Sarah

What a wonderful experience we have had sicne we adopted Miss Sarah from the Moncton SPCA on November 2, 2008. My new husband and I had been married three whole weeks when we decided to go "visit" the Moncton SPCA on a Saturday afternoon. Although we already had Keyla, a corgi/lab mix, who is six years old, and Monty the cat, who is 10, we had been saying for awhile that we wanted a "sibling" for Keyla.

When we arrived, my goodness but there was quite a cacophony of 60+ dogs looking for our attention. All barking, and jumping and so excited to see people. But, then there was this darling little girl just sitting politely looking at us from her kennel. Such a dignified older girl! Andre went straight to her and said, "That one!"

Her name is Sarah and she is  an eight-year-old corgi mix with such sad eyes and so polite. We HAD to take her for a walk. Well, after 20 minutes, we knew she was meant for us. Older or not, she was sweet and just so happy to be petted. How could we possibly leave her behind since she had already been abandoned by her previous owners. We brought her home the next day.

Poor Sarah was so scared and had a couple of broken teeth that needed repairs and were causing her pain. She spent all her time laying by the front door as if she expected that we were going to leave her. By Friday, she was at the vet having a canine and one smaller tooth removed. By her second week, she was eating everything we gave her, had stopped growling at her new sister, was running around and was learning to trust us.
 
It has been six weeks now. Sarah is turning into a very happy little pooch! She and Keyla are getting along better every day, and her tail and ears are up all the time! She has learned that no one is going to hurt her, and when we do leave, we ALWAYS come back with a treat. She is now so excited to see us, Keyla is happy to have company all day, and Monty the cat….well, he doesn't seem to care at all! Every day, she surprises us with her intelligence, happiness and the speed of those little legs when she runs in the back yard!

Although we do not know Sarah's history, and there is some evidence that she was abused and neglected, we do know her future. She now has a loving home, where there is always a warm bed, loving embraces, treats, family who always comes home and lots of "Good dog!" for her to hear.

People are surprised that we adopted a senior dog, but it is the best decision we ever made. She may not have as many years left as a puppy, or the other young dogs that everyone is so eager to adopt, but we have a lovely lady who is house-trained, past the teenage years, calm, cool and collected. She will have a great retirement home, and live out her days happy and healthy. - Lisa Belliveau and André Léger

Winter

Winter was at the Moncton SPCA for almost 11 months and had been there the longest when I adopted her. She's been with us for seven months now and is doing really well.
 
I'm glad that I could bring her home. I see the appreciation in her eyes every time she sneaks onto the sofa.

Click here for a letter from Winter. Click here for some photos of Winter in her new home. - Penny Humby

Max

We adopted our first cat Chanel in January 2006 from a woman who had two litters in her house. When arriving there, we noticed that it wasn't a good place to have any animals, or even people, living there. So as we got out of our car, I told my boyfriend, “If there is a cat in there we are taking it, whatever it looks like.” So as we came in she gave us this cat and described it as “not so pretty, but will do.” So I took her right away and left as soon as possible. When I brought her to the vet, she obviously had fleas, so I got her fixed and flea-free.

The cat has since been the love of my life and spoiled like crazy. So I began thinking that she deserved a friend. So when one of my friends wanted to re-home her cat, I said, “Why not! This is my chance.” I thought my cat would love a friend since she loves her dog friends, but it was not so easy. The other cat, female and the same age, would not accept my cat and I was now scared for Chanel's life. Then the owner realized that she missed her cat badly and wanted her back.

So, I thought, I will go to the Moncton SPCA and volunteer, and maybe one day find THE cat. My boyfriend and I decided that we should maybe wait until July 2008 to adopt. When I would volunteer, I would stop myself from looking at the kittens because I knew I would take one home. After a month or so, I said I'll just go look. As I did, I found this little tuxedo cat who was HYPER!!! So I thought, “Poor him! I'll take him to the cat play room for him to stretch his legs.” Obviously, I fell in love. The cat's name was Bobby (now “Max”) and he looked so active that he would probably not even notice my other cat. So I decided to adopt him even if it was June.

The day I brought him home, he had just been neutered, so I assumed he would be calmer. That wasn't the case! He was jumping on all the furniture and playing like a kid in a candy store. And then he crossed Chanel. Chanel being the queen that she is just looked at him, hissed and gave him a slap and walked away. For weeks, he would jump on the same chair as her and she would leave. He would follow her everywhere and she just wouldn't have it... that is until I found them one day on my bed. Chanel was licking his head, I'm assuming that she thought that if he is going to be around her, he must be cleaner!

Since then, they play like little kittens, have fun all night long and sleep close all day. Our cat family is now complete and we are so happy to have found Max, who loves Chanel! The Moncton SPCA was the best choice for us! - Julie Bélanger

Rose Mary

After an exhaustive search looking for the "right" companion for my wife and me, we found Rose Mary... or I should say, the staff at the Moncton SPCA found her for us.

We live in Halifax and had been searching our local shelters but hadn't come across any dogs that we knew was "the one". Our daughter had sent us a link to the Moncton SPCA website and we found a couple of dogs we were interested in seeing.

Before we took the drive to Moncton, we had called the Moncton SPCA to see if the dog we were interested in was still available. Unfortunately, he was pending adoption. However, they suggested that they had a dog named Rose Mary who sounded like a good fit for us based on our application.

We knew right away that Rose Mary was the right dog. Rose Mary is such a kind and gentle soul. It's very obvious that she was very much loved by her previous owner.

It's been a couple of months now that we've had Rose Mary in our lives. Rose Mary enjoys her daily walks. In fact, she lets us know every morning when it's time for her walk. She also likes to "scold" us when she feels she's not getting all of the attention that she deserves. She's quite the talker! Rose Mary is a very loyal companion and friend. She never leaves my side and loves to be around us all of the time. She's very well mannered.

