There will be no going home for Christmas in Kings County

From the front door of the Kings SPCA website
Christmas Adoptions Notice
Adoptions from the Care Centre will stop from December 21st until December 31st. You may still come and pick out a pet and fill out the necessary paperwork though. The pet can then be picked up after January 1st.
If you are planning to give a holiday pet as a gift we suggest buying and wrapping the necessary supplies such as a bed, collar etc... and put them under the tree with a note saying that the owner of said items will arrive in the new year.
We appreciate your understanding
Do you know who WILL appreciate this? All the backyard breeders peddling their wares on Kijiji. All the NS Pet Store owners who still peddle animals .... because Kings County is central enough to be an easy commute to the city.
Now before the keyboards catch on fire, I am aware that for years the rescue community felt that it was too risky to adopt at the holiday season. Then one day, someone woke up and realized that when rescues wouldn't adopt out pets over the holiday season that did NOT deter people from getting a pet at that time. All it did was drive potential adopters straight into the arms of the pet stores, backyard breeders and the puppy brokers.
In fact, the worlds largest pet adoption campaign is the Home for the Holidays one, which has proven so successful that it has spread across North America. Why is that? Because the holiday season is a sentimental time ... making it the time when many families want to enrich their life with a new pet. In many cases, the Christmas vacation allows everyone a little more time to help the new family member get off on the right paw.
The bottom line is that if an adopter would pass the screening in July, there is no reason that the same adopter couldn't adopt over the holidays. Particularly these days, where in many homes the holiday festivities are much more relaxed and casual than they were at one time.
Any shelter or group that does NOT adopt out over the holiday season can become part of the problem instead of the solution. Why?

• they aren't simply sending away potential adopters ... they are also alienating the families, friends, neighbours and coworkers of every individual who cannot adopt over the holidays.
• people are still going to get a pet ... they just won't get one of the vaccinated and altered pets from rescue.
• the pets from backyard breeders/ puppy brokers and pet stores are not altered and vaccinated, ergo they are more likely to contribute to the pet overpopulation problem
• because backyard breeders have seldom breed for temperament and rarely do any genetic screening, there will just be more problems waiting down the road than if people had been allowed to adopt
• and last but not least, while the pets that are currently in their care will be safe for the holidays, not adopting over the holiday season leaves a lot of others out in the cold when there is no room at the inn.

In all fairness, the Kings SPCA are still finding their way with operating their newly opened shelter. After taking a high handed approach for years, they are having trouble finding enough volunteers to have the shelter open often enough for adopters' convenience. For some inexplicable reason, they are using the Pet Tango pet listing service to list their adoptables. Pet Tango is a free service provided by the pet insurance industry , which would be laudable except for the fact that the better known and more commonly used free Petfinder service is the first place that adopters search. Indeed, many adopters have no idea that Pet Tango exists.

But I am wandering afield. It is to be hoped that this will be the only year that this type of notice will be found on the front door of the Kings SPCA website. It would be a shame if they felt that the path to success lay in following an outmoded practice that most of the North American rescue community has discarded.

What time is it? Until there are No More Homeless Pets in Nova Scotia, it is NEVER time to turn away adopters.

She could be the spice of someone's life.

When I first saw this face six months ago, I was sure she would be adopted quickly.... and she was. At the time her name was Cinnamon and she was like a poster girl for a family dog. Sweet. Well behaved. Gentle. Loved everyone and everything.

Nope .... I wasn't one bit surprised to have to take her listing off the homeless pet site almost as fast as I'd put it up.

My vet .... whose advice I've learned to trust over the years .... once told me that it really takes a rescued dog six months to really feel safe and secure. That doesn't mean they won't fit in or learn the home rules. Rather, it means that six months is the average time it takes a dog to relax and trust that their new home isn't a temporary thing.

So just imagine for a moment what it would be like should the dog hit that lovely six month place ... and instead of being able to let out her breath and relax she gets returned to the rescue she was adopted from? And before the keyboards catch on fire, within my experience I have seen this type of thing happen to pretty much everyone ... no matter how carefully they screen.

Granted, in some situations the adopter might have overestimated either their own training skills or their family's patience with transition. There are dogs that need a special environment that not everyone has the skills or the resources to provide.

