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WAG rescues dog from Sloquet Hotsprings area

Ministry of Forests spokesperson confirms death of rescued dog's companion

Sunday, Aug. 12 update at 10:30 a.m.

The “feral” dog abandoned at a remote wilderness campsite at Sloquet Hotsprings, about three hours from Whistler, was rescued late Saturday (Aug. 11) and brought to the Whistler Animals Galore (WAG) shelter where it is now being cared for.

The drama started Thursday, when WAG put out a call for a volunteer with a 4x4 to rescue the animal and a companion. One dog was shot and killed by the campground manager late Thursday with permission from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. WAG was allowed to resume searching for the surviving animal late Friday.

The dog was finally caught by four loggers at the site, who had been feeding him and who agreed to help WAG volunteers.

“They are angels,” said WAG board member Sue Eckersley. “I’ve spent 36 hours trying to get him and they said they were going to save this dog and they did.”

Shannon Broderick, the director of operations for WAG, said Sunday morning that she had not been able to make a medical assessment for the dog, which was subdued and depressed but taking food. The plan, she said, was to allow it to recover for a few days and take it to a vet.

"It's normal for a dog in this situation to be depressed, he lost his companion, but the fact that he is eating is great," she said.

Broderick estimated the rescue cost $500, excluding vet fees, and involved around 30 people overall. She thanked everyone who helped and many others who volunteered.

For more on the story read Pique Newsmagazine on Thursday.

Saturday, Aug. 11 update:

The story of two dogs stuck at a remote campground up a treacherous logging road about three hours from Whistler has taken a tragic turn.

One of the dogs was shot and killed on Aug. 9 by a campsite manager working for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. The dogs were deemed to be “feral” and shooting them is legal, according to a spokesman for the ministry.

The other dog escaped injury and has not yet been caught.

The shooting took place minutes after an employee for Whistler Animals Galore (WAG), the non-profit animal shelter, arrived with a companion at Sloquet Hot Springs to rescue the animals. The group had been invited earlier that day by the ministry to capture the dogs.

WAG had been told the two dogs were starving at the campsite, one having been injured after being hit by a truck, and put out a call on Facebook and through Pique for volunteers with a 4x4.

The off-duty WAG staff member and another Whistler resident set off that afternoon and arrived early that evening. They saw both dogs, which ran off, and reported hearing two gun shots within 15 minutes of their arrival, said WAG board member Sue Eckersley in an interview on Friday.

After the shooting, which the pair did not witness, they were told both animals had died, and after searching further for several hours they returned to Whistler distraught and empty handed.

A ministry spokesman confirmed in an email on Aug. 10 the death of one animal.

He said the dogs were considered feral animals “since at least last summer”, and had been involved in numerous incidents, including biting one person and stealing food from campers repeatedly. It was legal in this situation, the spokesman added, for the animals to be shot.

“We can confirm that the manager of Sloquet Hot Springs campsite shot a feral dog on Thursday evening that had been acting aggressively toward campers in recent weeks,” the spokesman wrote.

“The campsite manager, also the band manager for the Douglas Lake First Nation, received permission from ministry staff to shoot the dogs. However, the dogs ran off from the campsite and the shooting occurred approximately seven-eight kilometres away from the campsite.”

The spokesman added that the manager acted with the full support of the ministry: “The animal was one of two dogs that had been causing problems in the area in recent weeks. Both had open sores and one had a severe injury to its hind leg. Ministry staff recently received reports that the dogs were stealing food from campers and one individual was bitten by one of the dogs…

“Three unsuccessful attempts were made in recent weeks to capture and relocate the dogs, including one by a member of the SPCA who was camping in the area and managed to load the feral dogs into a pickup truck. However the dogs chewed through their rope tethers and jumped from the moving truck, resulting in further injuries.”

With the arrival of the team from WAG late on Aug. 9, the ministry had sought WAG’s agreement to both take responsibility for the animals and for liability: “Ministry staff contacted Whistler Animals Galore and a provided the animal-advocacy group an opportunity to remove and care for the dogs. (Staff) requested a written assurance from the organization to take responsibility for the animals and any associated liability. When this consent was not forthcoming, he advised the manager he could shoot the dogs at the campsite if necessary,” the spokesman’s email said.

Eckersley said on Friday that as a non-profit, WAG could not accept liability, though they had been more than willing to capture and take the dogs away.

Also on Friday, the ministry invited WAG to return to the site to attempt to retrieve the second dog, believed to be the one previously injured by a truck. Eckersley went out with another companion to look for it later that day. They left Whistler so quickly, she said, that they were without sleeping bags, food, and water.

She called Pique on her return on Saturday afternoon, and said that while the second dog had not yet been found, there was greater co-operation and WAG would be sending teams of volunteers out to the area until it is located and brought back.

“We’ve just done the baton pass to two more volunteers from WAG, they are actually Whistler Sled Dog Co. people who have volunteered, who will spend the next 12 hours out there looking for the dog,” she said.

“We did see it out there and almost caught it a couple of times, but were unsuccessful. We have gotten the word that so long as we are out there, there won’t be shots. The good news is that the logging company (Lizzie Lake, based nearby) that was somewhat chilly towards us on our first attempt, totally gets it now and they’re awesome.”

The logging company have been providing food and other assistance, including having their staff look out for the dog when up in their helicopter, she said. The loggers had established a relationship with the two dogs and were “horrified” to hear one had been killed.

“It’s a hugely co-operative effort to save this dog’s life... It’s very afraid of humans right now,” Eckersley said.

“We’ve got plans to be there until the dog is captured and we hope the ministry honours its word that if we are there it won’t order it to be shot.”

Eckersley said if the dog is not captured on Saturday a call for helpers will be posted on WAG’s Facebook page on Sunday, anyone wanting to volunteer can leave a message there with information on availability or offer vehicle loans. Other volunteers can send a message to “adoptions” at www.whistlerwag.com.

Ultimately, said Eckersley, she hoped the death of one “feral” dog and the injuries and suffering experienced by the pair would result in a debate on how these animals are treated. She said she saw one other dog in the area, which was clearly a pet or working dog and treated well.

“As a society, we need to be aware of how these animals are being treated in these remote areas. We would like to do this in a co-operative manner and if a light needs to be shone on this, we’re there,” she said.