When the people of Charlotte County have an animal on their hands and find themselves out of their depth, some turn to Doug Harper.
He said he has been rescuing animals for as long as he can remember. For over a decade, Harper’s legacy has made him an integral part of the animal rescue community.
St. Stephen residents would remember his store downtown, where he would house and rescue over 250 animals at a time.
He said the store provided a place for kids to come and spend time with animals, and they would often use the store as respite from their busy home lives.
“I have kids in the community that I got attached to at the store that volunteered with me, that I still mentor, that come here and still use those animals as emotional support,” Harper said.
He said his snakes have helped countless people get over their fears. Education around animals is one of his top priorities.
“My ten-foot snakes are safer than cats I’ve owned,” Harper said.
He said he feels pet store chains don’t educate properly about animal costs, behaviour and expectations.
“[Like] some 15-year-old kid that’s never even owned a goldfish sells them a snake that’s going to be ten feet,” Harper said.
He said he ensured pets went to the correct homes before letting them be sold to customers.
Now, a few years after he had to close the store, Harper said he will never go back to retail, but he misses the community he built around the animals.
“My clientele and the community knew that I was the mom-and-pop store,” Harper said.
Harper lost his store after a lease disagreement that eventually ended in an eviction notice.
He said this happened around Christmas, and instead of enjoying the holiday, he took the time to find the right home for each animal he couldn’t keep himself.
“When it was all done and over with, it was rewarding to know that they didn’t just get put back in ‘the system,’ as I call it,” Harper said.
His house is home to a parrot, two dogs, several chinchillas, snakes, a bearded dragon, frogs and lizards.
And he said an animal gets dropped off on his doorstep almost daily.
“I’m surprised something hasn’t been dropped off while you guys are here,” he told The Courier. “Every day I get at least 10 messages about somebody with an animal.”
Harper said he rescues about four to five pigeons and doves weekly. But he said rescuing animals often comes at a large cost.
“Since we moved [the animals] in here without the store, it’s become a pretty big financial burden,” he said. “Just last year I had a rough estimate of $14,000 in vet bills and food.”
Harper said people will often surrender animals to him when the vet bills get too expensive or the pet needs too much care to keep it.
“Then I’ll take [money] out of my pocket,” he said.
He said he loves to be that support mechanism for the community, but it is financially hard on himself and his family.
“That’s why we’ve decided to do the GoFundMe because it’s either I’ve got to stop doing what I’m doing or I’ve got to reach out for help,” Harper said. “I’m never the one to reach out for help, but I’ve got to.”
Harper also works 40 to 50 hours a week as a youth care worker. He said when he brings the animals to visit the kids, it gives them something to focus on and calms them down.
“It’s just something to hug all the time and something to soothe you,” he said. “That’s why I’m trying to do what I’m doing. I want to try to make this available again in some shape, form or way, with me still being able to stay in my youth care work and not run a commercial store.”
Harper’s GoFundMe currently has a goal of $1,800, a sum that Harper said would keep his operation afloat.
Those wishing to donate to help Harper can visit his fundraising page.