Her name is Ginger now .... and she is heavier than she was in last summers photos, which were taken at the start of summer, when everything was fresh and green. She is understandably bewildered to be back with CAPS ..... just as she was beginning to believe that she could relax and trust. Its a safe bet that she hasn't been getting the exercise she needs to be healthy either.

When I adopted my sweet O Henry from CAPS , Janice was very forthright about his issues. There were NO surprises when I brought him home ... I knew we had work to do but he was so sweet, and got along so well with Ruby and McG that I knew it would be time well spent to teach him our house rules. I knew he wasn't house trained. I knew about the resource guarding. He wouldn't have been the boy for everyone, but he is definitely the guy for me. We built a solid relationship while we were building trust.

I already have everything in the world I could possibly want. My only child grew up to be a wonderful, creative woman. She is successful in the field of her choice, married to a man who respects women and they are both happily well engaged in parenting my granddaughter. I was able to retire when I was fifty. I have a warm dry home in a neighbourhood I love. Best of all, there is never a dull moment when I am surrounded by so much love ...... with three dogs and six cats. I may not be rich but I'm lucky enough to lead a rich life.

So this year I have asked Santa for something different .... I'd like him to find someone more reliable and committed for this sweet and gentle disappointed dog .... someone who would see her as the kindred spirit who could be the spice of their life.

Fire and Thunder on their way through the storm

Meet Fire and Thunder ... they were surrendered by the breeder who owned them, even though he full well understood that owner surrenders in Georgia are always the first to be killed to make room at AC shelters.

Fire ( with the scar on her nose) is nine and Thunder, the male, is six and a half.

They have lived together outside for their whole lives and have bonded very closely as a result.

Before heading north, they found temporary refuge with the Lexington Humane Society, who say that they are great dogs and very good with other dogs off leash. They tested well with a cat in a carrier but in all honesty no one is quite sure how they would react with a cat who ran away.

While we are waiting to see if the latest Nor'easter coming up from New England will hit or will miss us, these two dogs, along with two other lovelies, are in a vehicle with the tireless Jennifer and on their way North to freedom in Nova Scotia.

One of the great dogs, is already slated to head off to a husky rescue, and the other lucky refugee from the gas chamber is a handsome black shepherd named Skillet, who will be joining Fire and Thunder at East Coast German Shepherd Rescue. Out of the original Georgia 12, Jose, Benson, Max and Brody are the only ones still waiting for their fresh start with their own Forever Homes.

So while you are dreaming of dashing through the snow, remember that love and compassion are the real reason for the season.

Update on yesterday's post about the Pawsitive Directions Canine Program Cancellation

According to the Facebook group, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Save-Pawsitive-Directions-Canine-Program/351424485383?ref=search&sid=867010415.2939069945..1&v=wall#/pages/Help-Save-Pawsitive-Directions-Canine-Program/351424485383?ref=mf, the program has been reinstated and new contracts signed.
Thank you to all of you who took the time to express your support.
webmaster note, this has also been confirmed by an article in this morning's Herald, http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1156154.html.... wherein the spokesperson for Corrections Canada is quoted as saying "there was never any intention of cancelling the program. "
At the end of the day, the important thing is this wonderful program has been reinstated... or renegotiated ... or whatever termology they prefer to use. Whats that I hear ... its the tinkling bells of voter feedback once again changing the course of things. It is how democracy is supposed to work, eh?

Tis the season.... for Open Houses

Tis the season .... for Open Houses where the interested and the curious can come to meet the lovely animals available for adoption.

Its not an open house, but the Kings SPCA are holding an auction tomorrow night at Hampton House in New Minas ... tickets are $50.00 a couple or $30.00 for a single .... click on their link for more details

This weekend, on Sunday, S.H.A.I.D are hosting their open house at the shelter from 1 to 4 pm. ... for more details see the poster below.

On Sunday, the 6th, the TLC Animal Shelter is holding their Open House from 1 - 4 pm

On the same day, the LA Animal Shelter are holding their Telethon ... for details see the poster below

Next weekend, on Sunday the 13th ... CAPS are hosting another one of their fabulous Open houses ... see poster below for more details

On the same date, Bide Awhile are hosting their annual Christmas Open House, for more details go to http://www.bideawhile.org/events/christmas.php

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THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN BUSILY GETTING THE SHELTER INTO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AND THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD!



In fact, if you are having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit, we feel sure a visit to SHAID on Sunday from 1 to 4 will do the trick.

