TORONTO – A Greater Toronto Area humane society has joined a number of rescue groups to save the lives of dogs from being shot and killed for population control in Northern Ontario.
The Humane Society of Durham Region recently received a number of puppies that were brought in from Attawapiskat.
“They were going to be shot,” said Ruby Richards of the Humane Society of Durham Region. “If they hadn’t gotten out, they’d be dead now.”
Northern Ontario animal rescue operations like this one are a familiar sight for Sharron and Tom Purdy.
The Bracebridge, Ont. couple, who have been volunteering their time to help transport and relocate the dogs from the north, have witnessed the so called “dog shoots” first hand.
“There’s a shoot going on right now and every dog is at risk, so even this age group would be at risk if they’re still up there,” said Sharron Purdy.
Attawapiskat is a community well known for its housing crisis but the Purdys say many dogs also roam the streets without owners.
“They’re not spayed and neutered so they’re breeding and puppies are born at dumps, under houses in debris,” Purdy said.
The Purdys rescue the dogs when they can with the help of a local man named Floyd.
“They have so much to offer, they just seem to know they’ve been rescued and seem to know life is so much better for them,” said Paul Purdy.
The Purdys are currently caring for 30 dogs and over the past 10 years have rescued more than 1,000 from Northern Ontario.
They operate a rescue shelter from their home in Bracebridge with help from volunteers and donations from businesses to cover transportation costs.
OSPCA investigators say they’ve reached out to offer services to help implement animal control and spay/neuter programs but so far there’s been little progress.
Meanwhile, the Purdys plan to continue rescuing any dogs they can and putting them up for adoption.
“We get all kinds of mix and breeds but they’re really generous, warm-hearted loving wonderful animals,” said Purdy.
-with a report from Global Toronto’s Jennifer Palisoc
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