Our 2011 Open Your Heart campaign got underway on November 17th.  Our objective this year is to raise $50,000. We need this money to keep our doors open so we can continue to care for the Island’s companion animals who need a safe refuge before finding their new homes.

By the middle of December, we raised $26,000 and we’re truly grateful to all the generous people who have opened their hearts.

Please help us to reach our goal by making a donation, however small. Every cent counts.

Cleo’s tale

Here’s the story of Cleo, a dog who opened her heart when the need was greatest. This story also shows what an important role the Society plays in saving the lives of companion animals.

This summer, a sweet and gentle female Retriever mix came through our doors as a lost dog from Prince County. Shelter Attendants and volunteers cared for her while we waited for her owners to find her.

Shortly after, we took in 6 new-born puppies from Queens County whose mother had been killed when she was struck by a motor vehicle. With limited resources, our only option for saving the orphan puppies was to  nd a dog who could nurse and raise them, then find a willing and knowledgeable foster home to care for all of them.

The lost dog looked like she could step in as a foster mom for the orphans, so she and the puppies were introduced. Our Shelter Veterinarian Dr. Dunn-MacLean, and Shelter Manager Beckie MacLean, closely monitored them to see if the match would work.

Within days, the lost dog (now nicknamed Mama) was nursing and caring for the orphans. And to everyone’s surprise, two weeks later, Mama gave birth to puppies of her very own! It was now time to find a foster family. Thankfully, Kim and Kyle, pet foster parents who had experience with mother dogs and puppies, were able to help. Mama, her three puppies, and the six orphans went to live with Kim and Kyle while the puppies grew big and strong.

Two weeks later, we received a phone call from Mama’s owners! Her family had just found out that a Good Samaritan had brought her to the Shelter. We learned that Mama’s real name was Cleo and that she had wandered o her family’s property without their knowledge. As soon as all of the puppies were old enough to be placed in our adoption area,

Cleo was spayed, received a microchip pet ID, and was happily reunited with her family. All the puppies found new homes and now everyone is living happily ever after.

Please make a donation so that we can continue to help dogs like Cleo.