Hello blog readers and animal lovers,

We know you want to help and support a great organization like Zoes! We’re 100% volunteer-run, and any money we make goes directly to helping animals in need get treatment and find their new family.

Zoe’s animal rescue will be hosting it’s 3rd Annual Organic Composted Soil Sale on May 9, 2015 at the North Glenora Community Centre. Proceeds of the sale go towards helping Zoe’s Animal Rescue with hospital fees, rehabilitation, spaying/neutering, food, and more.

We need YOUR help! 

We’re looking for 15-20 volunteers who can be there at 7:00 a.m. the day of the sale to help shovel & guide traffic & other assorted duties. Any help you can offer – even just a two hour time commitment – would be very appreciated!

Please email Mae Croft to volunteer or get more information at [email protected].

Zoe helps animals like Han Solo find their forever homes! If you’d like to adopt this sweet boy, please view his page here.

  1. To find the best match for your other pets and family members

2. To help the neglected or abused animals with no voice

3. To teach responsibility

4. To socialize your pets

5. Foster animals have a better chance of good placement than animals adopted out of a shelter/kennel

6. Helping animals without the long term commitment of ownership

7. No vet bills, cost of food etc. Zoe’s pays for everything

8. Be a place for animals to go, who are currently living tied up outdoors, or abandoned and left to die

9. Animals are very therapeutic – that’s scientifically proven

10. The feeling you get when your foster gets adopted and you know that you helped them on the road to their second chance at a happy life

11.And we could go on!

I decided to ask our team of volunteers and fosters why they chose to foster with Zoe’s.

95% of our volunteer group said that it’s the people. We have AMAZING members, who do so much for the community and are so supportive. Kath and Sasha, the co-directors are phenomenal – all the Zoe’s volunteers and fosters would agree. We have a great homechecker as well, so you always know that an animal is really going to the right home. Andrea is incredible – and one of the nicest people you will ever meet. There are tons of other people, as well, who make up an amazing team we call the Zoe’s Family.

Another great thing about Zoe’s is our adoption process. Not only do we choose the best application for that animal, but it is followed by a meet and greet, reference checks, home check.. all to make sure it really is that animals furever home. We are very proud of our return rate of 3% or lower.

Zoe’s is an incredibly supportive group of people of all ages – families, couples, room-mates… the list goes on. And we would LOVE to add you to our team. At Zoe’s, our mission is to be the voice for those animals who don’t have one. They need our help – and we need yours. We are so proud of how big this rescue has become – and how many animals we have placed into their furever homes, and given a second chance at life.

If you’re interested in becoming a part of this team, whether it’s fostering, organizing events, running a fundraiser, or even just transporting animals or picking up donations – please fill out a foster or volunteer application on our website. It could save an animal’s life – or many!

– Maggie Hamilton

Because Zoe’s doesn’t have a main location to house animals, we rely on our lovely volunteer foster families to take in the animals we rescue.

While you may think the hardest part of fostering is providing 24/7 care to sick or injured animals, or maybe the countless hours we spend cleaning litter boxes and picking up messes, I think the hardest part are the bittersweet airport goodbyes.

A few months ago, one of our fosters, Kristy Rhyason said “goodbye to George Catstanza and boy, was this was a tough one.”

George is seen above. He was adopted in late December 2014.

“All my foster animals touch my heart but some sink their paws in deep. People always ask how I can handle giving up foster pets and it definitely is tough. Saying goodbye is a weird emotion of joy, excitement, and sadness. You have to be ok knowing that you’re going to love them and that it’s going to hurt when they leave. You know you saved an animal and you know you added to a family; its about animals AND humans. It’s so hard but so worth it.”

When it comes down to it,  we continue to foster because we continue to love.

 Almost 8 years ago now, I endured horrible tragedy in my family. My eldest son was murdered & I was obviously devastated. We took my sons dog in along with the 3 I already had. As the days, weeks, months went by I quickly realized that my happiest moments were when I was with animals… That’s really been the case for most of my life. Unconditional love, was what saved me from disaster. That feeling that I could make a difference in someone else’s life, four paws or two legs (was also the director of a support group in the city, victims of homicide) wandering through grief, it seemed to lift the more I cared for others. So after deciding to leave the support group (to take care of myself) I decided to go back to school & get my DBTM certificate (dog behavior & training methodology) and offer my help to an animal rescue. I contacted my friend Kath Oltsher (co director of Zoes) & asked where I could help. I have the gift of the gab & love meeting people, especially those who share my passion for animals. Immediately I knew I wanted to do home checks for possible foster & adoptive homes for cats & dogs. Essentially I am Santa.. matching fur babies with loving homes. I’m filled with pride every time we place an animal. I meet people at their happiest moments, bringing a new member of the family home or possibly helping a family with a sad situation feels happiness again with a new fur ball. Either way, it’s the most therapeutic, happy, gratifying, inspiring thing I get to do. I LOVE my job… not many people can say that!

– Andrea Young

  Hi there! My name’s Georgia, I’m a gorgeous Chesapeake Bay Retriever Cross, roughly 2 years old. I came into Zoe’s because I had really bad mange and desperately needed help. My daughter Buddha is also in Zoe’s care, and has bad mange. Once I’m fully recovered from my mange and gain about 8 pounds, I’ll be fully healthy and ready to go to my furever home. I’m a very sweet girl, and I love to spend time with my foster family. I LOVe playing with other dogs. There hasn’t been another animal of any kind that I haven’t gotten along with yet. I have lots of energy, and I’m doing well learning my house manners. I really like going for walks, and I’ll need a few to burn off all my energy. I would really like to find a family that will give my face scratches, snuggles, and play time outside. If you think you could be my furever home, please fill out an application on the Zoe’s website! I can’t wait to meet my new family, I know you’re out there!

   Hi there! My name’s Sawyer, aren’t I such a handsome boy? I’m currently at Rabbit Hill Pet Valu – come by and meet me! I came to Zoe’s because I became too rambunctious with the smaller kids in the house. I’ll be the first one to admit that I need to learn some manners. I’m still learning not to play using my claws or teeth, you see, I’m still just a kitten! I don’t mean to hurt someone I just may have never been taught differently. I would do best in a patient home with a structured lifestyle, and someone who will love to play with me (while using my manners of course!). I’m fine with other cats, and even dogs, but only older kids for me please! All I’m asking for is a second chance to find my furever home where I’ll be loved endlessly and get the opportunity to be the playful, sweet kitten that everyone at Zoe’s knows I truly am! If you think I could be a good fit for your family, please come visit me at the Rabbit Hill Pet Valu and fill out an adoption application! You could just be the forever home I’ve been waiting for! Xoxo, Sawyer.