December Fun!

The Lloydminster & District SPCA has a few huge events coming up!

1. December 2-5: The Annual Dinner Theatre. It is our biggest fundraiser of the year! We added an extra night this year, so there are still tickets left to some performances. Get 'em while you can be contacting Mel's Hair Shop!

2. December 15: Paws and Claus. Has your pet been good this year? Stop by the Wild Rose Pavilion between 3-9 to check if she is on the naughty or nice list! Santa Claus will be on hand for photo opportunities, with a varitey of packages available. Each pet will receive a goody bag.

3. December 18: Home for the Holidays. Celebrate Christmas with the Lloydminster & District SPCA. Stop by for a day of treats (for the humans), shelter tours, adoptions, and other fun! Back by popular demand is the Jail and Bail, where two local celebrities are locked in dog kennels until they raise donations or adopt animals for their freedom!

Help us close the 2009 year with a bang by attending one or all of these events!

Adopt A Senior Pet Month

Look into the eyes of an older dog or cat (like Perdita, pictured at right) who has found itself in a shelter and you see a loving pet who just wants to go home. That is why the Lloydminster & District SPCA is celebrating Adopt-A-Senior Pet Month this November.

When you adopt a senior pet in the month of November, your new family member will be vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and microchipped. To promote the adoption of our devoted older companions, we will be reducing our senior adoption fees to $30/cat and $70 /dog. And don’t forget, our Seniors for Seniors adoption program runs year-round, which allows senior people to adopt senior pets for free.

During Adopt-A-Senior Pet Month, take the opportunity to get acquainted with the older pets available at the Lloydminster & District SPCA. Visit the shelter online at www.lloydminsterspca.org.

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month is coming to a close!

Want to be a Superhero? You can save the day for a homeless dog - and find a faithful companion who will be at your side for all of life's adventures - by adopting a dog during Adopt a Shelter Dog Month in October. It's the perfect time to visit the shelter, meet potential sidekicks and discover how much fun and happiness a dog can add to your life. During Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, we will also be including a free leash and collar combo with each dog adoption. Diego, pictured to the right, is just one of the fabulous dogs available.

Don't forget, we are also running our Second Annual Adopt Me, Adopt My Shadow for Free Cat Adoption Drive until the end of October. If a canine companion doesn't suit your lifestyle, try being a hero for a shelter cat (or two).

Adopt Me, Adopt My Shadow for Free!

Hey there, welcome to the SPCA blog. I'm Fancy, one of the many (fabulous) cats waiting for a home. Let me tell you, after a busy summer season of admitting stray kittens and pregnant moms, it's getting a little full in here. We've all been making the best of it, but between you and me, myself and the rest of the kitty crew would like a permanent home, with a place to stretch our legs, play, and get lots of loving.

Happily, the-powers-that-be here at the shelter have decided to run the Second Annual Adopt Me, Adopt My Shadow for Free Adoption Drive a month early this year! Here's how it works. You come to the shelter, pick out the cat of your dreams (remember, my name is Fancy), and you can also adopt another cat for free! Yay, everybody wins. Your second cat is a "shadow" kitty, ones that find it harder to get adopted because of coloring, like black, grey, and black and white kitties( like Cooper, the handsome black boy to your right). The program also applies to bonded pairs, so if two cats are in the same kennel, ask the staff if they qualify.

Now, I know this sounds like a good deal, and a great amount of fun (I mean, if one cat is good, two is obviously double the pleasure), but there are a few thing to consider. Even though the adoption fee is waived, there will still be medical bills to pay for both cats. If we are not already spayed or neutered (I am, by the way), this operation must be done at the new owner's cost. Also, vaccines are needed for the kitties - we receive general vaccines at the shelter, but will still need rabies vaccines once adopted. So it is a good idea to price all that out with your vet before the adoption.

Trust me, there are a lot of great cats down here, waiting to move into your house. Its worth stopping by and having a look. Our Adoption Drive will be running from September 1-October 31, so visit us before Halloween!