I wanted to thank the Moncton SPCA for such a great dog. Without their suggestion of Rose Mary, we may not have been the lucky ones to adopt such a great companion in our home. - Peter and Marie Goodfellow

Measha

We went to the Moncton SPCA 10 years ago looking for a kitten. After making several trips up and down the aisles between the cages looking at kittens and cats, we kept being drawn to one particular cage where a large white female cat with black patches sat on a shelf just staring at us quietly with her big golden eyes. After our fourth trip back to her cage, we gave in and forgot about a kitten. She was about four or five years old at the time and is now about 15 years old. We have been more than pleased with our adoption. Measha has been a perfect fit for our family. (We're sorry that we don't have a photo but hope you will be happy to hear another success story!) - Linda and Wallace Lemmon

Pisces

Pisces came to live with us back in August 2005. We had just recently lost our cat Starla due to a tumour and as much as I missed her, I wanted to open our home to a new cat who was in need of a loving home. So my sister and I went to the Moncton SPCA because I knew for sure that was where we were going to get our new family member from. I believe all animals deserve a second chance. I was looking for a cat specifically between the ages of six and nine years old because I know how hard it is for older cats to be adopted.

When we first saw Pisces, who was then named Freckles, my sister loved her. She was so sweet and just begged to be held. It took me a little more convincing because I was hoping to get a cat a little older (Pisces was only five) and because I was also hoping for a cat that had unique colouring. But we took her out to play in the cat room and it was only a matter of minutes before I was in love with her, too. We filled out the papers and it wasn't long before we were approved and got to take her home. I am so happy we chose her and that I didn't pass her up. She is very active and loves to run, but when she comes to you she is a big baby. She wants to be petted and cuddled. She fits right in with our other animals - our male cat, Sunny, and our husky, Storm. She even likes to lick my chinchilla, Lexus, when they are in the same room together and sometimes even climbs into the cage with her.

I am very happy that Pisces is a part of our home. I will continue to adopt from the SPCA for all my animals if possible and encourage everyone else to do so, as well. I have found that animals from the SPCA seem to have extra love to give - probably because they know life can be hard and don't take it for granted. Please consider the Moncton SPCA when looking for a new member of the family. You won't regret it! - Tara McCully

Sasha, Mason and Cash

One day in 2002, my boyfriend (now my husband) and I were visiting the Moncton SPCA to look at possibly adopting a cat. My Blue Point Siamese (Mason, previously adopted from the SPCA - pictured at right) had been put down at the age of 16 due to illness and I had said we would get another cat someday.

As we went from cat room to kitten room, something led us into another very quiet room that day, figuring since it was so quiet there must have been some kittens in there. We proceeded in. What we found was not a cat but this small black dog way in the back of her kennel alone in this room with only a name on the cage - Sasha. We visited for a minute and moved on to the cat room. Well, for whatever reason, we kept ending up back with Sasha. She was six months old and had just come into the SPCA and that was why she was in a kennel in a separate room by herself.

When I asked if she was adoptable, they said YES! She had just completed her last day of waiting and today was her first day of adoptability... what I like to call her "birthday". I'm not sure who was more excited, us or her. It was a couple of days before we got the approval and then she went directly from the SPCA to the vet to be fixed. She was home for about two weeks when back to the vet we went for needles and a check-up since she was coughing. No big deal... a couple of shots and some medicine for kennel cough and the vet couldn't believe she had put on 16 pounds already!

Today, Sasha weighs in at around 90 pounds and has turned out to be the perfect dog. She heels, sits, stays, comes when she's called and never leaves the yard. She is great with kids, other dogs and people. She barks to let people know she lives here and to let us know when someone is in the yard. She is just an all-around wonderful dog. We love her so much that we decided to get her a little friend. The two are best buds and love each other as much as we love them.
 
About a year later, we returned to the SPCA to see a little calico named Cash. We had seen her picture in the newspaper and I said, "That's her! That's the cat we're going to go see!" My husband was excited as it had been years since Mason (the Siamese) had been put down, which left us with out a cat. We went and she was so scared you could barely hold her. She was so tiny. Well, she isn't tiny anymore and she loves to be held and have her belly rubbed and played with. She's just the best cat I ever had. I hope you liked my story and that it helps you to get a loved one... or two, also. - Virginia Jones

Corkee

Our family adopted Corkee from the Moncton SPCA in the spring of 1996. A Welsh Corgi mix, Corkee is a very important part of our family and very well loved. She was just a few months old, small and sickly the first time we saw her. She had been abandoned in a park. She was so sad and sickly that the SPCA requested we wait a whole week before we took her home. Once she arrived home, she just blossomed. She seemed to know instantly that we would love and protect her. In return, she gives us unconditional love and companionship. We love you, Corkee! - Diane Stirling

Daisy

Adopting a pet from the Moncton SPCA has been the most wonderful and rewarding experience for our family, especially for myself. I have been petrified of dogs all my life and never imagined having one. My daughter, on the other hand, has always loved dogs and has wanted one for a long time. She finally talked me into visiting the Moncton SPCA on July 8, 2008. I'll never forget that day because I remember how scared I was. We went to view the dogs who, of course, were barking and quite excited. I almost turned and ran - I was so scared! But then, I spotted her: this little white dog just sat there looking like it had just lost its best friend. I walked up to the cage and immediately she started giving me kisses. That was it! I was in love! For some strange reason, I wasn't the least bit afraid of this dog. I asked one of the volunteers if we could take her out to play. We stayed and played for most of the afternoon. I didn't want to leave and not take her home with me. We filled out the adoption papers and patiently waited, hoping no one would adopt her. A few days later, the good news arrived. We were approved and Daisy was ours to take home! She has been a wonderful addition to our family and is helping me with my fear. My daughter and I have since continued to visit the Moncton SPCA whenever we can. Thank you, Moncton SPCA, for all the wonderful work that you do. Here's a recent picture of Daisy on our deck at the campground. - Annette

Annabelle

Hello everybody! My name is Annabelle! I was adopted by my Mom and Dad in February 2008. Since I moved into my new home, I've been spoiled rotten with love, attention and care. I'm not one to talk an awful lot, but would like to emphasize that cats like us, or any other critters, need a caring home to go to so we can live a long and healthy life. Instead of buying a new pet at a store, please come visit my friends at the Moncton SPCA. We'll love you for it!!! - Carmen Poirier and Marc Thibodeau

Annie

Hi there! My  name's Annie. My Mommy and Daddy adopted me from the Moncton SPCA on June 19, 2008, after I was brought in as a stray from Bouctouche. By the time I was brought to the SPCA, my long fur was very matted and quite uncomfortable for me. Thankfully, they were kind enough to rid me of all my matted fur and shaved me down in stages. In my adoption picture, I was quite funny-looking with my matted furry head and shaved body. I'm growing my fur back now and am starting to feel like myself again.  Mom brushes me everyday, which I don't like a whole lot, but I tolerate it because I know she is only doing it to keep me from matting up again.
 
