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Humane Society rescues two dozen dogs, puppies ahead of winter deep freeze

With the winter freeze about to set in, the Thunder Bay and District Humane Society was called into emergency duty earlier this month, rescuing about two dozen dogs and puppies from a northern reserve near Kenora.
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(Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com)

With the winter freeze about to set in, the Thunder Bay and District Humane Society was called into emergency duty earlier this month, rescuing about two dozen dogs and puppies from a northern reserve near Kenora.

But the move has left the Rosslyn Road animal shelter full to overflowing and the organization is hoping the public comes forward in the next couple of weeks, when the puppies are old enough to be adopted, and give them a new home.

The call came after the organization removed nearly 70 dogs from another northern community and transported them to southern Ontario, where most were immediately adopted out.



“We have 18 puppies in the back so our staff is completely overwhelmed,” said executive director Melanie Blanchette on Friday.

“We have dogs in our offices, which is great for us, because we get to socialize them. But we are at capacity and just overwhelmed with the amount of puppies we have right now. They’re not up for adoption yet, we’re just making sure they get the proper vet care, they’re properly nurtured and they get the follow-up care they need.”

Blanchette said the puppies won’t be up for adoption until closer to Christmas.

As much as she wants to find happy homes for the dogs, she said they will be cautious about who they give them to, especially this close to the holidays.

“It is a lifetime commitment,” she said. “It is an adoption process.”

Humane Society inspector Jeremy Gardiner said a lack of veterinarians in the area is partially to blame for overpopulation of the dogs.
“I think there’s one in Kenora and we were about 45 minutes from Kenora,” Gardiner said. “So getting the dogs there to get them spayed and neutered is tough.”

Gardiner added while in the community, which they did not want to name, they offer and education program, spending time in local schools teaching children about how to care for the animals.

As follow-up, they’ll often revisit the community and provide a mobile spay-and-neuter clinic.

Blanchette said she’ll be posting adoption availability on the Humane Society’s Facebook page.


 



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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