Two-hundred dogs left in fire zone need help: Manitoba Animal Alliance
Smoky conditions are easing somewhat in northeastern Manitoba, where five First Nations communities have been largely evacuated.
Now, as the smoke clears a little, representatives from some animal welfare groups are better able to fly in for a look at the situation faced by pets that residents were forced to leave behind when the evacuation order came.
Manitoba Animal Alliance representative Melanie Chudyk told CTV Morning Live that improved visibility has allowed volunteers to land in communities like Pauingassi First Nation.
It appears these volunteers arrived to care for the more than 200 dogs still there not a moment too soon.
“Right now, the only support that there is just when people are able to go into the community to feed the dogs. And yesterday (Thursday), was the first day in seven to ten days that was able to happen,” Chudyk said.
There had been reports some evacuated citizens were able to take dogs with them when they were taken away to places like Winnipeg and Brandon. Chudyk says that was not the case.
“They were planning to evacuate their people, but not their pets. If twice as many planes had been sent up, all the pets could have come down,” said Chudyk.
Volunteers have been able to take some dogs away by air since the start of the crisis. Some are being cared for by the Winnipeg Humane Society. Others are under the care of volunteers.
“We have wonderful fosters who are ready, willing and able to run to the airport on a moment’s notice to pick up animals, take care of them until their owners can be reunited with them and take them back home,” said Chudyk.
Right now, Manitoba Animal Alliance needs as much dog food as it can collect for transport to the affected communities. Chudyk says for the past two days, her group has flown all the dog food it can collect north. Also needed are crates for transporting animals by air, plastic pails for water and any other pet supplies people are willing to donate. They can even sponsor more rescue flights to bring animals south.
“The hope is we’re going to be able to go up and remove the dogs from the community that are still there, needing food and water and some probably needing medical care. We’re very fortunate to be going up again this weekend and a helicopter is assisting as well,” she said.
-With files from CTV’s Nicole Dubé and Devon McKendrick
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
NEW Iconic Canadian song turns 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Prince Harry, Meghan arrive in Nigeria to champion the Invictus Games and meet with wounded soldiers
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, arrived in Nigeria on Friday to champion the Invictus Games, which he founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans, among them Nigerian soldiers fighting a 14-year war against Islamic extremists.
Countries struggle to draft 'pandemic treaty' to avoid mistakes made during COVID
After the coronavirus pandemic triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed millions, leaders at the World Health Organization and worldwide vowed to do better in the future. Years later, countries are still struggling to come up with an agreed-upon plan for how the world might respond to the next global outbreak.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.