BIG BAKE TABLES (Canadian/European baking)

FREE BASKET DRAW,

CRYSTAL ANGELS SALE,

CRAFT AND SURPRISES

Come and Visit the CATS and DOGS

No adoptions on that date!

Donations in money and food always welcome. Ideas for donations: cat and kitten dry and canned food, dog canned food, regular non-clumping cat litter, paper towels, javex, printer paper, blankets, treats …

HAVE A CUP OF HOT CHOCOLATE, COFFEE OR EGG NOG!

ENJOY THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AT THE SHELTER.

What happens when tax dollars are spent sensibly .... why the program gets cancelled of course!

From this evening's Herald
Correctional service yanks dog training program at Truro women's prison
By PAT LEE Staff Reporter
Thu. Dec 3 - 4:44 PM
Correctional Service Canada has pulled the plug on a unique dog training program at the women’s prison in Truro, leaving its outgoing director distraught for the inmates, the animals and future recipients of the highly trained animals.
The Pawsitive Directions Canine Program at the federal Nova Institute for Women had jailed women caring for and teaching obedience to shelter dogs to be paired with disabled clients.
Heather Logan, who has run the program under contract with the prison since 1996, said she told administrators in mid-November that she would retire in six weeks but her trained replacement was in place to keep the program going.
Instead, she was shocked to learn that administrators had axed the program, lauded for its success in helping inmates learn highly marketable skills and rescuing dogs from shelters to help those with special needs.
“This is devastating,” Ms. Logan said Thursday from her home in Upper Stewiacke. “There are woman and dogs and children being hurt by this action.
”There were six dogs in various stages of the program, with one just three months away from being certified as a service dog. Prince had been paired with a boy from Onslow, but it is unknown if the training will be completed.
Ms. Logan has heard a rescue group in Halifax has been asked to find homes for the dogs.
The program director, her trained assistant Cathie Bell and the inmates were informed of the decision late last week and this week.
Calls to the correctional service and prison administrators in Truro were not returned on Thursday.
Ms. Logan said she doesn’t know why the program has been discontinued.
“Up to this point, I’ve not had a bad relationship with (prison administrators).”
She said if cost had been the issue, she had proposed running the program at a lower rate as a correctional service employee and not as a contractor, but the plan was not accepted.
The dog behaviourist, who teaches courses at the University of Prince Edward Island and the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, said the prison probably axed the program now because she had to step down a few weeks early for medical reasons.
But Ms. Logan said she had assured the prison that Ms. Bell, who works and volunteers for Pawsitive Directions several times a week, was ready to take over.
“I had no intention of leaving my women or my program high and dry.”
Ms. Bell, who first met Ms. Logan several years ago when she was looking for a dog for a nursing home, confirms that she was more than willing to step in, even just temporarily if the prison wanted to put someone else in charge. She is equally distraught about the change.
“I’m upset about what I feel they’re doing to these women and the families who need these dogs,” Ms. Bell said Thursday.
Mel Harris, who is originally from Truro but lives in Labrador City, said his family’s been thrilled with their now 12-year-old border collie mix Lucky, who they adopted in 1998 as a companion for daughter Lynn, who has cerebral palsy.
He said Lucky was less than 24 hours from being put to death at a shelter when rescued by Ms. Logan.
“Lynn took to him right away,” he said Thursday. “He’s a member of the family.”
Mr. Harris, who joined a Facebook group devoted to lobbying the correctional service to overturn the decision and has also written directly to the government agency, said he was sad to learn Pawsitive Directions had been axed.
“The program was a win-win situation for everybody involved,” he said.
“I don’t know who’s making the decision, but it doesn’t seem to make sense.”
Fifteen inmates at a time took part in the three-tier obedience program that took two and a half years to complete. In the latter part of the program, the women worked with the future recipients of the service dogs.
When released from prison, the women have gone on to work at veterinary offices, dog daycares, kennels and even zoos. Ms. Logan said one former inmate now owns and operates a successful dog day care and boarding facility.
She said prison administrators told participating inmates on Wednesday that they wanted to provide different vocational training.
“The whole point of a vocational program is to get employment that is full-time, is meaningful and keeps the women out of prison. That’s what the canine program has done.”
The director said the decision is even more puzzling considering that the prison built a new wing for the program with a dog bath and outdoor play area.
But in hindsight, she said the area has been finished since August and her group had never been allowed to use it.
(plee@herald.ca)
The Facebook group mentioned in this article can be found at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Save-Pawsitive-Directions-Canine-Program/351424485383?ref=search&sid=867010415.2939069945..1&v=wall
Our Minister of Justice here in NS is the Honorable Ross Landry (NDP ) and the appropriate email to express your concern about this issue would be justmin@gov.ns.ca.
Corrections Canada also has a Citizens Advisory Committee built into its system and the regional coordinator for Atlantic Canada is Ron Joiner, and the appropriate, publicly listed contact email for him is ronald.joiner@nscc.ca
What time is it? Its time for the politicians who have been paid to chair committees that somehow never actually meet to find the very small bit of funding necessary for such a meaningful contribution to our province.

