Fifteen wagging tails and even more slobbery puppy kisses are meeting dog-control workers at the Regional District of the North Okanagan every morning.
The pups came into their care on Aug. 23, after multiple excessive barking complaints led them to a house in Vernon where they found 14 puppies and their mom.
“Dog control was able to contact the owner and learned that he had been evacuated from Westside Road and was staying with a friend while trying to balance keeping his dogs safe and still attending school,” the regional district said in a news release.
The White Rock Lake fire continues to burn out of control west of Okanagan Lake. It’s now estimated to be more than 82,000 hectares in size and dozens of people are on evacuation order.
Dog-control officers decided to help and opened their doors to all the pooches.
“Our mornings have changed in the facility – that’s for sure,” officer Daryl Riva said in the release.
“We show up in the morning to 15 wagging tails, lots of licks, and a lot more dog hair floating around than usual.”
The shepherd-mix puppies are around 10 weeks old, and the owner accesses the facility throughout the day to feed and visit with them.
“I am so grateful for the generosity and collaboration that the RDNO Dog Control Officers have shown to me and my dogs,” the owner said.
“During such a stressful time, they have helped take one thing off my plate while I wait to return home.”