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Featured Volunteer – Jacqueline Zohar

April 14, 2016 by ·

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What kind of rescue would we be without a crazy cat lady???

Not a proper one, that’s for sure!

That’s why we have Jacqueline! She’s crazy in all the right ways, a proud lover of all things feline and an integral member of the Zoe’s family.

Can you tell us a little about your background before you became a volunteer?
 I was born and raised in Edmonton and have an undergraduate degree in psychology. I worked for about 20 years in health, administrative and accounting positions and have also been volunteering for a variety of animal charities throughout my life. I now only work casually so I have much more time to devote to doing what I truly love, which is volunteering at Zoe’s with my amazing husband.

How did you first get involved with Zoe’s?
 After my cat of 21 years passed away, I decided that I needed to foster, rather than jump into adopting another fur baby. Zoe’s was recommended to me by a friend and after checking out their website, I was hooked.

What roles have you carried out for the society?
 I have fostered over 30 cats/kittens, I process cat adoption applications, maintain our animal and volunteer database, help with our SaNeR (spay-neuter-return) program by trapping feral cats and transporting dogs and cats to/from our partner communities, help with medical bookings, co-ordinate our donation box program and help with fundraising events and website support.

How long have you volunteered for Zoe’s?
 Just over a year now.

What types of things have you been involved in as a volunteer?
 Such a variety of things that it’s really hard to describe! I’m interested in so many areas so it’s been great for me because I get to do a little bit of everything. Building straw dog shelters was an incredible experience for me and helping out at fundraising and adoption events is always so much fun!

What’s been your funniest experience as a volunteer?
 I spend a lot of my time with another volunteer, Jan, and we are ALWAYS laughing on our treks around the city. Whether it’s spending 6 hours trying to trap a “feral” cat, only to have a local resident walk right up to the cat and scoop it up with no issues at all, or driving around trying desperately to find a late night dog wash after an incident with explosive diarrhea, we are never bored! I will also never forget the look on one dogs face after I caught her with half of my just-purchased scone hanging out of her mouth!

What do you like most about volunteering?
 The difference I feel that we are all making. One animal at a time. The people are pretty awesome too!

What one piece of advice would you give to someone thinking about volunteering for Zoe’s?
 Do it! I have NEVER been happier in my life. The support and friendships I’ve made are simply amazing. The best part is that you can commit to volunteering as much or as little as you want. Volunteer to transport an animal or pick up a donation once a month, help make reference calls or home checks whenever you happen to be available. Foster a dog or cat, help out with fundraising and adoption events or help out with social media. There are so many areas where you can help make a difference and it is SO rewarding.

How much time do you spend volunteering?
A lot, lol, but only because I love it so much.

Do you volunteer for any other organizations?
 I used to volunteer for the Edmonton Humane Society and I currently volunteer, very casually, for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society.

What makes you happy?
Cats, my husband, friends, coffee and naps are what I normally say, but honestly the most incredible feeling in the world for me is helping to save cats and dogs and finding them forever homes. Cuddling with kittens and puppies is a pretty great thing too!

What makes you sad?
 When we lose an animal that we have tried so hard to save. But the fact that Zoe’s NEVER gives up without a fight, regardless of the medical costs, makes me so proud at the same time.

Thanks SO much for all that you do, Jacqueline! We are so lucky to have you!

Interested in joining our family? Get more information and apply here.

Filed Under: Featured Volunteer, Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks · Tagged With: ,

All Fun and Games at Variant Edition…

April 12, 2016 by ·

Some might say it’s a risk to have a fundraiser at a local comic store although it’s worth pointing out that 50/50 draws and garage sales don’t have the monopoly on raising much needed funds for looking after, guess who, yes – the numerous fosters Zoe’s has in its care!  So in our not-so-trivial pursuit for extra dollars, we headed to Edmonton’s numero-uno comic store, Variant Edition to, amongst other things, connect four or five foster cats together to join in the fun!  Anyway, I’m sorry, I’ll allay you’re frustration and stop this pandemic of wordplay now!

Variant Photo 1    Variant Photo 3

The sold-out table-top games event took place on Sunday 10th April at Variant Edition on 10441 123 St.  Guests of honour were Harrison, Faith Hill, Lala, Starbrite, and Digger, five of our cute and cuddly cats currently looking for their forever homes.  As you’d expect, trying to play a verity of board games while five curious cats run amok isn’t the easiest of tasks.  Indeed, some of the players had to play standing up as the pussies stole some much needed nap time, and the chairs from under the posteriors of the players.  It was very much a cats against humanity situation!

Variant Photo 2  Variant Photo 4

Events like these are absolutely key in raising funds that Zoe’s Animal Rescue Society can then spend on helping disadvantaged cats and dogs find the warm and loving forever homes they so richly deserve.  If you’re interested in supporting any of our future events, please follow this link to our events calendar for details of our forthcoming fundraisers Zoe’s Events.  It’s a no-cranium-er!  I’ll stop now…

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Foster of the Week: Darcy

April 10, 2016 by ·

“What are men to rocks and mountains_”

Good day, my name is Darcy, and if I may be so forward, I am a most eligible cat. I like following my foster humans around, and am always up for an ear massage or belly rub. Although I do drool on occasion, I am otherwise a perfect gentleman.

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…Well, I am a perfect gentleman with the humans. It’s been said that I’m not fond of other animals. There are two dogs in my home, though I don’t interact with them much: I stay in my bachelor room, and only poke my feet beneath the door to get them into trouble from time to time.

My foster humans think I am terribly handsome, and I condescend to have my portrait taken on a regular basis. I am even such a good sport as to wear collars.

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Sometimes my foster humans do get a little carried away. Would you say this is a true likeness?

However, I love the attention. Even when I’m not actively cuddling, I like to sit nearby and watch the people. I would make an excellent muse for an artist or writer. Or even a professional cat massager. That would be splendid. To apply, first visit my profile. I look forward to making your acquaintance.

“What are men to rocks and mountains_”(2)

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

It’s National Volunteer Week!

April 10, 2016 by ·

Did you hear? April 10th-16th is National Volunteer Week, a time where we celebrate volunteers and their dedication to community, causes, people, and pets!

For all of your continued efforts to find us housing, food, medical care, for every blog post written, pet profile updated, photograph taken…

To all of our volunteers at Zoe’s Animal Rescue, THANK YOU!

This past year, you’ve helped us save countless lives. You’ve helped us fundraise events, connect pets with their new forever homes, and helped us achieve goals like being listed as ATBs Top Charity of 2015.

Zoe’s is 100% volunteer run. We have a media team, a fundraising team, a homecheck team, a cat team, a dog team; our number of volunteers has doubled over the last year. Thank you for all of your hard work. We’ve accomplished so much and will continue to set our goals high. To our volunteers: we think you’re the cat’s meow!!

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

My 1st Foster Experience

April 6, 2016 by ·

Huey Pic for Blog

It was a big decision for us to decide to foster. I’d been volunteering with Zoe’s for over a year and from day one I had dreamed of being able to foster. After a lot of consideration and making sure it was the right time we decided to fill out the foster application form and officially become fosters! Little did we know that our 1st foster would be more than we had imagined.

Huey came to Zoe’s from a loving home, the owners situation had changed and he could no longer keep his beloved boy. He was successfully adopted out to a great couple, but unfortunately it became apparent that their resident dog was not accepting of Huey, it just wasn’t the right fit. As Zoe’s has a policy that a Zoe’s animal is always a Zoe’s animal, they took Huey back in and he became our 1st foster. I had heard a lot about Huey, I knew he was a Mastiff and that he was VERY big and a great dog. What pulled up in front of our place was a vehicle stuffed to the brim with one dog, Huey….all 190 pounds of his brindle sweetness.

One of my favorite movies growing up was Turner & Hooch. So naturally you think back to that movie and all of the crazy moments where Hooch basically destroys everything you love. Thoughts of oh my dog how big will his poops be, will he even fit on the dog bed that we have for him, will he eat our resident cat, how much do you feed this brindle slobbering pooping farting machine?

It took days for me to get over how big Huey was. He didn’t realize his size and didn’t understand why he couldn’t sit on your lap. Over the course of the next couple weeks we had a fun time getting to know Huey’s quirks and personality.

Things we learned:
1) Huey farted loud and often and at shockingly loud decibels with no shame
2) he snores like an old man
3) when he shook his head slobber did literally fly everywhere and coat surfaces such as the tv, wall, ceiling and anything in its path
4) he had the sweetest demeanor and just wanted to be around his people
5) never leave anything unattended on the kitchen counter, including a whole block of cheese
6) Huey does what he wants when he wants and sometimes pretends he’s hearing impaired
7) when shopping for a collar, measure first, trying to explain to the person at the pet store that “no sorry I don’t think a collar that’s the size of a humans waist will fit Huey” gets very surprised looks
8) our yard looked like a dinosaur grave yard because of the massive bones that Huey liked to chew on
9) Mastiffs are a unique breed and not like any other breed of dog I’ve come across

Huey came to us a bit on the fluffy side, but hey we all need to work on ourselves don’t we?! So we got to work right away on a diet plan and exercise routine. Huey took to it like a champ. He loved his new weight loss food, carrots as treats and going on lots of walks. Over the next couple weeks applications started coming in again for Huey, which made me happy but sad at the same time. We started to become very attached to him and discussed adopting Huey. But we realized that we weren’t the ideal fit long term for Huey.

So after reviewing applications the perfect family arose that had experience with Mastiffs, older children that we wouldn’t have to worry about him knocking over and a home with no other dogs as he wants undivided attention and a family willing to take his weight loss and his bit of separation anxiety seriously. You do second guess yourself, am I doing the right thing? Will they love him as much as we do?

When the family came over he seemed relaxed around them… relaxed enough to let out a long big loud fart. Eh em….my husband and I looked at each other mortified thinking oh shoot, not a great selling feature. But the adoptive family laughed and said “oh don’t worry we’re used to that”. Just like that I knew we had a match.

When the family came to pick them up I knew it would be hard. They were so excited and Huey was so happy to see them that he didn’t even look back. They pulled away, I was holding it together, I went into the kitchen and Huey had left a big slobber snot streak on our kitchen counter and I burst into tears. Happy tears!

Anytime I talk about fostering with people they always say “I could never foster I’d get too attached and it would break my heart to let them go”. I can honestly say that yes, it’s hard, but knowing that you helped that animal on his journey to find the perfect home is the most rewarding feeling. Your foster home is now open to bring in another animal, for some that can be lifesaving as we bring animals in from many types of situations. Fostering saves lives and in the words of Huey’s adoptive family “thanks so much for helping us to adopt Huey. He certainly has rescued us”.

By Crystal Stronski

Filed Under: Adopted Animals, Our Successes · Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

April Caption Contest!

April 4, 2016 by ·

Caption Contest

Caption this picture for a chance to win a rope toy with rubber, donated by Petsmart at Skyview Centre, located at 13916 137ave.

Submit your caption by commenting below, or via instagram, facebook, or twitter, with the hashtag #ZARSCaptionMe

We’ll be in touch with the winner at the end of the month! Each month, we’ll provide a new picture in need of a caption, so keep tuning in!

 

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Foster of the Week: Howard Stern

March 27, 2016 by ·

Howard

 

*Paging Dr. Howard! Paging Dr. Howard!*

We have a foster mom down with the sickness.

I repeat: Foster mom is down with the sickness!

The only cure is…………PUPPY SNUGGLES!!!!!

(The crowd erupts in laughter and awes!!)

Hahahahahaha!! I’m such a funny guy!!

I’m not REALLY a doctor. (That was a pretty convincing impersonation though, wasn’t it?!) But if I was, I’d definitely be DOGtor McDreamy.

He’s a bum man, right? I’m bum man.

I like attention. If I’m not getting yours when I want it, I’ll let you know. With a little nip on the bum.

Hee hee hee…..

My foster parents call me “How How” and say I’m more like Scooby Doo than my namesake. Maybe I’ll grow to be Howard Stern-ish, but right now, I’m a big ol’ goofball of love. I like to be near you. Really I prefer to be ON you, but I’ll settle for following you around the house and showering you with kisses whenever I can. I’m all about the cuddles too. My foster mom really is sick right now and I just want to be close to her. I may not be a ‘real’ doctor, but I know puppy snuggles are a cure-all.

When I’m not shadowing you or cuddling, I am playing!! My foster brother is a great playmate! I don’t have an ‘off’ button though, so my Puggle-bro has to let me know when he’s had enough. I’m good about giving him a break and finding a toy to play with. Or a sock. Oh, man… those socks! Entertaining for hours! I’m growing every day and have no idea how to control these giant paws and gangly legs of mine. I’m constantly bumping my head too. It didn’t stick out that far yesterday!! Silly head….

As goofy as I am, I have learned so much since coming to my foster home. My foster parents are so great, have been so patient and worked so hard. When I first came here, I was scared of doors and stairs and didn’t know any commands. I still have a lot to learn and work on, but I’m handling stairs and doors like a champ! I’ve learned a few commands, too. Although I’m pretty easily distracted……

WHOA! What was that?!?! DID YOU SEE THAT?!?!

That was pretty crazy, man. Right outta nowhere!

What was I saying??

Oh, yeah! You look like you need a friend! Go check out my profile and apply to adopt me!

 

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks · Tagged With: ,

Easter Pet Safety Tips

March 25, 2016 by ·

Easter is one of my favourite holidays. Between the chocolate, the bright spring colours, the chocolate, the cute little ducks and bunnies on everything, and the chocolate, I can’t imagine a more perfect time of the year!

Unfortunately, Easter is also a time in the year when vets and poison control helplines see a rise in calls due to pets ingesting harmful substances.

Here are a few quick pet tips to keep your furry loved ones safe this Easter:

  • Easter lillies are highly toxic to pets. Even small amounts can cause severe kidney failure. If you think your pet may have ingested Easter lillies, take them to an emergency vet right away. Early symptoms may include vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy and dehydration, with other symptoms such as disorientation, staggering and seizures later on.
  • A number of other flowers and plants can also be toxic and deadly to pets, so be sure to keep Fluffy and Fido away from floral arrangements and table displays. In case of emergency, the Alberta Poison Control Centre can be reached by contacting: (403) 944-1414.
  • Chocolate can be a hazard to pets as well. Be sure to keep your pet out of the easter basket and clean up any stray chocolate eggs the kids haven’t found.
  • Candies and gum can also be a hazard, especially to dogs. They often contain xylitol, a sugar substitute that can lead to a drop in blood sugar, causing seizures and comas.
  • Easter grass is often used in baskets and as decoration. My cats especially find this plastic string to be irresistible, however, it can clog intestines and cause vomiting and diarrhea, so be sure to clean up and remove any Easter grass you may have left out.
  • Plastic eggs and toys can also be accidentally ingested, especially by dogs, so keep them out of reach.
  • Lastly, the best course of action may be keeping your pets out of the kitchen over the holidays. Things like uncooked dough, fatty meats, salty foods, etc – are all very unhealthy for your pet. Instead of feeding them table scraps, consider keeping pet-friendly treats in the house.

Zoe’s Animal Rescue wishes you a safe and happy Easter, for you and your whole family!

samson

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks ·

Get Dirty for Zoe’s

March 24, 2016 by ·

Zoes-CompostPoster

It’s that time of year…..time for Zoe’s Annual Compost Sale!

From now until May 1, we are pre-selling bags of organic compost from Cleanit Greenit Composting System Inc.

Money raised from our fundraisers help us save animals like Maxie, who is recovering from Parvo (among other health concerns) and enable us to bring in mamas and their litters:

[fb-post href=https://www.facebook.com/Zoesanimalrescue/photos/a.131756630300435.28048.127062124103219/673992449410181/?type=3&theater]

Email [email protected] for more information or to place your order.

Thank you for your continued support!

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks · Tagged With: ,

Don’t Freak Out!

March 23, 2016 by ·

Tips for Overcoming Separation Anxiety

pet-anxietyWhen an owner leaves the home, or sometimes even just a room, dogs can become extremely stressed out. This can include symptoms such as barking, whining, excessive salivation, scratching at walls, destroying stuff or even attempting an escape from the room or crate. Have you ever wondered why this happens? This is what is known as separation anxiety, and we hope the below tips can help you and your furry buddy! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Protecting Your Dog Against Ticks · Tagged With: , , , , , ,