Lots of love,
Fancy

Employment Opportunity

The Lloydminster & District SPCA would like to say goodbye and good luck to Tasha Klatt, an employee who has been involved with the shelter for many years, and will continue on as a valued volunteer.

We are currently looking to fill the position of Executive Director. Obviously, a love of animals and animal welfare is a must. To see the full job description and qualifications we are looking for, check out this link: Executive Director Position.

If working at the shelter is not your thing, maybe volunteering is! Stop by anytime during our hours of operation to socialize animals, or help with shelter cleaning and maintenance. Download a volunteer application form.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support!

Update!! Special Needs Adoption!

The responce to Maggie and her prediciment has been tremendous, and we would like to thank all the people who showed interest in her, and were willing to give her a second chance. We are happy to report that marvelous Maggie has found her forever home, with a family aquaninted with her before she came to the SPCA. We will miss Mags at the shelter, but are happy to see her find her family.

Just because Maggie is gone, doesn't mean there is no reason to visit us. We have so many cute dogs (and cats and rabbits), up for adoption. Stop by and check them out!

Special Needs Adoption

Hey, it's Maggie here again. If you read my last blog, you know I was adopted. Well, I'm sad to say that fell through. Two days before I was due to go to my new home, I started limping. Turns out I have an old cruciate injury, which started acting up.

It is being managed with pain medication and anti-inflammatories. However, I will probably require a surgery sometime in the future. Trust me, I'm worth it. I'm a Mastiff/Pit Bull terrier mix, who is very docile and sweet. I am actually a little nervous when I first meet strangers, but I warm up quickly to belly rubs. And I have so much going for me - I am vaccinated, spayed, and housebroken! You have to meet me in person to appreciate my fabulousness, stop by the shelter to meet me as soon as you can.

Love Maggie.

Maggie's Meeting Minutes

Hi, I'm Maggie. I'm a Bully breed dog, and I'm very happy to say I have a new wonderful home. Before I got adopted, I had a great time running a recent meeting here at the SPCA. I am very enthused by the topic of conversation. I guess they weren't talking about me, so I must have dozed off.

The shelter recently received some bad news. We did not get one of the grants we applied for, which would cover a lot of the costs towards the new building. So we are looking for fun, interesting, and exciting fundraiser ideas! If you have any thoughts on how the SPCA can raise funds for a new, great shelter for homeless pets, please get in touch with Kelly at (780) 214-SPCA.

Love Maggie.

June is Adopt-a-Cat Month

The Lloydminster & District SPCA has plenty of cats and kittens waiting for new homes. June is the perfect time to promote cat adoptions because the spring and summer months typically bring a surge of cats to our shelter.

When cats are not spayed or neutered, they reproduce easily and often. Spring and summer are the seasons when cats are most active, resulting in more kittens and pregnant moms showing up at the shelter. We encourage people to visit and meet all the great cats we have available for adoption. They are all looking for loving, permanent homes. There are many colors, ages, and personalities to choice from. All cats at the shelter have up-to-date vaccines, and many have already been spayed or neutered. Please remember that if you choose to adopt a pet that is not altered, this surgery is one of the requirements of our shelter.

Those interested in adopting a cat (or other pet) can visit the Lloydminster & District SPCA during operating hours. During Adopt-A-Cat Month, there are also some events featuring live adoptions. Check out the Vermilion Father’s Day Adoption on June 20 at Paw Prints Pet Shop in the Lakeland Mall. Or swing by the Royal Bank during their customer appreciation days on June 24-26. You may meet the next member of your family!

For more information contact Lisa Hagell, Animal Health Technologist at the Lloydminster & District SPCA, at (780) 875-2809, or email lisah@lloydminsterspca.org. For information about events the Lloydminster & District SPCA is holding, contact Kelly at (780) 214-7722, or email kelly@lloydminsterspca.org.

Changes are in the air

Spring has rolled into our area, and we think it is time for some spring cleaning and changes around the shelter.

Our most important information is a change in the hours we are open. Now you can come visit us on Saturdays! Stop by anytime between 12-5. Even if you are not interested in a pet, we are always looking for volunteers. Saturday is a great day to bring the kids to the shelter, and have them give back to the community through some volunteer work. We will be closed Sundays and Mondays.

