When Animals Rescue Us

Never underestimate the healing power of animals! Sometimes, we think we are rescuing animals, but they are really rescuing us. 

The Canadian Foundation for Animal Assisted Support Services partners people struggling with physical, emotional, and social challenges with companion animals. There is one heartwarming story after another on their Storytelling Page of how an adopted pet helped someone overcome a life challenge. 

One girl overcame her stutter because she was motivated to train her SPCA-rescued dog. "In the second class the instructor told me that my dog would never learn as he could not understand me. I was told to speak clear. I was very upset, as I wanted to speak clear and I wanted my little Timi to learn. The next week I came back and to everyone’s surprise I was speaking very clear, giving clear commands and praising my dog just the way my instructor Paul told me to. I was so happy! My dog came first in the class."

A man who was blind and deaf from Usher Syndrome gained his independence back from a guide dog named Nemo. "Usher Syndrome is a condition that takes away your hearing early in life and your vision later in life. I was diagnosed at the age of 32. My life was turned upside down. I lost my job, driver’s license and hobby refereeing." Now Nemo accompanies him wherever he goes and he is currently an international speed skater. 

When asked why being an Animal Wellness Ambassador is important, the Canadian Foundation for Animal Assisted Support Services explained, "Our vision is to be the philanthropic leader that sustains the innovation, coordination, and integration of Animal-Assisted Support Services within Canada's health-care, social service, and justice sectors in order to improve the quality of life of people with physical, emotional, and social challenges. Being an Ambassador is important because we are indebted to all the wonderful animals in our lives and represented in organizations across Canada."

Pets teach us so much and ask for so little- they deserve nothing less than the best of what we have to give so they too can experience love for just being.

For more information about Animal Assisted Support Services, Click Here.

Want to get involved? Learn about the Ambassador Program on our website! animalwellnessmagazine.com

Italian Greyhounds are Friends for LIfe!

When it comes to animal adoption, is there anything more inspiring than rescue dogs helping rescue dogs?

When the Ontario SPCA took in a large number of Italian Greyhounds, the organization didn't expect a surge in worldwide support, but that's exactly what happened. The dogs were placed in the care of the Ontario SPCA after they were found living in deplorable conditions. Since then, support has poured in from all over Europe, Asia, and North America.

Rescue organizations rely heavily on fundraising programs and events. One of the events for the Ontario SPCA is the Friends for Life Walk-a-Thon, in which people can sponsor specific dogs that will be participating in the walk. 

Each dog has it's own walk page that generates support and encourages adoption. This is where the Italian Greyhounds come in- their pages have garnered incredible support. A dog named "Tiny Tim" raised $2,700 in less than one week, and another dog named "Scratchy" raised $1,480. 

Tiny Tim when he first came to the Ontario SPCA:

The walk-a-thon takes place May 25th and 26th. There is still time to get involved!

In addition to supporting the Italian Greyhounds’ walk-a-thon pages, there are many ways to donate on their website at www.ontariospca.ca. You can also call the donor services hotline and speak to one of their donor service team members at 1-888-668-7722 ext. 321.

Rescuing Animals in the Great White North!

Our Animal Wellness Ambassadors span the globe, reaching as far north as the SPCA in the Canadian Northwest Territories:

"We are a non-profit organization that has been around since the mid 80's.  A few years ago we seriously started looking for land and a way to have an animal shelter. Up to that point we did not have a shelter but helped out the local vet which is also the city pound.  The SPCA started a foster program 2 1/2 years ago but quickly realized we needed a home of our own. There were and still are way too many dogs in the north to help.  We opened our doors last October 2012. We did not have enough money to build all of the kennels (30), but settled on 15 plus 10 condos in the cat room.  As an Ambassador we hope to get the word out to the country about the problems in the North and hopefully find the means to mitigate the problems. The first step is to get veterinary care into isolated communities where there is a dog over-population and diseases. Shooting dogs is the only way to control this in the northern communities. This vet service mobile program will go hand in hand with education. We are starting to make some progress in this regard but we have a long way to go."

A pup named Skye was recently adopted by a family in Washington.  Quite the adventure for the little girl. She was sent to NWT SPCA from Kugluktuk Nunavut last month.

There are plenty more animals waiting to be adopted. There is a fantastic, lovable girl named Sheba, who came from a northern community, who was about to be shot. She is a few years old and has had several litters. She must have been a former sled dog or have mushing dog in her blood because she can run like the wind. She would be incredible for recreational ski-jorring or kick sledding.

The NWT SPCA is also trying to re-home a blind dog named Chopin. He is 6 years old and lost his sight about 2 years ago. The children in his family are little and are  too much for the dog to handle. The owners are afraid he will become agressive due to his disability adn nervousness. He is a lovely boy that needs a quiet home with the proper owner.

Rescue organizations frequently hold events in order to raise funds. The next NWT SPCA event will be the Peterson and Auger Golf Tournament in June. Last year was the first one and the company decided they would do the event every year. Last year they raised about $7000. As well, on June 21 there is the Annual NWT Riders -Midnight Sun Motorcycle Run. In July is the Shelter Grand Opening which should be a big open house event. 

Things get quite busy at the shelter! There are always dogs coming in and flying out. Programs include dog walking and volunteers dropping in to help. Trevor is the only paid employee and he is there monday to friday from 7-2 pm. All other hours are covered by us board members and volunteers. There is also a special needs community program called School to Work Transition happening twice a week that allows 4 young people the chance to get into the community doing jobs. There is food being donated, crate pick ups from the airport that have arrived back from Edmonton after a shipment of dogs. There is something going on every day. It can get over whelming and frustrating when there is so much to do and not enough people to do it.

The NWT SPCA says they were very excited to be a part of the ANimals Wellness Article this spring. "It was a huge deal for all of us at the NWT SPCA. We are looking forward to continuing the role in the future".

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