Another Happy Ending

Many people heard about Turtle, a wonderful German Shepherd Dog who was originally a stray admitted to the shelter, and later adopted out. She recently came back to us, again as a stray, and in dire need of medical attention. Thanks to the fantastic support of the community, funds were quickly raised for Turtle's leg amputation surgery. And she wasn't available for adoption very long - an SPCA volunteer snatched her up pretty quick, to join another dog they rescued from the shelter named Poppy. Now Turtle (aka Nyla) and Poppy (renamed Maggie) are living the high life. Here is a letter from their human mom!

My husband and I adopted Poppy (now Maggie) after fostering her for a few days, she fit into our life and home so easily we figured it was meant to be. She is so smart and willing to learn that I have a tough time keeping up with her. I don't know how we ever got along without her, it seems like she has been with us forever not just 5 months. Even one of our 3 cats misses her whenever she is out for a play date or walk (the other two aren't quite as happy with us or the dogs right now but they manage). Everyone who meets her falls head over heels for her, and she loves everyone she gets to meet. We figured that she completed our family…..

…until I saw the picture of Turtle (now named Nyla), I knew as soon as I saw her that she would also become part of our family. After fostering her for a weekend it was a done deal and we couldn't be happier. Maggie and Nyla are quite good friends and will run after each other for hours if possible. Nyla knows quite a few commands and is also really easy to teach. They both love to cuddle, which makes for an eventful movie night on the couch or when they try to sneak onto the bed. Nyla has this high pitched squeal that she lets out when one of us gets home, then the two of them try to see who gets the most hugs at the front door. I really cannot get enough of the two of them, just ask my friends and coworkers who probably wish I would just once talk about something else, but I can't :) They are so wonderful and sweet that I am shocked and grateful every day that I was the person fortunate enough to adopt them, I couldn't ask for 2 better friends.

Just this weekend while fishing in our boat they both started growling at the shore, a few minutes later a bear came into view and they continued till he ran off (I am sure he really couldn't be bothered with us), it was neat how they made the exact same movements and noises. Thankfully we didn't see him again.

Thank you so much to everyone that made a donation or sent good wishes for Nyla's surgery. You'll all be happy to know that she doesn't miss a beat without that leg, sometimes I think she is a little faster them Maggie, if Maggie goes a different direction Nyla just drops her bum and spins around on it and is off running, usually ahead of Maggie. She is all healed up now and the vet said they have no concerns at all.

I will keep everyone at the S.P.C.A. posted about our girls.

June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month!

Here at the SPCA, it’s all shelter cats, all the time. But the month of June is extra special—it’s Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month! We encourage people to enrich their lives by adopting a cat. There are many colors, ages and personalities to choose from. With each kitty adoption, you will receive a free Barbie cat toy. Please remember that if you choose to adopt a pet that is not altered, this surgery is one of the requirements of our shelter.

Cat adoption fees are as follows:
Adult cat adoption: $110
Kitten adoption: $130

All animals adopted from the shelter have up-to-date vaccines (will require booster vaccines in the future), and come with a free veterinary exam to be used at one of our local veterinary clinics.

Pictured above is Spring, who recently spent a night out of the shelter at a staff member's house. As you can tell, she is very laid back, sweet, and great with young children.

Spay and Neuter to Control the Pet Population

Spring is here, and with the warmer weather the SPCA also sees an increase in puppies, kittens, and pregnant moms coming into the shelter. Eventually our adoptions can't keep up with the influx, and those cute babies (especially the kittens) end up growing up in the shelter, straining our population to capacity. You can do your part by having your pets spayed or neutered.

Maybe you have thought about it, but asked yourself, "What difference does one cat make?" Here is something to ponder... A female cat, her mate and all of their offspring, producing 2 litters per year, with 2.8 surviving kittens per litter can add up to 2,072,514 cats in just 8 years! Then consider that each cat can have a lifespan of 15 years...

The City of Lloydminster has approximately 25,000 residents. The Lloydminster and District SPCA provides services to the communities surrounding the city as well. If we make an educated guess that the population in our area is approximately 100,000 people, that would mean that EACH RESIDENT (adults and children) would have to own over 20 cats in order to care for the resulting offspring of these two cats!

Princess finds her Happily Ever After...

We are happy to report that our wonderful Cinderella found her forever home. We have received several updates from her new family, and she is fitting in perfectly. She has been re-named Lexie, and has some great children and a cat to love and play with. Good luck Lexie, we wish you many happy years with your family.

Cindy's Singles Ad

A lady can only stay single so long! Just ask Cinderella, who has been at the shelter since August 2009. She's taking matters into her own paws by advertising for Prince Charming in a local newspaper. You can help her find her Fairy Tale Ending by letting others know what a fantastic dog Cindy is!

Cinderella recently spent a night at an SPCA staff member's house. We now have first hand knowledge that Cindy is house trained, loves kids, and can give stuffy toys a run for their money! She is so enthusiastic, she will need a little help with her indoor manners. But the love she gives will more than make up for a little lack of politeness! She is one smart cookie, and would learn basic house manners in no time.

Are you my prince?

Hello everyone! My name is Cinderella. As the name suggests, I have had a hard life! Along with my 5 puppies, I was nearly starved to death by my owner, who decided she didn't want to care for me anymore. Luckily, a concerned person brought me and my babies to the SPCA instead! Now all my pups have new homes, and I am still patiently waiting for my Happily Ever After! When I arrived at the shelter, I was a skinny gal, who was giving everything to my puppies. I don't mean to brag, but now I am a sleek beauty! I am vaccinated, spayed, and microchipped. Having had a poor start to life, I really don't have many manners (although I am trying every day). I make up for this with pure enthusiasm! I am a huge cuddler and kisser, and ABSOLUTELY LOVE children. I am also very willing to please, and could learn basic obedience commands quite easily. I have been in the shelter since August, and am ready to live my fairy tale life with a new family!

Some basic info on Cinderella:
Breed: Pit Bull Mix
Age: Adult (2-3 years)
Gender: Spayed female
Color: Light brown
Weight: 50 lbs
Housetrained? Yes
Good with Kids? Yes
Good with Dogs? Unknown
Good with Cats? No
Microchipped? Yes
Adoption Restrictions: Experienced Owner Adoption

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!