By Derek Cornet

LLRIB sends 136 animals to Alberta with assistance of rescue organization

Jan 30, 2019 | 6:16 PM

It was a busy day Jan. 26 for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) as 110 dogs and 26 cats were loaded into a trailer and sent away to Alberta for adoption.

The initiative was done in partnership with the LLRIB, Northern Animal Rescue and Saving Grace Animal Society, who were contacted earlier this month by the band to make a trip to the tri-communities. The rescue organization participated in a similar endeavour in January 2019 when more than 100 dogs and cats were collected. Saving Grace Executive Director Erin Deems stated the animals will be shared with six other rescue organizations in total.

“They take animals just to help because not one organization can take 136 animals at a time,” she said. “All the organizations are reputable and will have the dogs seen by a veterinarian, fixed and adopted out.”

Throughout the year, Deems noted Saving Grace conducts about six mass rescues mainly in Saskatchewan. She also added the organization focuses on Saskatchewan and not Alberta because there are remote communities in the province with overpopulation issues. Since the population of Alberta is so much larger than Saskatchewan, Deems said it’s easier for Saving Grace to find homes for the animals there.

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“I think the focus needs to be on the assistance needed in these remote areas and the overpopulation crisis they face,” she said.

While the rescue was organized by the LLRIB, a NAR representative stated the initiative was due to the number of dogs roaming the reserves in the tri-community. She stated band leadership reached out to NAR so they could contact Saving Grace, adding posters were circulated in recent weeks warning residents of the ongoing collection of animals. Any dog that wasn’t tied up, in a fenced yard or inside a house was considered a stray and sent to Alberta.

The representative also mentioned 28 animals under the care of NAR were sent to Alberta as well, along with about 40 animals from Grandmother’s Bay.

“It was a collaborative effort and the band was responsible for recruiting volunteers locally,” she said. “NAR also recruited volunteers to help and we were in a supportive role.”

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno