Dear Valentine

Dear Valentine,

You haven't met any of us yet, but we want you to know that we all have faith in you. You have such a kind heart just to be thinking of adopting your new best friend.

We are so very proud of you for even looking at us .... we are the homeless senior pets here in NS and most people don't give us a second glance. They don't think we have much time or love left to offer. Others worry that we might run up high vet bills.

But you are smarter than that. You know that we have been loyal and devoted friends for all of our lives. Most of us are even already housetrained. You know that we will make great companions right now.

You know that we like sleeping through the night as much as you do. We bring our own brand of Zen to any space we share and are pretty undemanding company.

Some of us have had a good life all along until lately. Some of us only ever dreamed of the good life that all pets should have. But none of us are the type to harbour a grudge. We don't bring the same hangups to the table that people do. Even if we weren't treated well....even if our hearts have been broken ... we are incurable optimists just waiting for a second chance at love.

Not everyone understands that, but we are really glad that you do. We are all old enough to be wise enough to really appreciate that.

We are also smart enough to know that we are the really lucky ones. Not every good senior pet in need makes it into rescue safely. Not every story has a happy ending. That's why we really appreciate how good people like you are changing the odds for homeless senior pets. It wasn't all that long ago that our chances would have been slim to none at all.

Happily you know better and are part of a quiet little revolution that is working hard to save senior pets. You are part of the generation that is determined to make a difference. We are so grateful that your love and compassion transcends the old stereotypes.

We are so proud of you for understanding that adopting any of us would be a great way to teach your children the values of kindness and compassion. You're a great parent because you understand that more is "caught than taught". Involving them in the entire adoption journey will be a priceless life lesson they could never get from any book.

So we all hope that you have a lovely Valentine's Day and we all thank you from the very bottom of our hearts.

Love Kizzy , Pumpkin , Sheldon , Stewie , Benny , Sasha , Spirit, Noogie , Ceasar and Jensen

Update on Caesar

P.E.T. PROJECTS has found a (very short term ) temporary berth for Ceasar for the moment. While that certainly isn't the new Forever Home that he will need, for now it will keep the 'headsmans' axe' at bay. His foster Mom thinks that he is just lovely even if he is plainly not used to cats : ))) He is definitely house trained and he got along very well with her dogs.
Dogs are so amazing .... if a person had been abandoned by the one they loved, would he or she be as trusting and affectionate as Ceasar 's foster Mom has found him to be?
I know I say this all the time on both blogs, but there would be more love than anyone could possibly imagine for someone kind enough to open their home and their heart to this sweet guy. He's housetrained, old enough to learn the ropes and still energetic enough to be a great hiking buddy right now. He is full of love and would shine with a second chance.

No way to repay an old friend

What a cold cold night it is out there. We just came back in from our after supper stroll and there was definitely no dawdling and leisurely sniffing of every last thing this evening.

McG had a really good day today ... which of course makes me very happy. Later this week we'll be back into my vet for another mini checkup. While I do get that there are no miracles afoot that doesn't mean that I would even consider jumping the gun. My vet and I know each other well enough that I will trust her to be the voice of reason if I don't or wont' recognize when its time. But until that day we will do what we can, while we can to make sure that the little man has the best quality of life possible.

So you can just imagine how livid I was to get an email about this fellow here. His name is Caesar and like McG, he is 11 years old. His owner has moved into a house with some other people and instead of 'putting them out' he has made an appointment to put Caesar down. What a horrible way to repay years of love and devotion.

P.E.T. PROJECTS is desperately trying to find a foster and / or a new home for this sweet guy. He is already neutered and Shelly was in to visit him today and said that he seemed very friendly. Poor guy is upset to be in a kennel and hasn't eaten since last friday.... imagine that, eh?

Caesar is a sweet old guy who deserves the chance to live the rest of his days in peace and dignity. If you , or someone you know , can offer this guy a safe berth , please call Pet Projects - the Society number is 875-2367. or call Shelley at 637-1560

Its Good to See that Metro will be Open

I love our last hike of the evening. Its normally a pretty quiet time out here and with almost two acres, we can safely wander around the yard without taking any chances on our little country roads that have no sidewalks or streetlights. We're surrounded by woods, so there is always something interesting for the dogs to rummage around after.
It made me doubly happy tonight to have enough clear sky for a bit of star watching and for it to be (comparably) warmer out.
It made me even happier when we came back in to see this notice on the front door of the society webpage, www.spcans.ca
February 8, 2009: Please be advised that the Metro Shelter is not closed but has put security measures in place based on threats made to management. The Shelter Management Team has brought in security measures that will keep its staff, volunteers, and potential adopters safe. We still need support from the community in the form of people coming to the shelter to adopt.
Now of course the Metro Shelter won't be open tomorrow, because with its new, more user friendly hours Monday is the only day of the week it isn't open to the public. But its great to know that on Tuesday at ten, the shelter will be back to its usual Hours of Operation
Anyone who has been to the Metro Shelter lately knows that a lot more has changed than their hours. It took a lot of time and energy to turn things around .... and the payoff has been almost immediate in their improved adoption rate.
There is even a new facebook group I want to help the SPCANS METRO SHELTER to facilitate communications with everyone who wants to help out and/or donate.
Its a real shame that this situation has taken energy away from the animals ... after all ... someone will have to do the security..... police will have to spend time and resources trying to track down the threats .... not to mention the stress for the people at the shelter who have been working so hard (and effectively ) to change things for the better.
It certainly didn't improve Francesca's standing with the animal loving community ... in fact it pretty much vaporized what little sympathy had remained for her cause. The newest Brindi facebook group, Release Brindi but not to her owner would very likely not have been formed, had the threats not been made. Nor did it do anything positive for the potential outcome of the case.
Metro's adoptables are all 'innocent bystanders' who became homeless because their original guardians were unwilling or unable to care for them in a responsible fashion. At the end of the day, I hope that on Tuesday ... and every day thereafter ... people who are willing to be responsible, caring and nurturing guardians will keep coming to Metro to find their new best friends.

Valentines treats for everyone

This time next week it will be Valentine's Day. For those who work with food, flowers or chocolate, it is the busiest day on their calendar. Even Mother's Day plays a (close) second fiddle to this.

What's not to like about the day? Its a celebration of love, family and friendship that brightens us all and distracts us from our winter woes. I may be fifty four years old, but I can find no fault with any holiday devoted to love and of course chocolate.

Those who can ( and some who can't) spend quite a bit on their Valentine's now. When I was a girl it was more of a box of chocolates and flowers or a plant for Mom. The scale has certainly stepped up quite a bit .... and its possible to spend a limitless amount on the day.

Charitable groups around the world have come to recognize the fundraising potential of the Christmas holiday season and the really clever ones have made it very easy to give 'gifts of the heart' From goats and chickens to helping build a village well or school to funding endangered species, there are plenty of user friendly opportunities for donor gifts.

These are difficult days for many and that of course always affects the animals. Here in Nova Scotia there are many who will (of sad necessity) be celebrating a more frugal Valentines Day

For those of you with animal loving sweethearts, this would be a splendid time to consider celebrating the day by either making a donation to their favourite rescue or picking up one of the fundraising tidbits offered by rescues around NS:

• CAPS Store, http://www.caps-annapolis.org/shop.php, has great mugs, t-shirts, ball caps and calendars and I can assure you first hand that they are of very good quality because i used them for stocking stuffers .... the mugs almost a bag of hershey's kisses and that ... ahem... leaves something for the person who is giving the treat : )))


• ARC has a great store with an incredible array of things, from jewelry http://www.animalrescuecoalitions.com/153482.html to t-shirts and mugs, http://www.animalrescuecoalitions.com/7501.html ( they also have a great online auction that will be starting back up soon too, although that won't help you out for next Saturday.) Their travel mugs, btw, hold almost a full bag of either hershey's hugs or kisses : )))


• SHAID is running its annual "Have a Heart' membership drive and is doing so from the platform of its lovely new website http://www.shaid.ca/new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=6 And of course on any of SHAID's petfinder listings for its adoptables, one has the chance now to sponsor individual pets. ( a new petfinder feature that many groups are using )


• TLC in Digby is running a sponsorship program for its adoptables http://www.tlcshelter.com/help_us.html, which is of course a great idea for those who want to help but can't adopt


• Those who wish to help can also sponsor pets at the the Yarmouth SPCA http://www.yarmouthspca.com/help.php?page=Sponsor%20a%20Needy%20Pet!


• Pet Projects is having a February long adoption incentive for its kitties and will underwrite the cost of the spay or neuter for any that are adopted in February! http://members.petfinder.com/~NS29/


• The LA Shelter has a very cool catnip toy, t- shirts and their very own pet cookbook "Paws on the Table" http://www.laanimalshelter.ca/forsale.html


• HART is holding a Valentine's Day Dance at the Nictaux Lions Hall, http://www.valleyhart.com/events.htm

Short of cash? Don't forget that every group around the province can use Canadian Tire money. And ask if your favourite group is set up to take Club Z point donations.

You'll notice that I didn't suggest that you give a pet for Valentine's day. I still think that when it comes to 'giving' a pet to somebody, especially someone outside of your own household, the better option is to give the Pet Promise Certificate that is on the Petfinder site. That way they, and the rescue, can work together to find the very best fit that will last for life. If however, you are hoping to adopt your family's new pet in time for Valentine's Day I heartily suggest you get that ball rolling today!

And of course, last but very definitely not least, please don't forget about the very special Loving Lizards for Luke which is being held next Saturday from 12:00 pm until 4:00 pm

They now have a locationfor this event, it will be held at Fire Station 9, 1 Metropolitan Boulevard, Lower Sackville beside Sackville High School, between First Lake Dr. and Glendale Ave.)

For driving directions, please refer to: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Lower+Sackville&state=NS&address=1+Metropolitan+Avenue&zipcode=B4C&country=CA&latitude=44.77635&longitude=-63.67754&geocode=ADDRESS#a/maps/m::13:44.77635:-63.677537:0:::::/e

And as my own little valentine for all of you chocolate loving folks .... here is my very own recipe for brownies, which of course need to be kept well out of the reach of the furkids, especially the dawgs.

• 1 cup melted margarine


• 2 cups white sugar


• 4 eggs


• 1 tsp vanilla or vanilla extract


• 1 cup All purpose flour ( I use unbleached flour and so take out an extra tbsp as unbleached is 'heavier')


• 2/3 cup of cocoa


• 1/2 tsp baking powder


• 1/2 tsp salt

Melt margarine. When cool, stir in sugar, eggs and vanilla. Sift flour with cocoa, baking powder and salt and add to egg mixture. Combine well and pour into a lightly greased 9 by 12 inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees until cooked. Hint .. the difference between great brownies and ho hum ones is usually only a matter of a couple of minutes. If you can smell them cooking its probably already past time to take them out : (((( Depending on your dish and your oven it shouldn't take much longer than ten minutes.

When the brownies have cooled to lukewarm ice them with:

• 1 cup icing sugar


• 1/2 cup cocoa


• 1 heaping tbsp soft margarine


• Hot coffee ... add only a few drops at a time so as to have icing and not drizzle

And of course if you are wondering what to get your pets, never forget that their very favourite thing is the time you make to spend with them doing anything at all : )))

Who, being loved, is poor? Oscar Wilde

Taking a new tack

Two days ago, I did up a little post called A bit of good news about McG and Cape Breton Puppies ..... where I was (yet again ) nagging about the fact that the Cape Breton SPCA was still only posting a few of its younger pets. So you can imagine how pleasantly suprised when I was doing site updates today to find that there were nine new adult dogs listed on their Petfinder page: Chex, Teddy B , Devlin, Houche, Warf, Bonett , Crayola, Mommacita, MAMA and one senior dog - Jensen is pictured here and they figure he is either 11 or 12. This is not the time to quibble about the fact that they should have given him a special needs tag because they have also said that Jensen is going blind. Its just pretty amazing that he's listed at all.
Every time I look at the news these days it seems like more NS jobs are vanishing into thin air. Although we've been taking quite a hit here in the Valley between ACA and Michelin, I think that Cape Breton can still claim the lion's share of the job losses. If adopters were thin on the ground in Cape Breton before, I imagine they're now as scarce as the proverbial hen's teeth.
Happily adoptions are proceeding at a merry old pace for the Metro Shelter . How do I know this? Even without the petfinder happy tails option, I see it almost daily when I do the site updates for the homeless pet project. Why is this happening? Because the society made a deliberate decision to pick a better path .... and the staff at Metro worked like the dickens to see the changes through. And of course, no matter where all these new adopters actually live, clearly Metro's central location also plays a part.
Success breeds success may be a cliche, but it is a still a very true thing. Everyone who adopts from Metro and has a great experience becomes an adoption 'recruiter". Their friends and family get to see the pawsitive side of pet adoption firsthand.
Now on the Cape Breton SPCA Petfinder page, they state that they do not ship animals. What if people could arrange to sign the adoption agreement and pick up their new best friend from the CB Branch at the Metro Shelter?
Success doesn't just breed adoption success after all. Now that the society has clearly demonstrated it is embarking on a new path, it might be easier to recruit a few volunteer drivers willing to transfer pets from the CB Branch to the Metro Shelter.
In a sense this is just a twist on the concept of mobile adoptions .... in a way that would open up all kinds of lifesaving possibilities. First and foremost it would save lives of course. Secondly, it would boost the adoption rate for the Cape Breton Branch .....which is what we have all been nagging/ranting about. And last but very definitely not least, it just might alter the current mindset that cannot see past any solution other than killing so many healthy, treatable and adoptable pets.
What a wonderful live saving tool that could be in the society's arsenal, hmmm?