My name when I was at the SPCA was "Opera". They called me this because I love to sing. Little did they know that I wasn't singing opera at all, but the blues. I hoped every day that someone would come and take me home with them. As soon as my parents brought me home, I knew I was meant to be there and other than being a little sheepish the first day, I settled in quite nicely. I don't sing much anymore, only when I want to go outdoors or have someone play with me. My parents also ask me to sing for people sometimes. I guess they get a kick out of it.
 
I love to play with my mini tennis balls and Mommy often throws one down the hall for me to chase for exercise. Otherwise, toys don't interest me much. Mommy and her friend take me for a long walk every morning and her friend even brings along her dog - we're buds. I just love to cuddle with my parents (or anyone else for that matter) whenever they sit down. Daddy loves to cuddle with me whenever he stops working around the house. I think I help him to relax!
 
There are a lot of people who come to visit me at my house and I go for trips to visit other people, too. I love to give them turns with me sitting on their lap so they can pet me. I am so happy now and just love to spread the love to anyone I can. I think it works because they always smile when they see me.
 
I have enclosed a picture of me at the beach, one of my favourite places. I had just finished digging myself a nice, cool spot to lay down until I felt the urge to dig some more! I am so happy to have found a family to love me and must admit that I am spoiled rotten and have them wrapped around my little dew claw!  - Kelly McConnell and Jason Peacock

Jenny

Hi! My name is Jenny and I came to live with my new family in 2002. Today I am over 13 years old and I have to say these past six years have been the best of my life!

At first I was a bit scared because everything was new. I was even allowed to sleep in the house, right in the bedroom with my new masters! It was great! Then I discovered that I could pretty much go and do what I wanted, as long as my owners didn't mind. I was a bit older, so I wasn't tempted to run away or do anything crazy like chase cars. I was afraid of a lot of things, but my new owners encouraged me to be strong and brave. And though I still try to hide when it thunders, other things don't seem to be so bad anymore because of all the love I have in my life.

These days I don't chase the tennis ball as much, and I don't do leaps and bounds off the patio. I can't drop my ball in the pool anymore, then watch it go around and try to fish it out because my arthritis is too bad for that! But I sure love a long rest in the shade of the oak tree, and Cam two houses down is always happy to give me a biscuit if I wander down to say hello. All my neighbours love me and I have a lot of friends. This photo is of me at the beach with my mum. I love it at the beach, but I don't go for long swims anymore. It's just nice to be out where it's free and the wind blows.
 
My life since leaving the SPCA has been wonderful. I know my owners cherish me. My mum hugs and kisses me and takes me for short little walks, and my dad talks to me all the time. I love all the attention.
 
I am indebted to the SPCA for allowing me to come and live at this wonderful place. Love, Jenny - Dave Wood and Paula Sears

Update: "Our sweet Jenny left us peacefully on December 4, 2008. She taught us many things, primarily that rescue dogs are very worthy of a second or third chance. Jenny was the love of our life and her footsteps, shaky though they were at the end, are greatly missed throughout our home. Rest well, sweet Jenny. We love you."

Finigan

After discussing it with my boyfriend, we decided it was time to adopt a furry friend, so we went to the SPCA to take a look at the cats. We filled out an application for a tabby cat but later found out that he was adopted. I was heartbroken but realized that there were still so many cats there without homes, so we went back to the SPCA to take a look. After seeing Finigan, I just knew he was the one. He was purring like crazy and rubbing up against the cage wanting us to pet him. Not many of the other cats seemed to show much interest in us that day. Immediately, I went to tell one of the staff members that he was the one I wanted to bring home. We were able to bring Finigan home with us that same day since we had already filled out an application. We have had him since June 2005 and are absolutely delighted that he is part of our family. He comes everywhere with us. He is one spoiled kitty. We recently had a baby and he is great with her. While she plays on the floor with her toys, he will lie right next to her and purr. He is so gentle with her. I just know they will become best friends. Thank you, SPCA! Keep up the great work! - Andrea Crocker

Charlotte

We adopted our princess on September 28, 2007, from the Moncton SPCA. I was bugging my boyfriend for a cat for the longest time and he finally gave in around our second anniversary and agreed to get me a cat for the occasion. There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to adopt from the SPCA. I visited the shelter a couple of days before to check out the cats and knew what I was looking for. I wanted a black cat with short hair and green eyes. I knew it was fate when the first cat I saw matched that description. I fell in love immediately with my Charlotte (formerly "Jingles"). I took her in my arms and I knew that she was the one for me! I love her feisty personality and her big green eyes. We brought her to our house the next day and she immediately made herself at home. She loves to look out the window and relax on our bed during the day and wake us up at night if we forget the close our bedroom door. She is spoiled rotten and treated just like a real person, but she is worth every bit of it. We take her on vacation with us and she loves being in the car and looking outside. She’s the first one to welcome us the moment we come into the door after a hard day’s work and brings a smile to our faces every day. She brings so much joy into our lives and I wouldn’t trade her in for anything in the world. - Angèle and James

Misty

We adopted our "little girl" from the Moncton SPCA in December 2005. Misty (was "Cashew") was brought to the shelter at 6.5 years old. She was somewhat troubled by her short stay at the shelter, but what a wonderful addition to our family she turned out to be! Not only is she incredibly intelligent but very loving and so well behaved. And it's just too cute when Misty lets you know when it's meal time or a needed "bathroom" break. She loves all the critters she meets (we have a 21.7-lb cat, too) and takes great joy in running with the big dogs (it's quite funny to watch her outrun them!) Her previous family obviously loved her and it must have been a very hard decision for them to give her up. Misty knows when it's Sunday as we always go for a drive. As soon as we open our eyes (yes, we now have a dog sleep with us), she stands on top of one of us, with her tail wagging as hard as she can. I'm sure if she could speak, she'd say "get your butts out of bed and let's get on the road!." We travel nowhere without her. Early-morning walks and Albert County beach walks are also greeted with much enthusiasm! Many thanks to all Moncton SPCA staff. Your kindness and love of animals are so appreciated by all of us animal lovers. - Heather Bell

