By Derek Cornet

Cinderella story highlights demand on animal rescue volunteers

Mar 8, 2018 | 4:00 PM

A dog found recently in the tri-communities with severe frostbite is only one example of the cases volunteers with Northern Animal Rescue (NAR) had to deal with this winter.

“Cinderella was found and had suffered some severe frostbite from not having proper shelter in the cold weather,” co-chairperson Genevieve Candelora said. “When she was first brought to us, nobody really knew what the severity of the frostbite was.”

While Cinderella was transported to We All Need a Rescue in Saskatoon and is recovering from the ordeal in a foster home, Candelora said many other dogs didn’t survive the winter because they were left out in the cold weather. Cinderella ended up having an infection under her skin as well, but with medication and care, she’s been healing. 

“It was a really brutal winter where animals were partially or fully frozen to the ground, and litters of puppies not making it because they were frozen,” she said. “It kind of highlighted and shined a light on the need for people to be reminded about it, and the responsibility we all have toward animals in the community.”

With NAR entering its 10th year of operation soon, Candelora noted one of the organization’s ultimate goals is to be able to operate a facility and have staff available to work. They would also like to purchase a van, she said, because they often need to transport dogs and food not only throughout the community, but the province too. The rescue is currently in talks with Town of La Ronge adinistration about finding a space, but Candelora added approaching businesses and finding grants is also an option.

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Candelora said the capacity of NAR and its volunteers has become stretched over the years as the service they provide has proved to be quite demanding. If people would be more responsible pet owners and do a better job at sheltering them from the cold, she said there would be less cases like that of Cinderella.

“That was her situation, but it was something we had seen quite a bit this past winter, because we did have such cold weather and long stretches of it,” Candelora said. “There needs to be appropriate types of shelters for the variety of animals, but small-breed animals and puppies don’t belong outdoors during the cold months.”
 

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno