Loving homes still needed for 17 former Whistler sled dogs

Seventeen former sled dogs are still looking for their forever home.

The dogs were taken into care after the Whistler Sled Dog Company closed its operations. More than 75 dogs from the company have already been placed in homes. The remaining 17 are available for adoption from the Burnaby, Victoria, Sunshine Coast and West Vancouver brances.

“Many of the dogs are very affectionate and sociable,” says Kim Monteith, animal welfare manager for the BC SPCA. “They’ve been used for tours so they are accustomed to being around people and other dogs and are very friendly. Others are really wonderful dogs but they are a bit nervous around people, so they will just need a patient guardian to help them get used to being in a family.”

She says some of the dogs who have been adopted so far were a bit timid in their new homes, but most have adapted well.

“Most of these dogs do best when they are adopted with another sled dog or when there is another dog already in the home,” says Monteith. “We’re looking for homes where the dogs will have access to the outdoors but will be kept indoors and will be part of family life. They have been used to following a routine so a home where there is structure and predictability would also help them to adapt.” While Monteith says the dogs are very quick to learn, new guardians will need to be patient and let the dogs adapt at their own pace. “This is true for every adopted animal, but these dogs have been in a very specific setting and will be experiencing many everyday activities for the first time.”

For more information, visit spca.bc.ca/adopt or visit the branch websites for the BC SPCA Victoria, Burnaby, Sunshine Coast and West Vancouver branches.