Forever Home Stories


My Forever Home...
 
 
 
 
"Maggie"
 
We adopted Melody (now Maggie) the golden retriever last month. She now lives with Irwin (the black dog in the picture) on our horse farm. She has a crate in our daughter’s room that is open anytime she wants to use it. She also has a dog bed in our bedroom (which is normally where she sleeps).

Maggie loves to do barn chores with me in the morning. She has a little dance she does for her supper and breakfast which is very cute. She loves other dogs and is VERY respectful of chickens, rabbits and cats :)

She is a bit of a worry wart, especially during storms (she hides in the bathtub), but she is getting more and more confident everyday she is with us. We have been very positive with her and it shows, she is less and less fearful of the world each day :)

Overall she is a JOY to have and we are very very lucky to have found her (and I think she's lucky to).

Thank you! You do a great service to animals and families who are looking to add a member to their family.

- Suzanne Edmond, Hannah and Craig
 
 
"Sheldon"
 
Sheldon has settled into our home quite well! He has been having a blast playing with all of his new and exciting toys! Once he wears himself out, Sheldon will cuddle up and take a nap beside us.  He is super affectionate and always has a full tummy.  After having him for the past few months, we can't imagine things without him! Best wished to all the other animals at the HBSPCA in search of a loving home!
 
 
 
"Jazz"
 
After the passing of our 13 week old puppy, we had decided that we would visit the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA.  We arrived with the intention to meet a few dogs in the hopes that this would somehow ease our pain.  A few of the dogs caught our attention as we toured the facility.  The last dog that we meet was an older, 4 year old Catahoula leopard dog named Burtha.  Instantly she became more than just a dog we wanted to meet.  We decided that our home needed another dog and Burtha, now named Jazz, would be a great addition to our home and family. 
Since bringing her home Jazz has settled nicely.  She enjoys her walks and loves the water.  She is such an obedient and loving dog and we couldn’t be happier with her, and she appears to feel the same way.  She has gone from a quiet, somewhat skittish dog, to an active and very loving one.  Jazz doesn’t replace our lost pup, but she certainly has brought much joy to our lives.  We want to thank Pam Jamieson, who spent a lot of time with us to ensure that we were making the right decision for us and also our dog.  She was a precipitating factor in our decision to adopt this lovely animal.  We are very happy with our decision and hope that others will find a suitable match for them.  It’s amazing how much a pet can change the course of your life.  
Thank you again and we hope to see you at the Wiggle Waggle walk-a-thon.
Joe & Greg
 
 
 
"July"
 
After adopting Griffin from the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA a year ago, the Ogborn’s were ready to add another member to their family. They all decided to make a trip up to the HBSPCA to meet with July who was still in search of her forever home. It was a perfect match, Griffin and July hit it off right away! The Ogborn’s knew July would be the perfect fit for their family and adopted her that day. All the staff and volunteers are thrilled these two big black dogs have found their forever home together!
 
 
 
 
"Stanley"
 
Hi everyone my name is Stanley, previously known as Glen, and I was adopted by a wonderful family in February 2011. It’s been four months now and I have finally come out of my shell and shown my family my personality. I’ve met lots of new friends of all different breeds. I especially love playing with the small humans.

Life has been great! On a regular day I get out for a walk at least four times a day, have a nap on the couch and play with my toys. Recently, I enrolled in a grade one obedience class to learn some new tricks and impress the family. Thanks SPCA for helping me find Glen, Alison, and Phil. I couldn’t ask for better owners.
 
 
 
"Otis"
 
My name is Otis and I was adopted by my family in April 2011 from the HBSPCA. I may be an older cat but I still have lots of energy left in me. My family spends so much time playing with me I have to sneak off for a nap every now and again. Clearly they caught me off my guard to take this picture. Just wanted to let everyone know how I’ve been doing at my forever home and I hope my older companions from the HBSPCA find their families soon!
 
 
"Skipper"
 
Hello all, my name is Skipper and I am a Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo. I used to live at the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA. It was fun living with all of the cats and dogs but it wasn’t much of a home for a Cockatoo like me. The HBSPCA staff suggested that I move to the World Parrot Refuge to give me the opportunity to meet fellow Cockatoos and explore a new home. Now every day I spend several hours flying around with all of my new friends. Thanks to everyone at the HBSPCA I have been able to adjust nicely to my forever home.
 