Tigger

When my boyfriend and I decided to move into our own place, there was only one thing missing: a cat. So, we drove to the Moncton SPCA and went to pick up a feline friend. Once we got there, we met up with a little kitten named Bree and brought her in the playroom to interact with her. We played a bit with her and we thought she would be the perfect kitten for us! Once we had finished getting approved for adoption, we went to go pick her up and she had already been adopted by another family. We then decided to look again and remembered seeing a kitty named Tigger on the website a few days before, so we went to see him. We took him out and we fell in love with him immediately. He was so playful and cuddly. We thought maybe he couldn't "speak" because he had not meowed the entire time we were playing with him, but when we brought him back to his cage, he would NOT stop. At that point, we knew he was meant for us, so we picked him up a few days later. He is the best cat in the world. He plays fetch with his teddy bear. He sleeps with us at night and is constantly looking for affection. We adopted an adorable pet and a best friend... and for that, we are VERY grateful. - Melanie Collette

Scooter

In 2001, we went to the SPCA to find a kitten to be a companion for our other cat, Sam, as we had just lost a cat to a rare heart condition. We went looking at all the potential kitties and there was Scooter, peeking out at us from behind his litter box. It almost seemed like he was playing with us through the cage. We adopted him. Now, seven years later, he is doing great and enjoying the good life. We had been told that he and his mother (and siblings) had been abandoned in a parking lot the week before we adopted him. Scooter is probably the most intelligent cat we've ever seen. He is the leader of the pack (he lives with a dog and three other cats) and gets away with everything. Adopting Scooter was one of the best choices we've ever made and we enjoy him immensely. Thanks, SPCA! - Tim and Tawnia Lewis

Lucky

My girlfriend and I adopted an orange tabby cat named Tigger. Stacy had been looking for a cuddly cat to bring home so that our other cat would have someone to play with. Well, Tigger wrapped right up with her during our two one-hour visits while waiting for the adoption, and so we took him home. We named him Lucky because that’s how we feel about getting such an amazing cat. He's the most gentle and affectionate cat we've ever seen. And since the first day he came home, he has gotten along so very well with our other cat Dizzy that we are just so happy. To this day, the two cats don’t do anything without each other, including getting into trouble! - Tim Feetham and Stacy Rogers

Bootsie

After seeing the Oprah episode on puppy mills, it was a huge eye-opener for me. Got me thinking about the SPCA and all the animals there who would love a new home. We own a house, so I figured we have the room for one more! My co-worker Rachel volunteers there on a regular basis, so I started asking her some questions about the cats there. (We already have a pug, and three cats, so we figured another cat would be easier to handle, since Frank is hyper enough already!) After talking to my husband and pretty much telling (!) him that we were going to adopt a cat, we went to the SPCA to become volunteers. (I told him I would just "look" and not make any decisions right away.) I visited the website every day for two weeks and had my heart set on Patrick. Allen liked Ozzy. We couldn't seem to agree on the same cat, so we took Bootsie into the play room and I instantly fell in love. He's a gorgeous pure white cat with extra toes! And he's huge! He must weigh 20 lb!! He was purring like crazy, sat right on my lap (shedding lots of hair in the process), let us brush him, and played with all the toys. Allen wanted to wait and see if there was another one we might like better, but I was positive this was the one for us. We had already been pre-approved for adoption, so we took him home that very day - April 12, 2008. It's only been a week, but he's so well adjusted. He gets along with all of our animals, follows us all over the house, eats everything he can possibly get his huge paws on (including dog treats/food!) and sleeps with us. He even let us bathe him! Just stood there in the tub and didn't fight at all! It was incredible. I've never seen a cat do that! We were going to change his name, but since he's four years old and already answers to Bootsie, we figured we'd keep it even though it's a little feminine for such a manly kitty! He's been a fantastic addition to our family, so thank you to the SPCA and the wonderful experience! We'll continue to volunteer every weekend even though Allen thinks I will end up wanting to bring home another one! Ha ha! We'll see... ;) -Amy and Allen Roach

Roxie

My partner and I had been looking for over a year now to add a new addition to our family. We have two cats from the Animal Rescue League in Saint John and thought it was time to get a dog. We searched all the pet stores but nothing seemed to grab our hearts until one night we decided to try the Moncton SPCA. Walking down all the aisles, our eyes started to fill with tears until we saw "her". There Roxie was, sitting in her cage looking at us with those sad, sad eyes. Our hearts started to race and as soon as we took Roxie out of the cage we knew, "This is it! We have finally found our little girl!" We filled out the paperwork for Roxie that night. We were in a state of panic all night wondering, "Will we get her?" The very next morning we went back to the SPCA and took her for a walk and then played with her upstairs. When we returned to the desk, they told us that she was ours. We were so excited!! We found out we had to wait approximately three more days to take her home. So that day, we went off and bought everything we could for her... all the "fixins". We then returned again later that day to take our baby for a walk. We returned every day to take her for a walk until we could take her home. Since then, every day has been an adventure with our little Roxie. We love her so much and we couldn't have asked for a better dog - a better family member. Thank you so much, Moncton SPCA, for our special angel: Roxie!!!! - Amanda and Sonny

Jack

After having our border collies for over 18 years in total, our hearts were broken when we had to have Teddy put down in 2006, while Elly (adopted from the SPCA in 1994) passed away in September 2007. We decided to wait until the spring of this year (2008) before looking for our new furry family member! We submitted an application in February so that we would be ready if we found the right dog. In March, with the whole family in tow, we felt ready to take a look at the Moncton SPCA. Much to our delight, we found Captain Jack Sparrow, "Jack" for short, ready and waiting for us. It was love at first sight. We brought him home the next day and were just thrilled. Aside from a few puppy quirks, Jack has been a wonderful addition to our family. He is playful and gentle with the kids and a welcome walking companion for us. Thank you so much for helping our family to find the perfect addition. You provide a valuable service and our experience has always been a positive one. - The Phaneufs

Lucy

We adopted Lucy, formerly Vesta, back in 2003 from your shelter. I wanted a dog and decided I would rather give one of your dogs a second chance than pay the high price of pet shops.

