We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
| About Us The Colchester Chapter of the SPCA is a small group of volunteers, founded in 1986. We are not government funded. All money is acquired through fundraising activities, donations and adoption fees. Funds are used for veterinary bills, animal care expenses and the shelter expenses - heat, electricity, water, garbage removal, shelter staff wages, etc. Where we operate by donations, we do not have the funds to pay for an over capacity of animals in our shelter or have the staff to look after the animals once we reach our limit. We are built to house 40 cats & 6 dogs. We cannot sustain having an over population since our building size & air filtration system cannot help/stop the spread of viruses once we are full. Overcrowding causes unnecessary and costly illnesses and deaths, both of which are preventable. The number of unwanted animals has always exceeded the capacity of our shelter. We are a “no kill shelter”. Animals at our shelter are only euthanized for health or temperament reasons, such as biting. Some of our animals wait quite awhile for their “forever homes”. We ask that all pet owners remember that they are responsible for their pets, whether it is cats, dogs, or others, for the rest of that pet’s life. Pets are not disposable. For the health of your pet, make sure it is spayed or neutered! All potential pet owners must stop & think when looking at that cute little face, of the financial outlay that comes with that pet. You are committing to that pet for the rest of it’s life, you must think of the costs incurred - can I afford to look after this pet. The pet must have all initial needles such as 6 wks, 12 wks, booster, then have its annual needles. Once that pet is 6 months old it must be spayed or neutered. Then there is the daily food costs, flea & worm treatments. What if there is an emergency or health issues - can you afford to look after your pet properly? Remember cats & dogs are domestic animals, a member of the family, who need constant love and attention. They cannot look after themselves, so please do not abandon them. And very importantly - no animal belongs at the end of a chain. GENERAL INFORMATIONAnimals may be viewed for adoption at 408 Industrial Avenue, Truro, NS. The hours in which we are open to the public are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday. We are closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays. For animal adoption enquiries, animal cruelty complaints, reports of animals in distress, lost pets, or other enquiries, please call the SPCA phone line: 893-7968 If someone is not available to take your call, please leave a clear, specific message. IF IT IS AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL POLICE What the SPCA Chapters Do • Rescue abandoned or distressed animals. • Provide quick, humane disposal in cases where it is an act of mercy. • Investigate cases of cruelty or neglect, primarily involving household pets, under the direction of the Provincial Investigator. (Cases involving livestock and wildlife are referred to the Provincial Investigator.) • Find homes for unwanted, healthy animals. • Promote humane education. What the SPCA Does Not Do • Does not remove dead animals. • Does not take action in cases of annoyance by neighbours' animals except where cruelty or neglect is involved. Such cases are a matter for legal action, and the Society cannot intervene. • Does not put its volunteers at risk by allowing them to climb trees or hydro poles. • Does not supply animals for scientific or medical research. • Although some SPCA groups have an animal control contract with their municipal government, the Colchester SPCA does not - we therefore do not perform dog or cat control. Reporting Animal Abuse If you see any incidents of animal cruelty or neglect, please notify us at (902) 893-7968. Unfortunately, you may be directed to our answering machine, so if the animal is in immediate danger, notify your local police. Our local agent operates under the direction of the Nova Scotia SPCA Provincial Investigators. They investigate cases of cruelty or neglect reported by telephone or letter, but legally cannot act on third-party or anonymous information. Steps of an Investigation 1. Complaint received and situation assessed - neighbourhood dispute, misunderstanding, or actual cruelty or neglect. 2. Check with local veterinarian to see if animal is receiving treatment. 3. On-site investigation. If cruelty or neglect is suspected, the primary objective is to re-educate the owner in the proper care of the animal, informing him/her that a follow-up will be done. 4. Follow-up. If no visible change has occurred, the animal is confiscated and examined by a veterinarian. 5. Action is then taken, based on the veterinarian's diagnosis. If no problem exists, the animal is returned to the owner. 6. If a problem exists, the animal is confiscated and prosecution may follow. Pros and Cons of Prosecution The first priority is the welfare of the animal. If court action is taken, the animal is confiscated as evidence and may be held in a facility for up to a year, depending on when the court case can be heard. It is often of greater benefit to the animal to be placed in a caring household than to be subjected to further stress while legal action is pending. |