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Everyone notice me as a newcomer, as the majority of the regulars are those involved in the equine auctions. They all seem to know one another, and chatter as they wait for the auction to start.

The horses are pushed through the pen quickly, not allowing sufficient time to identify injuries, age or sex. The focus is on weight, and many horses that are announced as mares are clearly studs or geldings. With no future planned for these horses, the sex or health is of little importance.

A mare is brought into the pen with her weanling at her side. A young girl in the back row quickly outbids the meat buyer, although the brood mare is not as lucky. She is a healthy weight, and goes for $850 to the back trailer lot in the yard. The bidding process is fast and fierce, and does not offer any time to consider or assess anything about the potential of the horse. The horses are as young as five months old, and go up including a 30-year-old estate horse.

I leave the auction with a two-year old mare, and a six-month old weanling. These two were the ones that Storm Haven could outbid the meat buyers on today. They are safe now, and are slowly learning that not all people wish them harm.

They will receive medical and farrier care, and begin their training that will prepare them for a new life. A life that will include kindness, love and patience. We can never be 100% sure what their entire life will turn out like, although we do know that they now have a chance to have a life.

– Chantal

UPDATE: we have found a Foster Home for Gary. He is currently training to walk respectively on leash, follow commands and curb his nipping issues. More updates to follow.

Meet Gary, he is a one year old Lab/Azore Cattle Dog in need of a foster home immediately !

He has slight anxiety, which could be due to the fact that he has spent the last two months in a shelter setting. He has had some behavioural issues when first dropped off, they have started to subside with consistent, and strong walkers. He is still a puppy and needs to be with someone who can keep him on a schedule, give him lots of exercise, love and training !

He is VERY grabby with the leash, long clothing, toys etc. which is most likely due to boredom. We are looking for a foster home, that will work with us to identify and work through training, before finding him a forever home.

NOTE – based on notes from the shelter he will NOT BE IDEAL for a home with small children (due to hyper/mouthing/active personality)

Thank you Mike, for not only adopting Pearl, but Irwin as well ! They are very happy that after bonding at Storm Haven, they will be able to play together FURever ! Irwin’s new name is MOGLEY and Pearl’s new name is MAKITA. They are both doing very well in their new home, keeping Mike very busy and active as they love to play and be silly…especially together!

Irwin is the newest feline edition, and is in pretty rough shape.

Vet Update – He was tested for both Feline Leukemia and FIV which came back negative (thank goodness!) Although he is fighting a slight wheeze, most likely an Upper Respiratory infection that we are treating with antibiotics.

• Our Vet, is unsure of his age, based on the amount of tooth delay and plaque build up – she has recommended a cleaning prior to adoption
• She found a rather large hernia that she recommended be removed when he is neutered

Irwin is being booked in for his neuter, and hernia removal. Will update once completed !

Pearl is a young female domestic short hair tabby, who came to us from Northern Quebec. She has a sever upper respiratory infection, with severe conjunctivitis. She is about 7 weeks old, and saw our new vet McLean Animal Hospital, who treated her infection and eye conjunctivitis with an aggressive antibiotic. She will be fully vaccinated once she is healthy, and will then be ready for adoption.