THUNDER BAY - A local hockey team hung up their skates and gloves to help some four legged friends, and they hope with a little support, cats and dogs in need will continue to find happy and safe homes.
“I’m really excited they will get new homes and they will be way more happy than they were,” said 11-year-old, Finn Fiorito. “They probably went through a lot and they will be way happier.”
“It makes me feel really happy because probably the dogs didn’t have a great life before and now they will be able to have a nice life after,” added 11-year-old, Mia Attema.
Finn and Mia, along with teammates from the Norwest Stars Peewee A team, volunteered for an afternoon at the Thunder Bay District Humane Society earlier this month.
“With the recent news of the rescue dogs, and we have a lot of pet lovers on the team, I thought it would be nice for the team to come and spend some time here with the animals,” said Gloria Richardson, manager of the Norwest Stars.
The team was busy emptying litter boxes, getting food ready, folding laundry, and of course, playing with the animals.
“I think it’s really nice for the team to help out in the community,” Richardson said. “I really think it is an opportunity for them to do something that is a good deed, giving to the community, but it also benefited them because they enjoyed it. Maybe not changing the kitty litter box, but playing with the animals, they really enjoyed that.”
Richardson added the team has such a close bond both on and off the ice that is strengthened by teaming up to help out in the community.
“It was really fun and nice to help out,” Finn said. “And I was really excited to pitch in with the dogs and it was really fun to play with everyone.”
“I liked holding the dogs,” Mia added. “And it was fun to help, too.”
The Norwest Stars were also entered a video into the Chevy Good Deeds Cup and won first place in the region. The team was awarded $2,000, which they will be donating to the Thunder Bay District Humane Society. And the Norwest Stars are still in the running for a national prize of $10,000.
“We did a massive rescue about a month and a half ago,” said Cassandra Nordal, fundraising coordinator with the Thunder Bay District Humane Society. “The 12 dogs from Longlac still need a lot of veterinary care right now so it’s literally going all towards them, which is huge for us in this time of need right now.”
Nordal added that the 12 dogs from Longlac are still recovering, but progress is very good, with the dogs gaining between 15 and 25 pounds in the last month.
“They are like totally different dogs,” she said.
With tears in her eyes, Nordal could not stop thanking the Norwest Stars players for all their support during what she said has been a very difficult time for the shelter and its staff.
“We go through a lot here,” she said. “A lot of people do tend to forget about us sometimes. This means the world to us. The fact that they thought about us. It was awesome and they had lots of fun and I hope they realize how much this actually means to all of us.”