We visited the shelter a few times and fell in love with another dog but ended up not being able to adopt her. I was very sad and decided to look around one more time and that is when my husband saw her. She was crying so bad for attention and so wanted to be acknowledged. We took her for a walk and had just the worst time as she was pulling so hard on the leach she almost choked herself. We decided to apply for her adoption anyway but had to wait another couple of days before getting her home as she needed to be spayed.

Finally, she came home from the vet, looking so stressed and lost. She didn't know what was going on. After a few hours, she relaxed and has been a big part of our family ever since. It was an adjustment for her, as well as us, having to get along with two cats and make herself part of our family... but she did rather well. She is a lovely dog and gets along great with our cat, Shadow, and our son Alex. She truly is Alex's best friend!

She is getting older now and no longer can go for long walks due to arthritis, but she loves to play in the backyard and be with us at all time.

We lost one of our cats a few years ago and can't imagine what our lives will be like without Lucy. One thing I do know is that when that time comes, I will return to your shelter, maybe not right away - but someday - and find a new friend.

Thank you for taking care of all these wonderful animals and giving then a second chance. They deserve it! - Tim Cormier

Mackenzie and Moose

My lovely (but very antisocial) long-hair calico Pixie passed away at the ripe old age of 14 back in 2002. She'd been my only pet since I was just eight years old, and I was aching for a new cat to fill the void! Unfortunately, my parents were dead-set against getting another pet and I was forced to wait five long years until I moved out with my boyfriend in 2007. We knew we wanted to adopt at least one cat, but I talked him into getting two!

I'd fallen in love with a beautiful long-hair calico named Lilly after spotting her on the SPCA website. The resemblance to Pixie was startling! I took it as a sign! But, to my chagrin, by the time we were able to find an apartment building that allowed cats, she was no longer listed on the website. I was heartbroken, but we went to explore the shelter anyway.

To my surprise and delight, Lilly was still at the shelter and listed as adoptable! She was even more beautiful in person and was falling all over herself trying to touch us through the cage bars! Her personality was the complete opposite of Pixie's -- wildly affectionate, playful, curious... a real people-cat. I knew for sure she belonged with me!

It was a bit more difficult to select a playmate for her. I'd never been to the SPCA before, and it sure did a number on my heartstrings to see all those adorable cats mewing and purring and begging to be taken home! I wanted to adopt all of them!

At first, Zoe didn't make much of an impression on me. He was a huge 17-pounder, black with white socks, chest, belly, and a little crooked dab on his chin. Unlike all the other cats crying for attention, he was content to just sit by the bars and stare at us. When we said hello, though, he let out a single, inquisitive, deep baritone meow, and my boyfriend immediately liked him. After letting the two interact at the shelter for a while, we decided to take them both. The two-day wait for adoption approval was agonizing!

Lilly (renamed Mackenzie, or Kenzie for short) absolutely hated Zoe (now Moose) for the first several weeks. Poor Moose, he's such a big sookie, he just wants to make friends! She still likes to chase, harass, and bully him on a regular basis -- but Moose is a true gentleman and lets her think she's the boss even though he's twice her size and is the one with claws. They do share the bed and snuggle in a sunbeam sometimes when they think we're not looking.

Mackenzie is almost exhaustively curious and loveslovesLOVES to play! She follows me everywhere like a puppy and is constantly chirping for attention. She's very jealous and possessive, though, and tends to pick on her brother or misbehave if she feels she's being ignored. She may be stubborn and bratty sometimes, but I love her dearly and I'm so glad I found her!

Moose had been at the shelter for five months and was a bit depressed when we took him home. He was overweight, jumpy, shedding fur like nobody's business and sleeping all day. But he's adjusted nicely since then and is now a sleek, muscular, healthy and happy boy who goes wild over a good game of "stringies" and never forgets to remind us of his presence whenever there is food to be had! Fortunately his ability to make us laugh completely overshadows his rude table manners, and we love him to bits.

All in all, our experience adopting from the SPCA was wonderful. We love our silly kitties and the joy and entertainment they bring into our lives! We definitely plan to add more to our family in the future! Many thanks! - Renée Atkinson

Murphy

Murphy, formerly known as Rascal at the Moncton SPCA, wishes to say, "Thanks a million for your help!" We adopted Murphy in January 2008 and he has charmed us. We are fascinated by the intelligence, the excellent disposition and the incredible antics of this little guy. We lost our two dogs due to old age in the fall of 2007 and had agreed to wait six months before adopting a new pet. Well... those were the longest four months of our lives. I'm so glad we didn't wait any longer. Murphy has us out walking every day, enjoys car rides, enjoys training - he's a good freestyler - has plenty of dog buddies, has been enjoying the beach and the farm and has charmed the pants off everybody he meets by being so well-mannered for such a young guy - 18 weeks old today (March 10, 2008). Most people gasp or smile when they see him and they always say, "He's so-o-o-o-o-o soft." Our young nephews have him sitting, laying, giving the paw, and the other paw, and both paws, staying, following, playing and just being that special dog-friend connection we all love. We have a lifetime of cherished moments ahead of us. Thanks!!!