 
"Harry"
 
Hi my name is Harry, you may also know me around town as “Happy” Harry or Harry “the clown”. My goal in life is to keep all those around me smiling and laughing. I love visiting all of my friends in the neighborhood because they greet me with nice big hugs. I am still working on controlling my hair style and learning new tricks, but my family tells me everyday how much they love having me. The HBSPCA did a great job in matching me up with this family, and I thank them for everything they do for animals looking to find a forever home.
 
 
"Ebony"
 
My name is Ebony. Right from the start my Dad and I got along great. We love to cuddle and watch T.V. with my new family. Most of my days are spent exploring the house or sitting by the window. I like to know what is happening around the house at all times.My favorite toy is a rainbow coloured ball the makes noises when I play with it. I recommend that all cats have one. When I’m not busy playing or exploring the house, one of my favorite places to lay down for a nap is on my Dad’s bed. I always feel comfortable here and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
 
 
"Dude"
 
Hi everyone at the HBSPCA! My name is Dude and I was adopted way back in August 2010. It’s been almost a year now since my family bought me home, but from day one I managed to fit right into the family.I’ve become closest with the boys in the family because they can throw my favorite ball the furthest! All that waiting at the HBSPCA was worth every minute to find my forever home with Angie, Karl and Nick. Thanks to everyone at the HBSPCA for looking after me until I found my family.
 
 
"Domino"
 
Newly married and settled into our first home, I told my husband how much I wanted to finally adopt a dog after having two beautiful, loyal spaniels growing up. Lars had never had a dog so he was hesitant, wondering if it would "tie us down". One day after chatting with one of my high school classes about a student's new dog, the kids convinced me that I worked hard and deserved one and should just bring one home and surprise my husband! I pretended to think their suggestion was outrageous but, in fact, I went directly to the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, which is on my way home from work, and met Domino.  I fell in love with him but knew I couldn't make such a life-changing decision without Lars. I went home and told him not to worry but that I'd fallen in love with someone else and that I'd like the two of them to meet. We adopted Domino first thing the next morning and the three of us are head over heels in love. Everyone else in our families has fallen in love with Domino as well. Domino has definitely changed our lives and we are thrilled to have him in our family!
 
 
 
"Kratos"
 
We want to say a big thank you to the staff at the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA for all their help with our adoption of Kratos (originally called 'Hoshi'). We adopted him on Mothers' Day 2011 and are pleased to let you know that he is the most well mannered and well adjusted cat we've ever had the pleasure of knowing. From the moment we walked in to the HBSPCA he knew we were the family he wanted to go home with. He called to us specifically and reached out to us and we haven't looked back. He loves playing with all his toys, and enjoys a good cuddle too. We're so glad that we could give this guy a forever home, and we couldn't imagine our lives without him now. Thanks so much! - Laura & Mike
 
 
 
 "Newton"
 
Newton here! Boy oh boy have I been busy lately, but I love every minute of it! Since being adopted by Celeste in August, 2010 I have been working hard to channel all of my energy into constructive activities. I no longer get into mischief because boredom. Instead, I have been working hard in ay agility classes since December.
 
When I’m not at class I have fun playing with my best friend, Grendel. As the two dogs in the family we have been doing a good job at keeping the family busy. Thank you SPCA for helping me find this awesome family!
 
 
"Ozzy"
 
Ozzy here, you may remember me as Jazz when I was at the HBSPCA back in October 2010. I still have a lot of jazz left in me but I’ve change my name to Ozzy as a fresh start with my new family.

At first it was not easy adjusting to my new home. I still wasn’t sure if I could trust my new family at first, but they have shown me lots of love and enjoy spending time with me. Oh, and did I mention I have two new cat friends! They keep me company while our family is out.
When I arrived at my forever home, my family kept telling me I was too skinny and had to fatten up because I was 10 pound under weight. Now I would proudly like to say that I have gained more than my ten pound goal and am perfectly healthy. Plus I’ve been keeping my owners fit by taking them on nice long walks around the neighborhood to visit all of my new friends.
No matter how old I get I’ll always have a little bit of puppy in me and will do my best to keep my family safe. Thank you HBSPCA for helping me find an amazing family!
 

