On any given morning in Whistler, the trails hum with the sound of paws on packed dirt. Dogs weave between hikers and mountain bikers, stopping to sniff branches, leap into alpine streams, or pause—alert—for the scent of a squirrel. It’s a canine paradise: endless trails, dog beaches, and forested escapes that stretch into the mountains.
But for many dogs in this outdoor haven, the journey here hasn’t been idyllic. Before reaching the loving homes of the Sea to Sky corridor, some have lived through unthinkable trauma.
Erica Egyad knows their stories well. For more than a decade, she’s been rescuing dogs and placing them with families across Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton. She started at a local rescue in Squamish and eventually founded her own organization, Pawsitive Animal Rescue, after learning about the high-kill shelters in the southern United States.
“I had a connection down south and was made aware of the situation in southern California,” she said. “Shelters were getting between 200 and 600 dogs a month, and they would have to euthanize just to make space. That’s how we started. I sort of went into a panic and made Pawsitive.”
Shortly afterward, a call from San Diego connected her to an even more desperate situation—street dogs in Tijuana.
“So I started helping those dogs out,” she said.
The dogs that came to her, Egyad said, often bore visible—and invisible—scars.
“One … came to us with horrible road rash from being dragged behind a truck,” she said. “Some had been locked in garages for years. Or they’re simply abandoned. There were so many horror stories.”
Finding light in dark work
For Pemberton paramedic Kelly Budway, adopting her dog Skye was more than an act of compassion—it was a lifeline.
A Shepherd mix affectionately called a “Tijuana special,” Skye came to Budway through Pawsitive five years ago. It was, she said, the best decision of her adult life.
“I see a lot of death [in my job] and sometimes I just don’t want to deal with people anymore,” Budway said. “I just want to be with my dog. She’s my best friend and has changed my outlook for the better.”
During the isolation of the pandemic, Skye became a constant source of support.
“During COVID, when we weren’t able to see people—especially for me as a first responder, I didn’t want to get anyone sick—I really needed that companionship.”
But the transition wasn’t seamless. Skye, like many rescues, arrived with deep anxieties.
“When I first got her, everything was a new experience. She was afraid of doors, of stairs and men, so we had to work through that. She also had no clue about bikes or cars,” Budway said. “It really made you wonder what life she led before I got her—you just have no idea. It took a long time for her to settle in.”
Hard choices in rescue
In the early days of Pawsitive, Egyad tried to help every dog she could—including those with severe behavioural issues.
“They were aggressive dogs that probably had a lot of trauma, and it was hard to place them,” she said. “Now we just don’t take dogs that need that much socialization, as it means bringing in fewer dogs.”
That balance—between helping the most in need and saving the most lives—is one of the hardest parts of rescue work.
Trail companions and forest therapy
These days, Budway and Skye are inseparable.
“She even follows me into the bathroom,” she said. But it’s out in the woods where the connection deepens.
“I call it forest bathing—just being in the forest surrounded by nature. She gets her therapy taking in all of the different scents, and I get joy from watching her. It’s such a great feeling—no electronics, not being in front of a screen. It brings you back to nature. And it’s so important, for our mental and physical health.”
Double the dogs, double the healing
Tara Iles, a frequent Whistler visitor, doesn’t hesitate when asked about the role her dogs play in her life.
“He is my therapy every day, he’s my snuggle-bug, my confidant and my voice of reason,” she said of her 12-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, Hemi. “He is my rock. He’s been with me for the worst times of my life, and we have shared the best times as well.”
Recently, Iles welcomed a second rescue—a one-year-old husky mix named Mila. The dog had been found abandoned on a rural road, without water and severely underweight. Adopting her came with its own challenges.
“Hemi was not sure at first, and at times he’s still annoyed with her,” she said. “But he has fun chasing her when he’s in the mood, and he does protect her from other dogs. I wouldn’t say it’s been difficult; change is hard but it’s worth it when you see them realize they are safe and loved.”
When dogs can’t come to work
Caring for an active dog while juggling a job can be a logistical puzzle. For Budway, the solution is Mt. Currie Canine, a trusted local dog walking service in Pemberton.
“I feel relieved knowing she’s been out on the trails getting some fresh air and being taken care of while I’m at work,” she said.