Dakota

I adoped Dakota, a Siberian Husky from the Moncton SPCA, on November 7, 2007! I was on my way home from my daily walk and decided to drop by the SPCA. I saw Dakota and just had to have her. I had to wait to be approved, which really sucked because I knew someone else could come along and take her at any time! I went to see her every day until I was approved after two days and took Dakota home. She is a beautiful dog. The road hasn't been easy, but she's worth it! Haha!! Dakota lives with me and my boyfriend in Moncton. She's one spoiled little girl! I dont know what made me stop that day at the SPCA, but I'm really glad that I did and that I found my little girl, Dakota!! She's loved very much!! - Karlie Brown

Billy

We adopted Billy quite by accident on New Year's Eve 2004. We live in Saint John and we were in Moncton doing some shopping when we decided to drop by the shelter. We weren't there five minutes when Billy, the shih tzu, came to the SPCA as the owners couldn't keep him anymore. He was scared and shivering but such a good little dog. He was six at the time and had such a good temperament. We adopted him on the spot. He is very independent but loves being around our family. He loves cuddling up on our laps or beside us and sleeps in my youngest's room every night. He has his own pillow and blanket and, yes, he is totally spoiled. He even has various nicknames: Boo, Boo Boo, Bizzi, Bi Bi. He turned nine in 2007 and since we don't know his exact birthdate, we celebrate it on his adoption day - December 31st. We can't imagine life without little Billy, he has brought us years of pleasure and unconditional love. He loves going for walks and in the car. The minute you ask him if he wants to go for either of those outings, he cannot get to the door fast enough. I maintain a blog for Billy. He is so well loved in our dog community and gets gifts from Tokyo, Singapore, Malaysia, Spain and the U.S. He has so many furry friends (even a hamster), it is totally amazing and, in turn, the friends I have made because of Billy are wonderful. I cannot imagine not ever getting another rescue dog. In fact, this past weekend, we had gone to the Saint John Animal Shelter and we are seriously thinking of adopting another one who is a stray and is the exact same colouring as Billy, black and white - a spaniel. I think they will get along fine once Billy determines he is the DOG of the house! Thank you SPCA. We have been so very lucky to have Billy in our lives. - J. Cogger

Fatty

I adopted Fat Cat (Fatty for short) from the SPCA in 1998. He has meant the world to me ever since. From that first time I saw him, when he reached his little paw out of his cage and touched my face, to today, as he sits on my computer desk as I type, he has been a most wonderful part of my family. He keeps me entertained with his antics and has personality plus.He is good company around the house and loves a snuggle and cuddle. He has his own pillows on my bed. Actually he owns the house and everything in it, but he has decided to let me stay here with him. He hates water and dogs equally, but other than that he is very easy going. He loves to spend some time outside with me in the summer and also loves being a couch potato. He has become a very large happy cat over his years with me and I hope he will be part of my family for a long time to come. He is one special kitty. It has now been 10 years since I adopted him and I can't imagine life without my big ol' Fatty. If you love animals, why not consider rescuing one from the shelter? They can certainly make your world a better place. - Edith McCormack

Greta

I adopted "Honey" - now Greta - from the SPCA about three weeks ago.

As an Oulton's Vet Technician student, I had the pleasure of meeting Greta, who was there to have some dental work done and to be spayed. When I walked in, the first thing I laid my eyes on that morning was Greta. I was assigned to assist in her surgery. She was emaciated, had mammary glands hanging to her knees (from being overbred) and had severe dermatitis from fleas, resulting in the loss of much of the hair on her hind end. But she still had that adorable little pug face and I knew instantly that she was mine. I'd been looking for a black female pug for about four years but wished to rescue rather than purchase, like I do with the majority of my animals.

But after Dr. Hayward called the SPCA for me to say that I would take her, I learned there was someone ahead of me. My stomach and heart sank, so I had to wait patiently (gritting my teeth) in hopes that they may change their mind. Discouraged, I called the SPCA the next day, just so they could confirm what I thought would have inevitably happened: that she'd been taken. BUT, to my surprise, they decided upon seeing her that she wasn't for them.

Then I really knew she was for me! I rushed out to get my baby. She has been doing so fantastic. I don't think she was at all housetrained when I got her, but overcame that obstacle fast with the help of her canine sister Annabelle the basset hound.

They've become very fast friends. I bought Greta her own bed, but she much prefers to share Anna's. She loves car rides, as I often bring the dogs everywhere with me. Her skin has healed remarkably well, and she's put on 3 lb in the time I've had her, which is a lot for a dog who only came to me weighing 14 lb. When I brought her and Anna for their shots last week, the vet told me that she still has a pound or two to go. With the way she likes her treats, that shouldn't be a problem! She even fits in on the farm: coming down to the barn with me every morning and night to do chores. Thank you, SPCA! You found me the dog I've been looking for for years, now. - Amanda Steeves.

Beatle and JJ

Here's the story of two adopted brothers: Beatle, a beautiful fluffy black cat, and JJ, a frisky sleek white cat. Beatle was adopted from the Moncton SPCA in September 2001. He was approximately seven months old when we adopted him and although his name didn’t roll off the tongue when we first saw him, we kept the name the SPCA gave him. Beatle was just an obvious choice — the minute we saw him we knew he was ours. He's a momma’s boy and loves to give cat massages at bedtime. From the beginning, he was a companion to our little dog Jessie. They got along very well for a cat and a dog. When Jessie passed away, Beatle seemed lonely, even though cats are typically independent. In July 2005, we decided to adopt another cat, this time a kitten. I used the Moncton SPCA pet finder on the Internet to look at kittens. I had eyed a little white kitten named Jason — perfect opposite colouring of Beatle. I decided to go over and play with some kittens in the cat room at the SPCA.  I played with a few, but I had my heart set on little Jason. Ironically, my husband’s name was Jason and we needed to change the kitten’s name. As a joke, I suggested we call him “Jason Jr.”. My husband agreed — but only if we called him JJ for short. Beatle wasn’t really impressed to have a kitten in the house, but now they get along fine. They have very distinct personalities. Beatle is mellow and keeps to himself more. JJ loves to be around people and is very vocal — especially at supper time! I love them both. I think anyone who adopts will tell you that an adopted animal seems to know they were adopted. Seems to have gratitude and love for their new family and home. It has been very rewarding adopting from the Moncton SPCA and I love telling their story! - Jocelyn M. Mattatall

Luna

We'd been looking everywhere for the "right" dog to include in our household, one that wouldn't mind a cat and wouldn't hunt the two ferrets living in the bedroom. Even though I knew Siberian huskies had a notorious chase reflex, I'd always wanted one and had been searching for that specific breed at different shelters. We got ourselves pre-approved for adoption at the Moncton SPCA and then set to work waiting and hoping for the right dog to find us. We were called a few weeks later when a Siberian Husky named Zuma was approved to be adopted after clearing her temperament test. We'd already seen several perspective dogs but none seemed to fit this household. We went down to visit Zuma only about an hour before the shelter closed.