 "Alister"

We adopted Alister on May 17, 2010 and have loved having him ever since. At first I was nervous about adopting him because of what may have happened to him before he arrived at the SPCA. But, it turns out that Alistar is a complete pleasure. For the first month, we spent a lot of time helping him adjust to his new surroundings and to being around other dogs by taking him to the dog park everyday. Now he loves playing with other dogs, hanging out with us, going for walks, going to new places (we try to take him somewhere new as much as possible) and of course, Alister loves getting belly rubs. He now sits, stays, lays down and comes when he's called. We have actually taken him to see Brad Pattison from, "At the End of my Leash" and we learned a lot.

--- C. Madden, adopter of Alister

 

"Hogan"

Before going into the SPCA, I saw Hogan on  the website and instantly I knew that  wanted him. We adopted Hogan on November 7th 2010, just days after our dog Molly passed away suddenly. We never expected to actually leave with a pet that day.We've been visiting the SPCA for years, but we never asked to meet an animal. From the moment we met Hogan and took him for a short walk, we could see what a good dog he is and how loving he is with us and other people. The staff had nothing but great things to say about him. We brought Hogan home and we can't believe how amazingly good he is. Hogan is an absolute joy and a complete Mama's boy! Hogan now has a big backyard, our cat George for a playmate and we're pretty sure he is smiling all the time now. Every night at 8:30, he waits by the cupboards for his snack. He runs to look out the window whenever someone leaves and greets us by wiggling and jiggling around when we come home. He snuggles up on the couch and sleeps on his dog bed every night. I'm sure he's having happy doggy dreams now, knowing that he is loved and always safe. We may never know why or how he ended up where he did, but we are sure glad we found him!
 
The Deane Family, adopters of Hogan

 

 

 

"Dixie"

I am happy to report that Miss Dixie is settling in really well. I have started introducing her to the rest of the house. She loves the rug in the living room. Last night when I was watching TV she jumped up into my lap and stayed there for the entire time. My last cat was not a lap cat so I was in heaven. I love Dixie and I think she loves me, too. I think we were meant to be together. P.S. I can see why you would miss her!

-Frances, adopter of Dixie

 

 

 

"Cleo"

 

We adopted Cleo on September 17, 2010. It didn't take us long to decide that the name your staff gave her suited her very well. She is a gorgeous cat, with a wonderful temperament. With two young children to share the house with, she has ample opportunities to demonstrate her boundless patience. When either child picks her up to coddle her, she purrs contentedly. Introducing her to our resident cat, PJ also went surprisingly smoothly. She escaped over a baby gate barrier after a week in her "safe" place, but she and PJ were so quiet, we didn't even know Cleo was out!

 

Cleo has grown quite a bit since her adoption, but her long beautiful tail is still her distinguishing feature. Her favourite toys are plastic springs and stuffed moce. She enjoys watching Sea Monkey TV, courtesy of my son's little sea monkey tank. She also delights in batting at the computer screen while I am surfing the internet. As of last week, her new entertainment is sniffing out the mouse that is seeking winter shelter in out basement.

 

Thank you for bringing Cleo into our home and hearts!

 

--- The Gill Family, adopters of Cleo

 

"Gertie"

We adopted Caboodle  (now named GERTIE)  and want to tell you what an absolute gem of a dog she is.  She has gained 4 lbs in 5 days, knows her name, walks brilliantly on the leash, is gaining muscles, sits, stays, and lies down. She is a very obedient dog, and eager to please. I have sent you a picture of our dog Mazy, with her sister Gertie. They get along like two peas in a pod. Gertie is the dog lying down in the front, with the white paw.  We couldnt be happier. You dont have to worry about her, she is our forever Gertie. Thank you.

--- George and Debbie, adopters of Gertie

 

"Bonzo and Stumpy"

We wanted to send you an email to let you know Bonzo and Stumpy are doing GREAT!  Thanks for your help! We are so happy that we decided to bring them both home.