Iles, meanwhile, works mostly from home, which makes things easier.
“Hemi spends most of his time on my couch or next to me wherever I’m working,” she said. “He hates it when I have to go to the office, and barks like crazy at me when I return—and now Mila does as well.”
From pizza truck to trailhead
For Whistler locals Cory and Tess Klein, the solution was simpler: take their dog everywhere.
“We got Asher as a birthday present for our daughter when she turned eight,” said Cory Klein. “And we wanted a dog that could do everything with us—hike, mountain bike, go fishing, swim, scare off the occasional bear, and even come to work with us in the pizza truck.”
Asher, an English Shepherd, became more than a pet—he was a part of the business and the family. He passed away last October at age 14.
“Dogs can be the soul of the people here,” said Klein. “When everyone’s done for the day, people who have dogs—they have a moment walking their dogs. They have time to appreciate life walking on the Valley Trail.”
California rescue, Pemberton life
Susan Hutchinson, known to many as the sales manager at Pique Newsmagazine, also turned to rescue. She now shares her home with Beau, a husky mix that was dumped on her sister’s farm in southern California.
“My boyfriend and I both wanted a dog, so when my sister sent us videos … it seemed like a sign,” she said. “We drove three days at the beginning of December to go get him, spent two days in the Coachella area, and then drove back with our new dog. Thank goodness he loves being in the car. We really did not think that one through.”
Though she had initial reservations about adopting a rescue, Hutchinson is now a convert.
“I have heard great stories about adopting a dog and most of the time it works out—but sometimes it doesn’t. There are dogs that could be too traumatized to be socialized. But I think that most dogs are very forgiving and loving—it is their best quality and why I got over my reservations. I am so glad I did.”
A dog’s playground: the Sea to Sky
What makes Whistler and Pemberton such ideal places for dogs? According to their humans, it’s the endless trails, dog-friendly lakes, and a community built for outdoor living.
“There [are] loads of recreational areas for dogs in Whistler,” said Iles. “Lakes, hiking trails, river beaches, and the village itself. Hemi loves hiking—he’s always the leader on the trails.”
Hutchinson said Pemberton stands out for its infrastructure.
“One thing Pemberton has that Whistler doesn’t is a poo bag and garbage container on practically every corner,” she said. “Whistler, you need to pick up your game.”
Connecting through canines
Dogs aren’t just companions in the Sea to Sky—they’re community builders.
When Klein’s family had Asher, he brought a circle of friends with him.
“He always had to say hello to all the dogs at Rainbow Park,” said Klein. “He was well known in Whistler.”
Even if they didn’t have a dog with them, the Klein’s would still go to the dog beach because it keeps them connected.
Hutchinson met one woman in Pemberton who kept a little black book filled with the names of dogs and their humans.
“She said it helps her connect and remember everyone,” Hutchinson said.
Budway had a similar experience when she moved north.
“I met so many people through our dogs. I find Skye to be a good judge of character—so if she likes you, I’ll probably like you, too.”
Adopt with intention
While the rewards of dog ownership are rich, the responsibilities are just as real.
“Once you get a dog, it’s for life—their life,” said Budway. “You’re their everything, so they need stability. Taking a dog and then sending it back to a shelter can break them.”
Iles agreed: “Pets are a lifetime commitment and a lifestyle, meaning your lifestyle needs to cater to what those animals need to have a happy and fulfilling life. If you are not that kind of person that enjoys giving them that life, then it’s not fair to the animal.”
Hutchinson added: “If you rent, have a serious and honest conversation with your landlord. Make sure you have a long-term place. And look at your budget—see if you can fit a dog into your life.”
Rescue the right way
One of the best ways to reduce pet overpopulation is to spay and neuter—a policy firmly in place at Pawsitive.
“Before they’re even transported to us, we have to make sure that’s taken care of,” said Egyad. “Vaccines, medical issues—they have to be healthy before they come to us.”
Her team carefully vets potential adopters, and it shows—only about one in 100 dogs are returned.
“I believe there’s a perfect home out there for every dog in need—but not every home is perfect for a dog,” she said.
To Adopt, volunteer, foster—or simply walk a shelter dog visit: pawsitiveanimal.com whistlerwag.com.
