Cross-Canadian dog rescue network makes first transfer

Apr 5, 2018 | 3:00 PM

A newly formed animal rescue network has created cross-country connections.

North East Paws Dog Rescue was started by Justine Moeller, who used to teach and live in St. George’s Hill but moved back to her home province of Nova Scotia last year. During her time in northern Saskatchewan, she helped to rescue a number of stray dogs in various communities.

She said the main idea behind North East Paws is to connect northern dogs needing homes with east coast families looking to adopt.

“I have always loved dogs and the dog population in many [northern] communities is exploding,” Moeller said. “This poses safety and health risks to children, community members and of course, the dogs themselves. Community members are looking for alternatives and solutions to the dog population problem and rescues in Saskatchewan and Alberta are usually completely full.”

A husky mix named Princess was the first dog who made the trek from Meadow Lake to Guysborough County, Nova Scotia. She was rescued by a local nurse in La Loche before being brought to Meadow Lake and District Humane Society (MLDHS), according to the society’s President Jillian Doucet.

“[Princess] was in pretty bad shape when she arrived and spent the next month putting on weight and getting some TLC from our volunteers,” Doucet said.

North East Paws and MLDHS also worked with another organized called PNPC Animal Rescue, which arranges air travel for rescue animals. Meadow Lake’s Dean Edwards and his family drove Princess to Calgary last week, where she eventually caught a flight to Halifax. Moeller said many people made the endeavour a success.

“The first transfer went really well,” she said. “It takes so many people coordinating so many different things, from drivers, to flights, to people to hold the dogs and take to them to the airport.”

Moeller said North East is currently only connected with MLDHS, but plans are underway for the coming weeks and months.

“I am so familiar with [MLDHS] due to all of the help they gave me when I was rescuing dogs in the North,” Moeller said. “I hope to expand to other rescues I worked with once we have a system and support team of volunteers.”

Doucet said MLDHS is proud to be a part of this new endeavour. She said Moeller helped hundreds of dogs, 50 of which have gone through MLDHS since 2013.

“I am incredibly proud of Justine and the work that she has done,” Doucet said. “She was a huge influence on managing the dog population in her community, and we were sad to lose her as a [local] front line rescuer. She has maintained connections and still tries to assist community members to find rescue placements for dogs. It is a true testament to her devotion.”

Princess recently met her new family, and is expected to be adopted next Tuesday, April 10.

 

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @ReporterKath