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Warm homes for cold dogs
Rescuers hope to find loving families in Alberta for dogs abandoned in the Northwest Territories
By FRANK LANDRY, CITY HALL BUREAU
Last Updated: 23rd December 2009, 3:47am
A group of animal lovers hopes Albertans will open their doors and hearts this Christmas to dozens of dogs that have been abandoned in the harsh elements of the Northwest Territories.
The situation is urgent, say the rescuers, as temperatures continue to plunge in Canada's Arctic.
"I'm trying to fly by the seat of my pants to get it done," said Calgarian Jennifer Mulrooney, one of the co-ordinators of the rescue attempt.
"But Albertans have such a big heart, I thought we'd try to take on as many as we can."
Mulrooney said she got involved when she read a plea on an animal rescue website from the NWT SPCA.
In it, Sarah Hunt, president of the group, said the organization is in an "extremely desperate situation" and in need of help from other shelters and individuals.
Hunt described a situation where the local animal shelter is "filled to the brim."
"We get cries and pleas for help from residents and leaders in our rural communities every single day, and it kills us to tell them that we don't have the capacity to help them save the animals in their communities," she wrote.
RUNNING LOOSE
Hunt said 50 to 70 dogs -- many Husky crosses -- were recently running loose in the community of Lutselk'e, about 200 km east of Yellowknife. It's a similar situation in the community of Behchoko, 115 km northwest of Yellowknife, where some young pups have been abandoned or cast from their homes.
It comes as temperatures have dropped to -40 C on some nights, Hunt said.
To make matters worse, she said some northern communities permit stray dogs to be shot.
Mulrooney said arrangements will be made early in the new year to fly some of the animals to Edmonton, though details have to be worked out.
She and others are looking for permanent or foster homes in Alberta and British Columbia.
Tiffany McLean, who lives in Vancouver and has been working on the rescue, said she will drive to the Alberta capital to pick up some of the pooches herself.
POOCH SHIPMENT
"We're just figuring out the date when we'll be getting them," McLean said, adding they're also looking for shipping crates for the pooches.
Mulrooney said contributions of gift certificates for gas would also be appreciated.
Shawna Randolph, a spokeswoman for the Edmonton Humane Society, said her group has accepted six dogs that came from the Northwest Territories since Dec. 10. Two came directly from the northern territory while four first went to an animal rescue.
The dogs include Sparrow, a two-month-old female shepherd, who will soon be put up for adoption.
"We are aware that they have many more," said Randolph. "We're just fortunate we have so much public support here in Edmonton, we're able to help as many homeless animals as possible."
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edm...ml#/news/edmonton/2009/12/23/pf-12248546.html
Rescuers hope to find loving families in Alberta for dogs abandoned in the Northwest Territories
By FRANK LANDRY, CITY HALL BUREAU
Last Updated: 23rd December 2009, 3:47am
A group of animal lovers hopes Albertans will open their doors and hearts this Christmas to dozens of dogs that have been abandoned in the harsh elements of the Northwest Territories.
The situation is urgent, say the rescuers, as temperatures continue to plunge in Canada's Arctic.
"I'm trying to fly by the seat of my pants to get it done," said Calgarian Jennifer Mulrooney, one of the co-ordinators of the rescue attempt.
"But Albertans have such a big heart, I thought we'd try to take on as many as we can."
Mulrooney said she got involved when she read a plea on an animal rescue website from the NWT SPCA.
In it, Sarah Hunt, president of the group, said the organization is in an "extremely desperate situation" and in need of help from other shelters and individuals.
Hunt described a situation where the local animal shelter is "filled to the brim."
"We get cries and pleas for help from residents and leaders in our rural communities every single day, and it kills us to tell them that we don't have the capacity to help them save the animals in their communities," she wrote.
RUNNING LOOSE
Hunt said 50 to 70 dogs -- many Husky crosses -- were recently running loose in the community of Lutselk'e, about 200 km east of Yellowknife. It's a similar situation in the community of Behchoko, 115 km northwest of Yellowknife, where some young pups have been abandoned or cast from their homes.
It comes as temperatures have dropped to -40 C on some nights, Hunt said.
To make matters worse, she said some northern communities permit stray dogs to be shot.
Mulrooney said arrangements will be made early in the new year to fly some of the animals to Edmonton, though details have to be worked out.
She and others are looking for permanent or foster homes in Alberta and British Columbia.
Tiffany McLean, who lives in Vancouver and has been working on the rescue, said she will drive to the Alberta capital to pick up some of the pooches herself.
POOCH SHIPMENT
"We're just figuring out the date when we'll be getting them," McLean said, adding they're also looking for shipping crates for the pooches.
Mulrooney said contributions of gift certificates for gas would also be appreciated.
Shawna Randolph, a spokeswoman for the Edmonton Humane Society, said her group has accepted six dogs that came from the Northwest Territories since Dec. 10. Two came directly from the northern territory while four first went to an animal rescue.
The dogs include Sparrow, a two-month-old female shepherd, who will soon be put up for adoption.
"We are aware that they have many more," said Randolph. "We're just fortunate we have so much public support here in Edmonton, we're able to help as many homeless animals as possible."
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edm...ml#/news/edmonton/2009/12/23/pf-12248546.html