It had been a long day. Up early as the sun started to rise in Alberta, loaded onto a plane and then flown across the country. and now, dark again when landing on the tarmac at Halifax International Airport. On board, 16 dogs of from the Northwest Territories who had already been through a lot in their young lives.
It was September 2023 when the Nova Scotia SPCA was approached by Veterinarians Without Borders to help with dogs evacuated from the Hay River, NWT Animal Shelter. First relocated to Alberta, they now needed to find a new place for shelter and adoption. Of the 16 animals transported by Wings of Rescue, 11 were unnamed puppies.
Foster families, media, and volunteers came out to meet, help, and talk about the puppies. Now, a year later, we catch up with some of the pups and their families to hear about their first year in Nova Scotia.
“Delta is doing awesome! She loves the pool jumping in and out. She loves chasing anything and eating everything! She loves to cuddle and goes bonkers trying to get attention from the cats. She has the cutest puppy eyes that are hard to say no to. We absolutely love her and are very happy we adopted her, she has become a huge part of our family!” – Leah B., adopter
“Nahanni has settled into her loving home. She enjoys spending time with her older cat brother Alfie, rolling around in her dog pool, and playing catch with her ball in the backyard. We love watching her sniff flowers on our walks, and swimming in any body of water she can find – no matter how small! We feel extremely lucky to have been able to adopt Nahanni, as she brings such joy to us, and she gives the best hugs. We are eternally grateful for the volunteers from the Hay River area who saved Nahanni and her friends during the evacuation, as well as all the organizations that worked so hard to give these 16 dogs a second chance.” – Hannah C., adopter
“Louise was originally a foster with us, but she was so sweet with our 2-year-old we decided to keep her with our family. She has made herself at home ever since! We kept her name, though she also goes by “Lou” and “Louie”. Our little one is obsessed with her, and they are best pals. Louise is just as sweet as always and sometimes needs a reminder that she is a big girl and not a lap dog, as she loves nothing more than cozying up for cuddles.” – Rachel W., adopter
“Char loves playing outside in the backyard and recently in her puppy pool. She loves all four of her human brothers but is exceptionally close to the youngest Logan, who is six. She’s a happy girl who loves to be with her family and always has a look on her face that you can’t help but smile when she’s around. We absolutely couldn’t have found a more perfect addition to our family than Char.” – Kelsey S., adopter
“Moose is now named Axel. He’s a wicked smart boy, learning so quickly. He already loves to go off-leash at the dog park and play with others. He’s learning all his commands in German. We love him so much; he’s come so far since we brought him home thanksgiving weekend. He’s our little goofball. He loves to dance, and greatly enjoys pestering his big sister, but she manages to love him anyways.” – Jordan T., adopter
“Friends of ours had been up in Hay River filming a nature documentary when the first broke out and forced them to evacuate. We asked for their advice on a new name for MacKenzie with relevance to the area. The suggestion they had was to name her after Winnie’s Cafe which was a renowned arts spot and cafe outside Hay River they really enjoyed and was a staple of the community. The Rose part comes from wild rose prominent in Alberta and southern NWT. We live on the Commons and she has a wonderful group of dog buds to play with. She just turned 1 year old last month and is growing fast at about 60+ lbs.” – Geordie M., adopter
Tundra’s journey took an unexpected and heartwarming turn when a former Yellowknife, NWT resident, attended a wedding and learned about Tundra from his cousin, who was fostering her. Deeply moved by her story, he felt an immediate connection and decided to meet her. “Earning Jack’s trust was a challenging but enriching process. With consistent training, unwavering attention, and boundless love, Jack blossomed from a cautious, timid dog into a confident, sociable companion. Her Dad guided her every step, transforming her fear into courage. Today, Jack’s life is a whirlwind of joy and social engagements. She attends doggy day camp weekly, where she plays with her friends. She enjoys regular playdates with her “auntie” Indie, the cousin’s dog who initially fostered her. Jack revels in off-leash hikes and games of fetch, her vibrant spirit shining through her love for puddles, which she gleefully submerges herself in at every opportunity.” – Curtis H., adopter
“We adopted Aurora, but we changed her name to Ginko (keeping Aurora as her middle name). She is such a unique dog, so a bit of an adjustment having had nothing but Siberian Huskies for over 20 years. However, she fits in beautifully with our family, and her two Siberian Husky brothers adore her. She is incredibly sweet, intelligent, and observant. Her hobbies include shredding plush toys, chewing on baseboards, and roughhousing with her brothers. She hasn’t met a cheese that she doesn’t like. She is an enthusiastic tailwagger. When she beats the couch with her tail, I mimic her with my hand, and she goes crazy, she loves it. She is the most affectionate dog I’ve ever had.” – Dana M., adopter