By Kathy Gallant

Volunteers pull together for pets evacuated from Waterhen Lake

May 19, 2018 | 11:00 AM

As 870 humans fled Waterhen Lake First Nation due to the threat of wildfires on May 15, a number of pets were rescued by the humane society and local volunteers.

Concerned about their pets, residents contacted rescue organizations including the Meadow Lake and District Humane Society. Feeling compelled to help, several of the organization’s volunteers sprang into action. Humane Society President Jillian Doucet said the first step was to see if anyone could go out and retrieve the animals.

“Owners didn’t have the option to bring the pets with them because they were being loaded onto buses and being brought to Red Cross centres in Meadow Lake and Saskatoon,” she said. “Several volunteers collected them, about 30, and by the end of that first night we had 46 dogs and one cat.”

Since those helping had no idea how many animals were coming in, Doucet contacted the City of Meadow Lake and asked if there were any facilities which with space to house the displaced animals and the city offered the local arena. Volunteers were delegated to set up kennels and to record information on each animal. While some pets were brought in by community members, a number were posted to the organization’s Facebook page and many owners responded.

Since then, volunteers have been walking, feeding and cleaning the pets’ kennels during two shifts per day. The organization appealed to the community for more help, and Doucet said people showed up in droves.

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“We’ve had an amazing response from the public,” Doucet said. “The first night there were about 30 people there, so it was kind of a learning curve to get everyone organized. We’ve streamlined things throughout the week. We’re really grateful for the response.”

Karlee Mazuren and her sister Shaylee were part of the group of helpers who went out to the community to gather animals.

“The experience was scary, to say the least,” Karlee said. “As I was driving up the smoke got thicker and we were driving into the line of fire. I just kept telling myself to focus on the people and animals that needed our help.”

Both sisters said they felt compelled to help, both as animal lovers and official band members of the First Nation.

“I wanted to help because I would be super upset and worried if I had to leave my pets behind,” Shaylee said. “So many people have messaged and thanked us since, and we even got invited to a community supper.”

Doucet said she is immensely proud of the response from local community members, humane society volunteers, fellow rescue organizations, and local businesses.

With the evacuation order lifted May 17, arrangements are being made to get the pets back home.

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @ReporterKath