Speaking of volunteer work...the shelter is having a Work Bee Spring Clean-up on May 7, from 4-9. If you enjoy gardening, lawn care, or painting, this is the function for you! Refreshment will be provided. Call our wonderful Community Relations Manager, Kelly, at (780) 214-7722 for more info, or to volunteer.

One more important spring reminder - PLEASE have your pet spayed or neutered. As soon as the weather improves, the number of pets admitted to the shelter increases dramatically. Our cat maternity ward is usually busting at the seams for months! You can help the shelter by having that simple alteration surgery done.

Thanks for stopping by for our quick update. See you again soon.
Love the Lloydminster & District SPCA shelter animals.

On the Move!

The dream of us SPCA animals moving to a new home just got closer! Our building shell has finally been moved to its permanent foundation! As you can tell, this was a very interesting and exciting time for us. Let me tell you, I kept a very close eye on the proceedings. Someone has to manage the humans, right?

So my name is Annie. I've been calling the shelter my home since July 2008. I am a little shy at first, but I quickly warm up. I am not a cuddler, but I do enjoy a good pat. As you can see, I am a bigger gal, but that just means there is more of me to love.

To see how you can become involved in the exciting new building project, click here. We are always looking for volunteers and people with building expertise to join our ranks! We are also still seeking companies and individuals who are interested in naming rates towards the new building.

More bad news

For the second time in two months, someone had the audacity to steal from the homeless pets in the Lloydminster area. That's right, the shelter was broken into for a second time in February, with the perpetrators smashing the front door again. Obviously the SPCA does not deal with big amounts of money, so the robber's "haul" was minimal. It actually costs 4 times as much to keep replacing the door. It is just the mentality of people who would steal from a non-profit that astounds us.

It is so sad that is the last year, so many non-profit organizations have been targeted. Many are trying their hardest just to keep the doors open with money raised from donations and fundraisers. Remember, when someone steals from a non-profit, they are not just taking money from that organization, they are stealing from YOU, the kind people who so generously give money and support our local charities.

If you have any information on the recent SPCA break in or other non-profit robbery, please contact the SPCA as soon as possible. We need to send the message that it is not ok to steal from homeless pets like Valentine, the cute cat pictured left. Valentine is just one of many cats being housed by the SPCA. She is a 2 year old spayed, microchipped, and vaccinated female.

Of course, the SPCA could not run without the generous support of our local community. Thank you so much for your on going loyalty, and helping us provide unwanted pets with a place to stay while awaiting their new homes.

Important Spring Reminder to Save Lives

Hey folks. I'm Wyatt, a handsome orange boy who's been at the SPCA since March 2008! That's right, my one year Anniversary at the shelter is sneaking up, so I'm on a mission to find a new home before then.

What else has been happening around the shelter? Well, we've been very successful with adoptions lately! During the cold months, we always see in increase in stray pets. Thankfully the people in and around Lloydminster care about those poor cold animals, and bring them to the SPCA for some warmth, love, and a full belly! Anyway, we are very lucky that adoptions have kept up with the steady stream of incoming animals, and some of our long time residents have even found new homes. Now it is my turn!

The next big thing the staff has to prepare for is spring, when we start seeing unwanted pregnant cats and litters of kittens. This always puts a strain on the shelter, as numbers of cats suddenly swell, and there are not enough homes for everyone. It also means that cute kittens find new homes fast, and some of us oldies but goodies end up hanging around for quite a while. We have even have kittens born in the shelter, who are still awaiting homes a year later.


Of course, the answer to this problem is so simple! Please everyone, spay and neuter your pets! I myself have undergone the operation, and I am definitely no less of a man. In fact, I am sweeter and more loving than ever, just what most ladies are looking for. A real cuddler, who always has time to listen to your problems. And this is true for all pets - we are just happier and healthier once we are spayed are neutered.So do it for your pet's health, as well as for the thousands of pets our shelter needs to re-home every year.

Thanks for all your ongoing support and generosity! Don't forget to come and meet me, I would love to have a new home by March.
Love Wyatt.