 --- Becky and Mark, adopters of Bonzo and Stumpy 

 

"Aphrodite" 

To your wonderful staff,
 
Hi it's Aphrodite's new family, and we just wanted to give you an update on how she's doing. As you can see, it has not taken her long to become queen of the castle here at her new home. She has bonded so well with her brother dogs and we love her so much we don't know what we ever did without her. She has brought us more joy in the past three days then we ever thought possible. We are so glad that we made the decision to adopt her.

You will not believe the changes in her behaviour already! Where do we begin... she walks straight on the leash now with hardly any pulling, we don't need to crate her as she seems to understand and respect the house rules and she hardly ever jumps up on anybody anymore. She loves to lie at our feet and get belly rubs and play rambunctiously in the backyard with her brothers. We are so glad that we took the chance on her because she is such a clever, well-behaved dog that just needed exercise and boundaries. She is learning so quickly, it makes us very proud. Thank you for providing us with the love of our lives and taking care of her until we came to pick her up.

--- The Manning-Slocombe family

 

"Louie" 

I wanted to let you know that on Feb 5th I adopted Louie the beagle from your location and he is doing very well.  Although he a little scared of some things for the most part he has settled in better than could be expected.  He loves playing with all his Dalmatian cousins and really enjoys the couch and beds.
 
--- Louise adopter of Louie
 
 

"Piper" 

The drive to Piper's new home in Petawawa went off without a hitch. She was very good and slept most of the way. We stopped a few times to take walks and she enjoyed the drive. She has adjusted quite well up here. I purchased a crate, which she does not like to stay in. One night I decided to try her without the crate, just to see, and she was the perfect dog. She slept on my bedroom floor all night, and had no accidents. When I am at work, she does not ruin furniture and she is totally house trained. She listens to commands very well, and is able to sit, shake a paw and stay (for the most part, when there are no distractions).

There are many dogs in the neighbourhood and she has made a few friends. Overall, she is very happy to be outside and I give her some room to roam around on a 30 foot tether. She loves to roll around in the leaves. When I am watching TV and she is inside, she loves to lay on the hardwood floor and keep cool.
 

Everyone I see says how beautiful she is. Thank you for your help in adopting her.

--- Andrew and Char, adopters of Piper 

 

 

 

"Bailey"

My family come in the other day and adopted Ellie or Bailey, as she is known now. She is an amazing dog, very well trained and she listens well. We are very happy and she seems happy with her new sorroundings too. She is best friends with our cat, they lay together during the day.

--- Jeff, adopter of Bailey

 

 

 

"Maguire"

As you can see from the pictures, Maguire's transformation from the shelter to his new home has been a bit of a difficult one (HAHA!!). It took him about a minute. It's as if he has been with since he was a puppy. Maguire is truly an incredible gift and a great new member of our family. Thanks to all of your staff for taking care of Maguire until we found him. PS - He sure does love car rides!

--- Tracey & Andy, adopters of Maguire

 

 

"Shadow" 

We adopted Sasha last week (renamed Shadow as my daughter is also a Sasha). She is never more than 6 inches away from us. She is adjusting well and very busy checking things out. She is settling in well and is very affectionate. She is learning her basic commands and house manners quite quickly. We have spent the first week setting boundaries. We know we have a long way to go  - she is a big dog with a strong will! We start obedience classes next week. She is a lot of fun, and very much a part of our family already.  Many thanks for the great work with you do with these fabulous animals.

--- Jo,  adopter of Shadow
 

 

 

"Jack"

When we adopted Jack, my daughters and I were finally ready for a new four legged friend. Our old dog, Tigo, had passed away about 4 years before and when we met Jack, we felt that we were ready to welcome another rescue dog into our lives.
 
After spending a few days helping Jack feel welcomed, safe and comfortable with us, he has become a trusting, sweet, affectionate little guy. At the approximate age of 11, Jack is finally starting to mellow! I refer to him as ‘my grumpy old man’ at times, but working with Jack is definitely paying off. He has overcome his separation anxiety when I leave for work. He jumps up to say ‘Hi’ when I get home, and is walking better on his leash. He loves car rides, sitting in the passenger seat to get the best view. He gets very excited when we sees where we're going -  to pick up my daughters, to work, especially to the dog park!
 
