Author Archive

Happy Tales: Peri

Joan Phillips, PeriJoan Phillips moved to Bancroft five years ago and joined Home Again animal welfare charityMiss Kitty as a volunteer shortly after.

She fosters kittens, two of whom she adopted — Miss Kitty is shown here, while Ocean hides from the camera.

She also adopted Peri, a Papillion who “is the best pet I ever had,” says Joan.

Joan attends all Home Again fund raising events with Peri trotting beside her, unleashed and very obedient. They have been at Home Again golf tournaments, fashion shows, bazaars, and in Christmas parades.

Peri is a great ambassador for Home Again and welcomes the many kittens passing through his home on their way to a forever home.

Joan says,

“animals have been with me through good times and bad. They reward me every day with their trust and love. Volunteering with Home Again is more rewarding than you can imagine.”

Happy Tales: Howard

Howard

Howard

Cindy Fuerth of Coe Hill fostered Howard and subsequently adopted him. He helps on the farm. Cindy says,

“We love him — he goes everywhere we do, has been on many vacations, he also helps keep goats in while we are feeding. Howard never leaves property or messes in the house. Thank you Home Again!”

Happy Tales: Dog Companionship

The Beauregard family hikes, swims, surfs and snow skis together and include their black lab Eddie.

When they wanted a companion for Eddie, they chose Home Again puppy Domino, a blue tick/lab cross and adopted him at 9 weeks old. He is re-named Louie and his owner says:

“Just wanted to update you on Louie. He is an amazing little man, he makes us laugh and loves wrestling with his big brother Eddie!! We take him to the beach; he is getting more interested in the water. We hope he loves to swim one day. We have had a great summer so far, super HOT!!!”  – Colleen Beauregard, Port Elgin, August 2016

 

Louie

Louie is keeping busy and happy. The volunteers at Home Again thank the Beauregards for giving a good home to our puppy.

Louie

Louie at 4 months old. Keeping cool with his new companion Eddie.

Happy Tales: Bella

Bella

French bulldog Willow was surrendered to Home Again by a breeder, along with Willow’s infant puppy Carter.  Willow was in foster care for only two weeks when Julia adopted her and she says:

“Hello everyone!  One year ago today (March 15, 2015) we adopted the most beautiful, funny, loving and entertaining dog you could ever ask for, Bella (formerly known as Willow). To say we got lucky is a huge understatement because she is literally the best dog we could ever ask for and brings us so much joy. Thank you for choosing us as her parents. We love her so much. I can assure you she is living a happy and very spoiled life.”  — Julia Ferreira

Happy Tales: Kona

Kona

Two Australian Shepherds were surrendered by owner to Home Again at two months old in November 2015. Both were adopted after only two weeks fostering by Home Again. Bella’s new owner says this:

“Kona (formerly Bella) is such a special girl. Here she is at five months old, romping in the snow. Looks like she’ll be a medium sized dog. She is house trained, knows sit, lie down, paw, high five, twirl, and stay. She won’t take a toy or food from my hand until I say ‘okay’. She loves to run and explore in the woods and is the absolute perfect fit for my family. We love her to bits. Also, I teach music lessons from home and she greets every student, and then lies down in her bed like a perfect lady.”

Happy Tales: Sprocket

Sprocket

Sprocket was adopted December 2015 and her new owner says: “Sprocket has adapted quickly to her new home in Ottawa. Bruno is delighted with his new “sister” – running together, wrestling and playing tug. Sprocket has also made friends with all of Bruno’s pals at the off-leash dog park. Thank you Home Again for this wonderful addition to my family – we love our happy girl!  …Dawn – Ottawa”

Bearded Collie Sprocket and her new ‘brother’. Home Again loves to see its pets paired up.

 

Happy Tales: Barley

Barley

French bull dog Barley (formerly Carter) was adopted from Home Again April 6 2015 when he was a puppy.

Foster Barb Sawdon says,

“I was so blessed to foster this sweet baby boy. He just turned one year old and had a party in the park. This picture includes his best friend. LOL… He prefers bigger dogs over small ones.”

