When it comes to pets, Truro Heights woman doesn’t give up – Truro Daily News

TRURO HEIGHTS, N.S. —

If you stop by Karen Butt’s home, don’t expect your hands to remain folded on your lap. There’s sure to be at least one animal eager to be petted.

Karen, who shares her home with three dogs, a few cats and a husband – Glenn – also fosters animals and does a bit of dog sitting for friends.

“I started working in rescue in the nineties because I saw so many cases of animals that needed help,” said the Truro Heights woman, who grew up in Mount Pearl, N.L., and moved to Nova Scotia when she was 19.

Three days after arriving in Truro, in 1982, she was hired as a waitress at the Ho Ho Wok, where she worked until 2003. She’s still fitting in part-time work, cleaning offices for a business.

She was one of the main forces behind the Truro Humane Society and for the past 11 years she’s been president of Nova Scotia Golden Retriever Rescue.

“A lot of people still remember me from the Humane Society table at Zellers,” she said. “I’m still doing a lot of fundraising; making leashes, collars, bandannas and pet beds, and selling animal-themed jewelry. The rescue sets up at flea markets and holds yard sales.”

Karen has spent many hours outdoors, rescuing animals.

One of the cats she kept was a lilac point Himalayan who was not fond of people when first caught.

“I kept her in my back bedroom for over a month, until she stopped coming at me,” she said. “Then I laid on the floor with treats and waited for her to come to me. She was never a cat you could pick up and cuddle but after about a year I could pet her, and she’d rub against my leg.

“Never give up; the animals are worth the effort.”