Engaging in effective humane education

I'm a middle aged grandmother ... so this is the time when I'm gathering the bits and pieces that will make up the holiday parcel for my daughter and her family, who live in the land of BSL. The parcel will be full of the homely little things that 'make' the holiday season for her, even as she is forging her own family holiday traditions.
Family traditions are like a good Yule tree. Although we all admire the well coordinated ones in the magazines ... they cannot compete with the ones full of family history. From the original .. and now incomplete... sets of ornaments to the ones that were made with the kids .... each tree is a sentimental journey that was years in the making.
A couple of the Winnie the Pooh ornaments are starting to lose their stuffing. The wooden ornaments we made and painted have faded a bit. But the sleigh bells still jingle and the cat friendly Victorian tinsel still shines ... so everything else is just part of the charm.
Tis the season for sweet and sentimental things ... unless of course one has the stomach to pay a visit to the 'free to a good home sites". Over there, 24/7 .... 365 days a year ... tis the season to set love aside.
Like young women infatuated with the giddiness of falling in love, prospective pet owners keep insisting there is nothing wrong with the site. They are quick to gloss over some salient facts:

• the curbside guarantee provides utterly no consumer protection and often results in heartache from undisclosed health or behavior issues
• many of the 'purebreds' wouldn't pass CKC muster ... in other words its actually illegal to have bred the parents or peddle their progeny as purebreds in Canada
• the anonymity provided by the site provides a thin veneer of respectability for puppy brokers like the infamous Gail Benoit
• it enables the worst sort of negative humane education for the children of uncommitted pet owners by showing how easy it is to dispose of pets when the shine wears off or the stuffing starts to leak
• nor does anyone seem to want to talk about the humane aspect ... how many free pets become feeders / research animals / bait dogs or imprisoned in puppy mills?

My Dad always used to say that more is caught than taught with children. Good values .... like love, committment, responsibilty, loyalty and kindness don't come wrapped in ribbons under the tree. From beginning to end the journey of pet ownership can be one of the most meaningful ways to teach your children well.

I remember when the laws starting changing about drinking and driving. At the time the good old boys I knew were quick to complain ... maintaining that they could drive better drunk than most people could sober. Do they drink and drive anymore? Not so much after the first few found out how expensive it was to get their license (and insurance) back.

At one time, it was legally defensible and therefore socially acceptable for a married man to kill an 'adulterous' wife. It took the legal recogniton of Canadian women as persons in their own right to begin to change that type of thing.

It is no wonder that anyone working frontline animal rescue wants the lucky pets that they have been able to save to go to perfect homes. After all that work, who would want to see history being repeated, eh?

Yet, most folks are neither the best nor the worst ... but sit somewhere in between. They are usually utterly unaware they are not doing the right thing. If they've never seen anyone do prenatal pet training, how would they know how easily it can be done? If Mom and Dad ditched the pets everytime they moved, how on earth would they know how to bring their pets when they move? If the family pets were never spayed/ brought in the house/ vaccinated/ etc ... how would the children know any better?

The great educational material on the animal welfare sites and the wonderful posters in the animal clinics aren't going to be read by those who don't visit. Animal shelters aeren't going to be visited by folks who are unsure whether or not they will be approved for adoption.

Before the keyboards catch on fire, noone is suggesting that people like the fellow who brings a healthy young chocolate lab in to the vets to be put down ... or the woman who gives up her lovely little dog because her new boyfriend wants a big dog ... or anyone else who has ever put an animal in harms way be given the green light for adoption.

But all the other folks ... the nice ones who are simply unawakened.... should be encouraged and embraced. Until the day when there are no more homeless pets, this is the most effective form of humane education that animal rescue can engage in.