Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Foster Monster & Skinny Bitches


It's been quite a while since I've posted! I apologize!

I've actually been quite busy. I took another foster dog from the SPCA but he's much more work than my dear Mia (now named Daphnee) was! The poor boy wasn't educated properly so he still marks his territory (urinate) and is VERY dominant. I can't let him on couches or on my bed as to assert myself as alpha dog. He also tries to hump anything that moves, including my knee once while I was crouching. It's quite disturbing...especially for the cats!

But he's a good dog. He just needs a firm hand and some neutering. He's a butterfly/shitzu/cocker spaniel mix. He's so cute you almost forget the monster in him.


On another note, I finished reading Skinny Bitch, a vegan prone tough-love guidebook. It was entertaining and hilarious as they don't go easy on the language. It was the first time I've ever been called a pussy for drinking coffee! It has, however, inspired me to do better with my diet and eat more fruits and vegetables and way less meat. I've been eating meat about once a week since, discovering lots of meat substitues, like soya based fake chicken, at a local health food store. A good friend of mine is also doing the same so we support each other and sometimes go grocery shopping together. I recommend the book to anyone who's ever been intrigued by vegetarism (although, it is a very strict vegan guidebook) and wants to learn some horrible truth about the food industry.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Dogs

I'm obsessed with the idea of having a dog. It's so frustrating...Ever since I became a foster home for Mia (who was re-named Daphne when she got adopted) I wanted to just adopt her. And I feel like I can't as I am gone a lot. I'm gone minimum 9 hours a day (with 8 hours of work and an hour of commute). That's no life for a dog...But I really really want one! My poor little Charlotte is all alone all day and I want a friend for her, but she doesn't like other cats very much. Maybe if I got a kitten that would trigger her motherly instinct but there's no guarantee...My volunteering at the SPCA is giving me pet cravings!

My cutie pie; Charlotte.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Thanksgiving and Celebrations

I've been pretty busy lately! I've fostered a dog from the SPCA who had kennel cough (dog flu) and that took a lot of my time. She was really worth it though as she was the cutest thing ever. She got adopted by good friends and will therefore keep being a part of my life, which I'm grateful for.

Here's her cutsy face:
Really the nicest, funniest and cuddliest dog I've known. She loves to sleep all night in your bed and cuddle on your legs while you watch TV. She's really like a cat/dog, some kind of weird inter-species personality! ;) She and Charlotte got along fine which means that I can volunteer myself to babysit her when her owners are away on vacation! :)

I've also been busy planning my mother's 50th birthday. It includes a dinner and a week-end getaway at a cottage with her friends. It's quite a lot of planning! From getting confirmation from people, to reserving at the restaurant, to grocery shopping for the chalet and also collecting money for a collective gift! Pfiou! Sometimes I wish I had brothers and sisters to help me pick up the slack. But oh well, I really can't complain at this point! ;)

It's thanksgiving soon and I'm planning on baking Martha Stewart pumpkin cupcakes recipe for Sunday night dinner in my boyfriend's family. i'm debating right now whether or not to make homemade marzipan to shape little pumpkins to decorate on top. But considering I'm trying a new recipe and I'm already a beginner baker, this might be over doing it a little...

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

SPCA Montreal


I've been volunteering at the SPCA recently and I'm loving it! :) I had two theory training before I actually got a shift working as an adoption counselor. I am now paired up with a senior volunteer who is my 'coach'. She shows me everything and is really nice and we seem to work together well. That pairing makes it less scary to stand there and try and help people find their perfect pet. The volunteer's shift are 3 hours and I work Saturdays from 11 to 2. I find that shift kinda weird as I get uber hungry!

I was surprised at the amount of filtering that takes place before an adoption. There's a form to fill out before we even give out any info on a animal. Clients are allowed to peruse the cages and look at the kitties and doggies but we can't talk about them until they fill out this form. It's basically information about where they live, what kind of pets they had in the past and how they intent to treat their pets (with questions like 'where will the animal sleep?' and 'do you intent to declaw?') There are multiple red flag questions which, if answered wrong, will terminate any adoption process. They are very thorough to ensure the animal will find a good home and more importantly, a forever home. We do not want animals that are adopted to end up back at the SPCA.

It's important to point out that the SPCA is the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It's not a pet shop. Our goal is not to sell these dogs and cats. We aren't working for the client like a good salesman but for the animal. We do want people to adopt the animals as they deserve a good forever home, however, we must ensure that this is exactly what it is. I have the power to refuse an adoption if I find the client to be suspicious. It goes beyond saying that any person coming to the SPCA to buy a dog for breeding or to become a guard dog/attack dog will be turned down.

I'm very happy knowing I'm doing something good and I came back home with a smile on my face. Of course, seeing the face of all those adorable animals without a home broke my heart but I know we'll find them some. One forever home at a time :)

http://www.spcamontreal.com/intro.php?lg=fr
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/QC06.html