There is no such thing as a little rescue group

From this morning's Herald


Another pet project in Shelburne By Our Staff Fri. Feb 6 - 5:27 AM
An animal shelter society in Shelburne County is planning another pet adoption fair.
The group held one in November with a 100 per cent success rate and plans to do it again in the spring, volunteer Shelly Hipson said Monday.
"We don’t have a shelter facility so we took all of our cats and dogs out of foster care and went to the local firehall and set up," she said.
"By the end of the day, all of our animals were spoken for," with 11 cats and one dog headed for new families.
The Beulah Burman Memorial Animal Shelter Society actually has a shelter, but it sits empty because the organization found it too expensive to keep open, Ms. Hipson said.
"It takes quite a bit of money to open the doors of a shelter building."
The shelter society was formed in 1998 and negotiated a property lease with the provincial government. It opened a new two-storey building at 528 Sandy Point Rd. just outside the town of Shelburne in 2001.
But the shelter was used only for occasional emergencies and closed in October 2003 because it cost about $50,000 a year to run, she said.
It makes sense in a virtual world to have a virtual shelter, since people would rather find their pet on the Internet than drive to a shelter, said Ms. Hipson.
The group doesn’t euthanize any animals and has a network of foster families who have their feed and litter and vet bills paid for by the society. Those volunteers plan to bring their animals out to periodic adoption fairs.
"There is an abandonment problem" with cats in Shelburne County, Ms. Hipson said.
The society takes more than 120 cats into temporary care each year, compared with only about eight to 10 dogs.
In the last two years, the society has raised more than $22,000 and spent $19,000 of it on veterinary medical care, said Ms. Hipson.
Now society members would like to turn their attention to education, she said.
Rather than reopen a shelter, they’d like to be more proactive and offer low- or no-cost spay and neuter programs.
"It’s the way we have to go to prevent the numbers of unwanted animals from reaching our shelters," said Ms. Hipson.
Some pet owners want to do the right thing but they don’t have the money for such veterinary care, she said.
The society’s website is www.petprojects.ca.
( newsroom@herald.ca)


There is so much love and energy in the 'little groups' that have been leading the way to No Kill Nova Scotia. This is the same group that rescued Noah ... remember the sweet old guy last month? ( Unchaining Noah )


Actually right now they are trying to find a good home for another innocent bystander named Tucker, who is a great guy that has been left behind by his owner, who is going out west today ( are there really any new jobs left out there ?)


Four year old Tucker is neutered and is gentle with kids and other pets, including cats. He's crate trained, and his crate will go with him to his adopter.
Good dogs like Noah and Tucker are very lucky that these so called 'little groups' work so hard on their behalf. In my perfect fantasy world, someday we will have something here in NS like the Mayor's Alliance in New York - http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/
In seven short years, this non profit group created a public/private partnership of all the groups working on behalf of the animals. While they are not yet at their goal of No Kill New York, they have significantly lowered the percentage of healthy adoptable animals that are killed.
Can you just imagine the possibilities for us here in NS? If AC's were obligated to be on the life saving side of the fence? If resources were pooled? Can you just imagine the strength of such a voice for the animals?
M'gawd the possibilities are enough to make ya dizzy, eh?