately that he was a fairly large, strong dog but he was also very gentle, with no jumping up. He was just keen to get outside and walk with us.”

It didn’t take long for the family to fall in love with Timber. Fran shared “Another reason I felt that Timber was meant to be ours was his name. To go from ‘Woody’ to ‘Timber’ felt like this was a forest-related sign! Timber was definitely well taken care of at the shelter and he clearly felt comfortable with staff – so comfortable that he didn’t want to leave at first and when we tried to put him in the car, he ran back to the shelter!”

The family has had Timber for 10 months now and he feels 100% at home. “Reflecting on bringing him home, it’s clear that there were adjustment periods,” said Jason. “We kept him close to home for the first several weeks, so he could learn that he was safe and that his needs would be met. The first few nights we heard him whine a bit at bedtime, but he’d settle himself after. Soon, we could just say ‘Time for bed, Timber’ and he’d head straight to his bed. Another challenge was walking down the basement steps (which lead to the garden). He was very reluctant to do this at first, so we didn’t push it. We tried to tempt him with a whole sausage at the bottom, but he was having none of it!  After a month, we managed to get him to take a few steps and when he’d managed it once, he was up and down the steps all the time.  We knew he was feeling more confident after a few months when he walked into the living room with a tennis ball in his mouth and looked at us as if to say, ‘I want to go and play.’”

The family is committed to training Timber to be his best self. Fran related “We have completed basic and intermediate classes and are currently taking part in urban-dog walking classes. The classes have helped my confidence with Timber and build trust in his capabilities. Timber’s a smart dog and we are working hard to improve his on-leash behaviour. He was a real puller on-leash at first, and being a bigger dog, we knew it was something we had to work on right away. We use a head collar which helped immediately and in obedience classes, we have worked hard on loose-leash walking as well as building his (and my) confidence to walk past other dogs calmly.”

Timber is clearly living his best life. Jason said “He is a very affectionate dog and would love to be petted endlessly! He also enjoys being outside as much as possible – hiking, relaxing in the garden, or walking around the neighbourhood. He didn’t play fetch when we first adopted him, but Zoe was determined to teach him and now he likes chasing balls. He also loves playing soccer- we’ve gone through a few balls in the past year! Zoe loves to play hide-and-seek, so we have made it a game to play with Timber. He gets so excited when he’s told to ‘Find Zoe.’”

And how does Timber relate to his four-legged siblings? “L.C is our 16-year old cat,” stated Fran. “She was one of our main considerations when adopting Timber, but she’s dog savvy and she established her place in the hierarchy with Timber. They seem to happily co-exist with enough love and food for each of them. I think Timber would love to cuddle with her, but she’s not going to let that happen! Mini is our daughter’s hamster. He lives upstairs so there’s not much interaction between Timber and Mini, other than Timber loves to sniff any place that the hamster has been!”

Timber has brought so much to the family’s life. Perhaps Zoe sums it up best – “Timber is amazing!”  Fran added “He does a great job of getting us up and out. Even on rainy days, Timber is ready to go so we don rain gear and head out. Timber’s always so happy to see us when we get home, and there’s nothing better than the full helicopter-wag he gives when he’s excited to see us and ready to play.”

The family’s final thoughts? “We are so happy and grateful to have Timber. We’re sure that it is never an easy decision to surrender a pet, but Timber was clearly well taken care of by his first family as we were given his veterinary and immunization records. The Kings SPCA gave Timber a safe, kind, caring place to land when he was surrendered. They were clear about his strengths and challenges when talking to us, to ensure a great match. We are certain that we will have many wonderful years ahead.”

The Nova Scotia SPCA has an open admission policy and does not charge surrender fees. They accept animals into their care regardless of age or health. They never judge and understand that unexpected life situations happen. If you need to rehome your pet, please call to schedule a time to come in. This allows the shelter to prepare a cozy space for your pet to make the transition as smooth as possible. They understand how difficult emotionally it is to surrender a pet and thank all owners who are able to make the best decision for their pet. If you or someone you know is struggling with the decision to surrender a pet, please contact the Nova Scotia SPCA for guidance. Please help us share this important message.

 

Judy Layne

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

When Taking a Chance Pays Off

August 30, 2023

By Paula Nalbaru

Sometimes it takes longer than expected for dreams to come true. And as Bailee Sampson would say, “celebrate the wins and never give up.”

It worked for Bailee. It took her five years to find her perfect fit with the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare and its Veterinary Assistant (VA) Program.

She was always drawn to animals and knew she would thrive in an environment where she could help. She admits she took a chance on the animal welfare industry. For Bailee, the support and hands-on experience were key when deciding on a Veterinary Assistant school.

Luckily for her, the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare had both.

“One thing I didn’t know about this program is how supportive the instructors would be and how many hands-on skills we would actually learn. I am so thankful that we have had the opportunity to learn a broader range of treatment and clinical knowledge,” says Bailee.

The hands-on experience during the one-year Veterinary Assistant program comes in different shapes and sizes, offering students experiences that will help them become well-rounded Veterinary Assistants. Students stay quite busy with classes such as Animal Nursing or Handling – some of Bailee’s favourites -or field trips to farms.

They start small, practicing on stuffed animals. Once students gain more confidence in their skills, this is where the Veterinary Assistant class’s mascot, Audrey, makes her debut.

Audrey is calm and patient with each student she meets, allowing them to practice nail trims and grooming among other things. Of course, she gets a lot of breaks and treats in between immense amounts of hands-on training and even some snuggle therapy. Bailee says, “I believe Audrey is the reason we graduated with such confidence in our hands-on training. We love her!”

A unique bonus for students is that the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare is steps away from the Nova Scotia SPCA Dartmouth Shelter and the Nova Scotia SPCA Veterinary Hospital. This gives students the chance to experience different environments and be supported not only by expert staff and teachers but the entire Nova Scotia SPCA community.

Another way our students get hands-on experience is by doing a four-week internship before they graduate. Bailee chose a dog lodging facility in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. About her internship she says, “I chose to work at this facility because as a Veterinary Assistant, there are so many places you can work. I decided to see how being a VA in a facility other than a clinic would be, before starting my career.”

As Bailee’s journey with the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare comes to an end, she reminisces on the first day of classes. She admits there were some nerves, but between meeting her new classmates and learning about everything the next year would offer, the enthusiasm grew.

Bailee credits the instructors for playing a huge part in making the first day, and the rest of the year, exciting. “Jen and Barbara made us feel so comfortable and welcomed right away. I was very excited to start after our first day.” Bailee says they connected with students on a personal level and supported them every step of the way.

After gaining more knowledge and perspective, Bailee tells students that there’s nothing wrong with exploring options. She understands the future can be overwhelming, and the right fit can be in the most unexpected places. The first step can be the hardest, but no one has to do it alone, and our students know that firsthand. Bailee’s advice, “If you’re thinking of going into the Veterinary Assistant program with the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare, book an appointment with Jen to go over the program and she will make sure you have all the information to make the right decision!”

It has been quite a long journey for Bailee, but now she has even more wins to celebrate. A fresh graduate of the Veterinary Assistant program, in the top three, and a new job as Technician Assistant at the Coastal Care Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

 

Paula Nalbaru

Paula Nalbaru is the Philanthropy Communications Coordinator with the Nova Scotia SPCA in Dartmouth. She’s a proud fur-parent and referee between her dog, Summer, and cat, Marshmallow.