The shooting of a dog tied to a fence on the Stoney Nation in nearby Morley last month has resulted in animal lovers taking note of the challenges faced by the feral and semi-feral dogs living on the Nation.
The shooting of a dog tied to a fence on the Stoney Nation in nearby Morley last month has resulted in animal lovers taking note of the challenges faced by the feral and semi-feral dogs living on the Nation.
One organization who regularly visits the nearby Nation to spay and neuter, work with the community members and rescue unwanted dogs, the Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue, recently received a generous donation to the ‘Morley Pet Project’ program.
The Canmore-based non-profit will be receiving ten large doghouses, complete with adequate insulation, built by Brian Cowan of St. Paul and donated by his daughter, Stacey.
“The people in Morley often need help with dogs being shot, sick dogs, spay and neuter and the rescue of unwanted dogs, ” said Rory O’Neil, director of the Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue organization.
O’Neil said part of her organization’s objective is not only to rescue dogs in need and assist with lowering the population through spay and neuter programs - but also to simply provide proper shelter to prevent animals from freezing to death.
“We rarely find dogs over a couple of years of age. If you don’t bring them in when you find them, they die, ” said O’Neil, adding that many Morley families simply don’t bring their dogs inside their homes.
“This is the best solution for the owners’ dogs. ”
The heart of the organization lies in their foster program - and they are always looking for more foster families.
O’Neil said her organization rescues around 400 dogs annually, with 75 per cent being from the nearby Stoney Nation; many of their rescues are from more isolated areas of the Nation - not just from the Morley townsite; the organization has been working on the Nation since 2000. The biggest problem, according to O’Neil is the abundance of puppies being born on the Nation. The key is to continue to foster healthy relationships with the community members and work with them - not against them.
Cheryl Wallach, spokesperson for the Cochrane and Area Humane Society (CAHS), said there have been positive changes in the community, with respect to animal care, over the last 15 years (since the shelter began working in Morley).
The CAHS also offers a subsidized spay and neuter program (where the owners have to pay a portion of the cost), a ‘Humane Education’ program at the Nation schools, in addition to rescuing unwanted dogs from Morley.
“Community culture, in terms of animal care and welfare, takes a long time to change…it’s hard to be patient when you see the animals paying the price over time, ” said Wallach.
In 2012, the CAHS rescued 297 from the Nation, up from 195 in 2011. Last year, the local shelter took in more than 200 dogs from Morley; Wallach said it’s difficult to gauge whether there are more or less semi-feral and feral dogs in the community due to the large area the Nation covers.
To learn more about the ‘Morley Pet Project’ and to sponsor a doghouse, visit rockymountainanimalrescue.com.
Small insulated doghouses are $250 (fits one dog); medium insulated doghouses are $350 (fits two dogs); and large insulated doghouses are $550 (sleeps several dogs); costs include assembly and delivery.