Jack is my little meester, my pickle, my sweetheart and I am happy and grateful every day that we found him and that we are able to give him the great retirement home he deserves.
 
--- Judith, Rachel and Ellen, adopters of Jack
 
 

 

"Joey"

Carlos' new name is Joey! He's doing great and seems really happy. He overcoming his shyness and attracts a lot of attention while we're out for walks. He LOVES it! He is really beginning to enjoy being the centre of attention! When I take him for walks, he pees on every single tree and post we see. Everyone makes a fuss over his ears and he loves a good belly rub! He really loves the cats and doesn't care that the cats hiss at him! 
 
--- Kate adopter of Joey 

 

 "Denny Crane"

"Just want to give you an update on "Denny Crane" the 8 year old cock-a-poo we adopted in June. He is an amazing dog!!! He settled into our home immediately and quickly made friends with our silly 1 year old golden doodle. He is well trained and someone must have loved him dearly before he lost his way and ended up with you because he is quite the little lap dog and knows a ton of tricks. We are always trying to convince our friends to get their pets from the SPCA because we are 3 for 3 for good luck with our adoptions."
 
--- Leslie adopter of Denny Crane
 
 

 

"Wesley"

In March of of last year, my sister and I decided to visit the HBSPCA for no real reason. Our family had been tossing around the idea of getting a dog for a little while, but we couldn't decide on when or what breed or even if we would actually get one. That day we wandered around the building for quite a while and saw all sorts of dogs, but none that really caught our attention. Until, on the way out, we spotted a little pup with a shaved leg, a huge scar with stitches, a cone, and the sweetest expression. His name was 'Yoshi'. He was apparently found tied to the HBSPCA door one morning, with a very badly broken back leg. For the first time ever in all of our visits, we asked to have some time to play with a dog. He absolutely stole our hearts, and we took him home the next day.


Now his name is Wesley. He has fit himself so perfectly into our household that I'm not sure how we ever got along without him. He's sweet, loving and affectionate; remarkably intelligent, clever and infinitely curious. He loves to exercise, and to watch him run and play, you'd never even know of his leg surgery. He has soo many friends in people and animals alike (he even has a girlfriend!), and is never afraid to tell you (quite loudly) just what he wants, or how happy he is! His antics and playfulness can keep anyone entertained for hours. Despite a rough beginning, there isn't a negative bone in his body. He's always happy to meet new people and new dogs of any size. Wesley is everyone's little boy, and we wouldn't give him up for the world.

--- Shelagh, adopter of Wesley

 

 

"Nala"

"We made our first visit ever to the SPCA in search of a new four-legged friend. Needless to say, it was an overwhelming experience seeing so many lovely animals without homes to call their own. We saw a few cats and kittens that caught our eye initially, but had to leave for a few minutes to let it all sink in.

When we came back, we chose Nala, a 2-year-old "personal assistant" to spend some time with and see if there was a "love connection." From the moment we brought her into the meet and greet room, she was our permanent shadow. Even though she came in as a stray, she cuddled right up and decided we were who she'd like to go home with. She wouldn't leave our side while we talked over logistics of bringing her home and filling out the paperwork. Since coming to her forever home, she has been the most loving and sweet addition to our family. I know there are so many people who want to start off with a kitten or puppy, but the wonderful bond you get from rescuing an adult animal is both rewarding and magical. Nala has truly made our house a home. She plays with every toy we've got for her, cuddles up when she's sleepy or needing some love, and has the sweetest way of nuzzling our face when we wake up in the morning. She appreciates her new life and home, and has made us incredibly grateful that we stopped into the SPCA and found her. Thank you for keeping her safe and healthy until we brought her home. She's amazing."

--- Kristen and John, adopters of Nala

 

If you have adopted an animal from the HBSPCA we would love to hear how they are doing in their Forever Homes!

Please send photos of your animals along with their stories to info@hbspca.com