This week, animal shelters are highlighting special animals that take a bit longer to get adopted. “We are going to celebrate some of our cats and animals that have been hanging around the shelter a little longer than normal, some that don’t get scooped up like the kittens,” says Sam Cole, Bide Awhile Animal Shelter communications and marketing coordinator. Whether due to medical conditions, special at-home requirements, breed stereotypes or age, there are several factors that categorize an animal as less adoptable. Those at Bide Awhile in Dartmouth, N.S., are breaking down the stereotypes and helping get their cats forever homes. “We are still experiencing some crazy high adoption rates at the moment but we do have a few cats that do hang around a little bit longer looking for adoption and those are the ones we are looking to highlight this week,” says Cole. For this year’s Adopt a Less-Adoptable Pet Week, Bide Awhile is shining a spotlight on three female cats. “Almond, who’s a 10-year-old girl, she has no medical concerns, but she is a little interesting looking,” Cole says. “Her fur hasn’t been growing back very quickly so she’s been looked over a little bit just from her appearance. “We have Zero who’s an eight-year-old who just being on the older side. People tend to lead towards the younger kittens at the moment.” There is also Aries who has been at the shelter since August. She has diabetes, which the team here says is quite common. “Much like the human version of diabetes, she has an issue regulating her blood sugar and a special diet maintaining that blood sugar,” says Cole. “It is very common for Aries that look like insulin injections twice a day, spaced 12 hours apart. She tolerates them incredibly well,” says Kayla Everett, the shelter’s veterinary assistant. Aside from timing Aries’s medication, Everett says diabetes in cats is quite manageable. She says cats with conditions like hers give them so much more of a personality. Aries does require a veterinary grade diet. “It’s high in protein and low in carbohydrates,” says Everett. Cost for medications can also be a deterrent for some to adopt a cat like Aries, so the team is trying to alleviate the barriers for her. “It’s a huge deteriorate cost wise to first of all manage the insulin but also the medical grade diet and we wanted her to be able to find her that forever home without the burden of how am I going to be able to afford it so being able to provide that through the palliative program where we are going to supply the insulin and all the medical care associated with her diabetes has already shown that it’s going a long way in finding her a wonderful home,” says Everett. There are many misconceptions around animals with medical conditions. Everett explains how much easier it is to take care of these special animals than some may think. “Cats with medical conditions is not a rarity. It happens quite frequently and honestly a lot of them benefit from daily medications whether it’s for pain, anxiety or what have you. Just having the knowledge and empowerment to administer these medications and seeing the animals thrive on them I think goes a long way, in speaking to how beneficial it is and how manageable and easy it can be,” says Everett. Bide Awhile is one of the few shelters in Nova Scotia that also takes in animals with special medical conditions. “If you are looking for help or assistance for an animal with special needs, we recommend getting on our waitlist for surrender. We are still seeing a big surrender intake,” says Cole. For those needing their service or looking to adopt, they can contact them through Bide Awhile’s website. This team adds that one of the biggest ways for people to support them during this week is to share the pets’ stories, but they also welcome donations as well as volunteers. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
