When Craig Taggart, manager at the SPCA, heard that Anke Gorin adopted Rocky in November, he sent her daughter, a friend, a note saying, “Your mom is awesome.”
Everyone at the shelter cheered. Why not? Rocky had been the longest-standing resident, having been in care for more than two years.
He desperately needed a forever home.
Wilder than that, Rocky had been Gorin’s second choice.
The first was Eli, who had been there longer than Rocky, but was adopted when Gorin was away earlier that month.
Housing the hard to place is not new for her as she makes it a policy to provide stable homes for dogs who often spend months or even years waiting for new parents. She provides a family of last resort.
People are quick to adopt puppies when older dogs are equally anxious for a place to call home.
If this is such a great concern now, it’s because the NWT SPCA has put a six-week moratorium on accepting intakes since its kennels are at capacity. There are currently 17 in care at the shelter along with two litters of puppies. Rescues in the south are not accepting transfers and people here are quicker to adopt the very young rather than older or ‘special’ dogs.
The intake moratorium means that people wanting to surrender can’t and dogs being neglected or abused in other ways cannot be accepted at a time when temperatures are beginning to dip. It makes difficult lives even harder, something the shelter knows but can do nothing about.
It has its hands tied. With limited staff and volunteers and no room, it has to say no at a time over Christmas when foster homes and adoptees are desperately needed.
For sure, adopting Rocky is not without its challenges. He cannot be with other animals and must be firmly kept away from other dogs. He has a streak in him that requires monitoring. But Gorin knew this and also that it can take several months for these new family members to settle down after leaving the noise and confusion of the shelter. But Gorin is up for the challenge.
Adopting this guy came after she lost two 11-year-old huskies who came as a package deal the last time she adopted. They were only with her for a couple years before their passing but she was willing to foot the vet bills and provide a comfortable space for them in their declining years. Animals share many of the same wishes and needs that humans have.
Before those guys, there was the pooch with a disfiguring growth over one eye. Then there was momma Ditch, who no one wanted because she was so timid, and numerous felines with various stories like the kitty that was found at -30 C in a garbage dump, or skinny long-term resident Joey, making them unattractive to potential adopters as well.
The thing with dogs Gorin says is that too often people adopt puppies but once they become dogs with all the responsibility that entails, those same puppies end up back at the shelter looking for new homes. It’s a vicious cycle for domestic pets who are doing their best to survive.
With Christmas just around the corner and people wanting to adopt puppies, Taggart suggests that people consider not just adopting puppies, but also look at older four-legged companions. Don’t be quick to judge what you see in the kennels. The benefit of adopting a young adult is that potential adoptees know its size and temperament — a lot of the surprises are gone.
This Christmas, the shelter suggests fostering to give these guys a reprieve and some Christmas joy. They may be the four-legged variety, but like us, they just want to be happy too.
—By Nancy Vail