Fund Raising

Home Again spends hundreds of dollars on a pet, but charges an adoption fee averaging $350 for a dog. Where do we make up the difference? A dozen fundraising events every year, including this one “Christmas in the Highlands” in Maynooth November 2015, where we sold calendars, raffle tickets and hand-made crafts. It is a social event too where bonds are built and renewed between the community and its animals.

Fundraising..

Happy Tales: Heidi

We’ve had Friday, now named Heidi, for almost two years now and she is the most amazing little girl.

She is my shadow and if I’m out of her sight for more than five seconds she comes and finds me.

She is so loving, cuddly and always by my side.  She does hog the bed sometimes because she needs to be close to me. I could not imagine my life without her.

She is such a joy every day and we love her so much.

Thanks again for bringing her into our hearts. A new picture of us relaxing on the couch. (signed, Nanci Johnson, Sept. 20, 2015)

Happy Tales: Waldo

Fostering is so gratifying, especially when there is positive feedback….

Dog foster Mary Freeman says, “I was privileged to foster this trio, the most beautiful litter I have ever seen.”  Waldo is far right, 7 weeks old.

Waldo

Two years later, Waldo’s owners say:

 

“In September of 2013, we were on a search for the perfect companion dog, knowing our apartment would be a temporary home for all three of us. We spent two months searching, until Michael stumbled upon thWaldoe Home Again website and we found a litter of puppies available. We drove two hours to find two of the CUTEST puppies we had ever seen, and there was Waldo.

We had a sleepless night the first night, because the little guy missed his sister, but from then on was smooth sailing.

We’ve had two amazing years with our little guy, and take him everywhere! He even has his own Instagram page! (@whereswaldothedog).

For being such a little dog, he has had quite the adventure of a life so far, from cottages to moving into his first home with a back yard!  Waldo is more than we could ever have aWaldosked for in a dog, and Home Again and their foster homes are wonderful. We have included some pictures of some of his adventures!

Thank you again for helping us give this little guy a home!” (signed, Melissa Champagne)

[Pictured here: Waldo at two years old, enjoying the cottage life]

 

Happy Tale: Amber

Spring 2015 Home Again received a call from two ladies in Bancroft who were trying to keep a stray cat near Mr. Video alive by feeding her tunafish.

Since Cat was so skittish – feral! – they could not touch her and did not know the sex.  Long-haired, orange, matted, Cat was covered with sores.  Home Again’s secretary put out this question by email and on Facebook, “who is up for the challenge of fostering a feral cat?  I expected no takers — no one wants a cat who runs away from you!”  Home Again can take a stray cat into its quarantine room, but only if a foster is willing to take the cat after 10 days quarantine.

Melinda Ratcliffe, cat foster, volunteered.   Many people on Facebook say stray cats make the best pets. Is that because they are grateful for being rescued?

Amber had to be shaved because of matts. She turned into a gentle loving purring pet, not feral at all. She is definitely grateful to be rescued!

Amber, after rescue. Her long hair will grow back.

Home Again participates in a Trap-Neuter-Return program for cats

In March 2015 Home Again financed a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program for feral cats.

One un-spayed female cat and one un-neutered male cat and their offspring can result in 420,000 kittens in 7 years.  A population explosion is not good for the Bancroft area where there are already too many unwanted cats.

So Home Again spent a lot of money and many caring people devoted their time to live trapping the cats who were then vaccinated and spayed/neutered.

They recuperated at a Home Again volunteer’s home, and released where they were found.  The program reduces the colony’s size humanely while allowing the cats to live the life they want, the life they were born into.

Home Again Organization Expands

Since there is no Home Again shelter, all pets must be taken into a foster home.  Often that home already contains other pets and children who are put at risk by taking in a stray cat whose health problems are unknown.

Quarantine Room1To solve this problem, Home Again has built a quarantine room.  All stray cats will first go to the quarantine room for 7-10 days observation, treatment if necessary, then into their foster home.

This is not a cat shelter – space will be made for cats who have foster homes ready to take them after their quarantine period.  Quarantine Room

All the labour to build this shelter was donated – carpenters and electricians.

Home Again volunteers researched the best (cheapest) place to buy materials and fittings, many of which were donated.

 


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