Zuma had been a stray from Notre-Dame, had some food aggression issues and would surely chase our cat and the ferrets. Despite the warnings, we decided after walking her under a full moon that she was the right dog for us. She didn't pull on her leash and, with time, we would learn that she knew her commands, just only understood them in French. I said I wanted her and - once she'd been spayed - she was allowed to come home with us. Despite some motion sickness in the car on the way home and still being dazed from the anesthetic, she settled in nicely. We changed her name to Luna, partially because it sounded like her shelter name and because of the full moon we took our first walk together under.

I won't lie and say that it's been an easy and uneventful road, but there's been lots of progress. After a year's time, that 35 lb husky grew to be around 50 lb and she snuggles on the couch with us, plays with the cats and ferrets and amazes everyone that she's a rescue as she plays so gently with children. Her "talking" has earned her the nickname "Woo Woo" and, together with her doberman brother Grendal, gets into lots of trouble - but it's all well meant and I wouldn't trade her howling, wooing and husky kisses away for anything. - Katrina Griffiths

Rosie and Patty

We had lost our dog in an accident and had been a few years without a dog in the house when one day I decided enough was enough and I was going to find a new dog to share our lives with. I went to the Moncton SPCA to take a look, as I am a firm believer in helping these animals find a home. As soon as I saw Rosie it was love at first sight. All of the other dogs were jumping and barking and she let out a few big woofs and then settled right down, looking so sad to be in a pen. I took her for a walk and played with her in the outdoor pen. As well as being a sweetie, she already knew all of her commands and was very obediant. I was sad to turn her back in to go home and get my better half to come and see her also. It was a long week waiting to hear if we could have her. We adopted Rosie in June 2003 when she was 3 1/2 years old. She is a long-haired german shepherd which you don't see very often. A lot of people think she is part collie.

As soon as we got her home, we noticed she really stunk, so I tried to give her a bath but she wasn't having any of that! I decided to take her to the dog groomer, but first off to the vet to make sure she didn't have any problems that would be contagious. As soon as the vet got a whiff of her he knew there was a problem, and sure eough she had an infected gland hiding under all that fluffy fur. Hence her new nickname Stinkybum! After a few weeks of antibiotics, he decided to remove the gland. I hate to think that someone gave up this wonderful dog because she stank!

She is the most loyal, loving dog, and when I'm not at work she is always at my side. She loves to go for car rides and walks and having her belly scratched. She doesn't get up on the furniture or really have any bad habits except for the ones we've taught her, like begging for a bite of our food.

We have had a few other medical problems with her and she has really bad hips, but we have her on medication for that. She was really shy and nervous when we brought her home but has really improved in that department. Despite the vet bills, I would adopt her again in a heartbeat. We wouldn't trade her for a million dollars.

In the fall of 1997, we had adopted a large adult cat we named Buddy from the Moncton SPCA. In 2005, we had to put him to sleep as he had gone blind after having diabetes, which he was being treated for. As much as I love dogs, I love cats and feel that a house is not a home without at least one of each. Rosie was enjoying not having to share our attention, but I really missed having a cat. So, in June 2007, I once again headed out to the SPCA. We adopted Tinkerbelle and we changed her name to Patty. Patty was about 3-4 months old and quite a handful. She loves tearing aroung the house and attacking anyone who walks by. She will bite but does not claw.

Her specialty is tearing up rolls of toilet paper. She has medium long hair and all four paws are double paws so her nick name is "Four-Wheel Drive." She probably thinks her name is BadCat, as we call her that a lot! She adores Rosie but Rosie is a bit intimidated by cats so guess who hogs all the dog beds in the house? Patty will cuddle up with Rosie on her bed, but Rosie always leaves. It is funny to see this tiny cat stretched out on a extra large dog bed and the dog laying on the hard floor. When she calms down she is very sweet and loves to lay with you on the couch to catch a nap. We just love her to bits, but I have to keep telling Rosie that she is #1 and always will be. I call them my two girls, big girl and little girl.

When the time comes for a new addition to our family, you can be sure I'll be back to the Moncton SPCA, where I got these two "purrfect" pets from. - Anonymous

Cindy and Casey

This is Cindy. A red tabby, she was originally Tiki at the Moncton SPCA when I found her there in September 2003. She was a master of public relations when I walked by her cage. She rubbed up against it so hard trying to get my attention that I thought she’d wear the metal right down! I didn’t get her that day, but thought to myself that I’d pop by the next day and get her if she was still there. This was my first cat and I wanted to think about it after much pleading from my son for a pet.

Well, the next day, she was indeed there... and still rubbing up against the cage like a mad woman trying to get my attention. I decided right then and there that she was the one for me and brought her home. She’s been an excellent little cat. Very loving. Loves to get petted — and insists on getting petted even more when feels she isn't being given enough attention! And just the sight of the spray bottle sends her running. (She doesn’t need much discipline anyway.)

She loves to sleep under the covers of my bed. I’ll often go into my bedroom and find a lump right in the middle of the bed. I’ll touch it and hear her usual “coo” of surprise. She loves getting petted through the blankets. Whenever I do that, her loud purr can be heard far and wide!

In April 2004, I decided that Cindy needed a friend to keep her company during the day. She had gained a bit of weight and I thought that a playmate would help her exercise — all that chasing! So back to the shelter I went. After looking through the cats a couple of times, I couldn’t decide on which one to choose. We talked to a volunteer knowledgeable of all the cats and she suggested a large male grey tabby named Razz. He was a big affectionate boy who loved getting held. I decided right then and there to bring him home! He was named Charlie for a few days... but then my son suggested that Casey would be more appropriate. So Casey it was!

