NEWEST UPDATE: NEWEST UPDATE: All seven of the dogshave been approved for adoption at Dogtown! We wish them all the best and hope they all find their new forever homes soon!
Dogtown, a National Geographic television show and dog rehabilitation centre has agreed to take seven dogs seized from a terrible hoarding situation in Gull Lake, MB (scroll to the bottom for background). The dogs were the seven who were in the worst condition and would be needing several months of rehabilitation.
Here is our latest update from Dogtown on the dogs:
Zoraster (was Oliver) - Is doing really good. He is still uncertain of new people in his run, but is going out for walks with a lot of volunteers and does well. He lives with four other dogs, 2 of which are blind. He has not been too playful yet, but seems to be getting more comfortable every day. He really loves his caregivers and all the attention they give him. Right now they are working on his basic training.
Hammond - Started showing some undesirable behavior while he was living at one of our more high traffic areas. It is possible that all the people and excitement was too much for him. We moved him to an area that has less activity and that has made a huge difference. We have found that he was acting out because he wanted more one on one attention. He now lives with 3 other dogs and is going out with volunteers. He gets very excited to go for walks and to play fetch. He is also learning his basic training.
The other 5 Emory (was Missy), Catalina (was Annie), Tinder (was Spirit), Winter (was Rose), and Vera (was Viv) - Are all living together and doing really good! Vera has found her voice and barks for attention. Tinder has found a new friend in her neighbor and they get to go out for play dates. Emory continues to be a sweet and social butterfly, who greets all the visitors with a tail wag. Catalina has also started to enjoy attention. Winter loves to be around people, and follow them around her run. She still is not a fan of being touched, but is learning to tolerate it when she has too. They all go out with volunteers and do great with them.
All 7 are coming out of their shell and developing their own personality, it is such a joy to watch them grow.
You can read a previous update by visiting the Best Friends website.
The Gull Lake Dogs
On July 16 and 17, 2010 we took part in one of the worst dog seizures many people have ever experienced. Sixty-four dogs were seized by the Province of Manitoba from a private property in the Gull Lake area. Our team of Winnipeg Humane Society staff could never have prepared themselves for what they saw when the dogs arrived at the shelter. The dogs were covered in feces, dirt and garbage; many had open wounds and/or serious medical conditions; they were unsocialzed, terrified and several of them, mentally shut down.
Everyone worked well into the night on Friday and tirelessly on Saturday, bringing the dogs into the building one by one. The condition of each dog was photographed before they were examined and vaccinated by a team of veterinarians. We did whatever we could to make the dogs feel as comfortable as possible—we bathed overheated dogs in cool water, we gently helped them walk by tucking towels under their legs, we cleaned their wounds and treated any pressing medical concerns, and we gave them a safe and quiet place to rest.
For two weeks The Winnipeg Humane Society acted as a housing and care facility for the dogs while the legalities of the seizure were worked out by the Province. Staff fed, bathed (often shaved) and cared for the dogs until the province was able to officially turn some of the dogs over to us.
Twenty-five of the dogs were turned over to us and we are happy to announce that, other than seven of them who were transferred to Dogtown, they have all happily found their forever homes.