Cindy was not impressed when we brought Casey home. She scratched him so hard that she left a claw in his face. Yikes! Within 24 hours, though, they were able to walk by each other in the hallway without much fuss. Eventually, he managed to sniff her butt without her taking a hissy (literally) fit. He got a good whiff in and she took notice. “Oooh... that’s not too bad, actually.” Since that memorable butt sniff, they’ve been great friends. They play all the time and really get along well.

Casey’s very vocal at meal time, but is otherwise reasonably quiet. (Reasonably! Ha!) He’s incredibly affectionate and will sleep in my arms or even hang out draped around my neck like a scarf. (A great neck massager when he’s purring!) He’s been a great buddy!

I can’t imagine life without them! - Brian Cormier

Jasper

What up? My name is Jasper and I am the cool cat of this house. I used to live at the SPCA. I don’t remember much before that because I was just a baby when I arrived there. While I was at the shelter, I noticed this lady volunteering her time and playing with the cats. You see, the cats that live at the SPCA spend their time in small cages and it gets very boring. I thought this lady was nice for playing with us and I wished I could go home with her. Well, one day the cool lady took me out of my cage. I thought we were going to go play. Boy, was I surprised when she put me in her car and took me home. That day was August 29, 2004; the best day of my life.

My new home was really big and sunny, with lots of comfortable places for me to stretch out and nap. There was only one problem, another cat lived there! Her name is Kitty. At first, I thought Kitty was kind of cute but once I got to know her, I thought differently. Kitty is a sneaky snob. She thinks she is so smart and is always trying to frame me for everything that goes wrong in our house. So far, her plans have always worked. I get blamed for everything! I really need to think of a way to get her back. Maybe I will work on that after I have a snack.

Other than Kitty bugging me once in awhile, life at my new home is sweet. I really bonded with my new dad. He gives me lots of food everyday and I clean his fur in return. His fur is only on the top of his head for some reason, so I have to wait until he is lying down fast asleep to clean it. It’s a big hassle but it is what I have to do to

keep him clean. My dad and I take care of each other.

My mom is sweet too, although sometimes I get annoyed when she gives me about one million kisses in the morning before she leaves. But I do like it when she scratches my belly. Mom says my belly is too big but the way I see it, it is more area for her to pet. Mmmmmm. . . belly scratches are good.

I am not the world traveler that my sister is, but I have been to the doctor a few times. Man, traveling is scary. Sometime Mom and Dad take me outside on the deck and we watch the cars driving by. That’s all of the outside world I want to see for now. I heard lots of stories from the other cats at the SPCA about the things that go on in the outside world. I am really content in my cozy home with my family, even Kitty. She is a pain in the neck, but she is my sister and I love her. But let’s keep that between the two of us ok, I have an image to uphold.

Mom and Dad tell me soon we will move into a big house. They say I will have more room to run around and play. I have also heard whispers about Mom and Dad going back to the SPCA to get a little sister for Kitty and me. That’s just what I need, another twerp who thinks she can boss me around. There are way too many females already in this house. - Kara Doiron

Nitro

In the fall of 2005, I signed up with a group at my company to visit the SPCA and help give the adoptables a great day of walking, playing fetch and a few treats. One of the dogs I walked that day was Nilo, a Siberian Husky. I knew Nilo was special and through his bio attached to his kennel I read that he had been there for quite some time, coming into the SPCA as a stray. I just couldn’t believe that someone wasn’t out desperately searching for this dog!

With another big dog at home, I wasn’t sure if we ready to take on another dog. A week went by and I checked the website everyday and went to visit. So many people stopping at Nilo’s cage and saying, "What a beautiful dog,” “Look at those eyes, one blue and one brown,” and, “Oh he’s eight years old. We really wanted a puppy.”

At eight years old I knew that Nilo’s chances weren’t as great as the other dogs and made a decision that he needed to come home with me! After a few weeks of getting to know his new “brother,” Rebel, and feeling out his territory, which included talking a few tours of the neighbourhood on his own (those huskys are escape artists), Nilo, whose name was changed slightly to Nitro settled beautifully into his new place.

Nitro loves peanut butter bones, any toy that has some fluffy stuffing in it and his very own red leather couch! He has lots of friends at daycare and everyone just wants to give him a big hug when he looks up at you with those husky eyes. - Karan Wood

Kass

I adopted my girl Kass two years ago from the Moncton SPCA. She's a beautiful tan and black german shepherd. I started visiting her after seeing her on the website.

I continued to visit her during the next six weeks, a couple times a week bringing treats for her and her friends and discovered that she was in fact a wonderful dog. Not all those things that were written about her. She was just scared. I decided that she just needed a good home and someone to love her and care for her. I was willing to adopt her.

When I got her, she was severely underweight so much so that she didn't weigh enough to have her spayed before I could take her home, and her fur was all coarse and ugly. You could see her ribs sticking out. She was listed as aggressive, unfriendly, not to be in a home with children or other pets. She'd been at the shelter for a little over three months. She was a stray.

It took her a few weeks to adjust to the fact that I wouldn't eat her food and that I was going to be a regular thing in her life. She  grew on me quickly and I enjoyed seeing her reaction to me when I arrived home every day. At first she barked and cried all day while I went to work then later realized that I always came back.

My girl still has abandonment issues. When I go away even just a couple days she won't eat and ends up stressed out - probably worried that I'm not coming back. But I always come back and she's always happy to see me.  She's been the most awesome companion for me. She makes me laugh, she's rambunctious and very playful. She's reallly friendly and loving.

She greets everyone at the door with one of her balls ready to play. She's like a big 85-lb puppy. I can't believe that it's already been two years. Time flies when life's good. - Janice Robichaud

Jim the Rooster

Just wanted to send a picture of my rooster Jim, who was adopted from the SPCA. I think it is important for people to know that there are all kinds of animals who need their help! Jim was found roaming the streets, and when I first acquired him he was less than friendly. That was about four months ago, and now he has came along very well, and is enjoying himself on my 10-acre hobby farm. He has many friends such as the goats and his girlfriends, my free-range hens. - Amanda Steeves

Skippy

We adopted Skippy in 1991. He was one year old at the time. He has been the best pet we have ever had. He loves to go camping and go for drives in the car. He is now 17 years old and is still very active and a great family dog. We are so grateful to have adopted him so many years ago. - The Freeman Family