Groups in La Ronge racing to rescue as many animals as they can after wildfires force evacuation
Dozens of animals have been taken south to safety, but hundreds remain behind
While residents of La Ronge and the surrounding area have escaped from northern Saskatchewan's wildfires to safer spots, many of their pets had to be left behind.
Residents of La Ronge, along with those in Air Ronge, the Lac La Ronge reserve and everywhere within a 20-kilometre radius, were ordered to evacuate late Monday afternoon, after nearby communities got the same direction earlier in the day due to fast-moving fires in the area.
On Tuesday, another notice went out for all non-essential personnel to leave town. Firefighters and an ambulance crew are among the few people left in town, the town's mayor said.
So far, between 10,000 to 15,000 people have been forced to leave their homes due to fires in the province, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said Wednesday.
Jayme Woodhouse McKenzie, who owns Pawsitive Attitude Dog Training in La Ronge, waited until the wildfire entered the town before fleeing with about 30 animals to Prince Albert, approximately 215 kilometres to the south of La Ronge.
Woodhouse McKenzie and others originally had set up a base at the rink in La Ronge and began gathering vulnerable animals.
But that all changed on Tuesday.
"All of a sudden the fire got, like, super bad, and it came to our town and it started to burn a few shops on the main drag," Woodhouse McKenzie said.
She loaded up "three van loads of cats and dogs" and headed out, she said.
"We had to go through the fires, and we got stuck on one side of La Ronge for a while because the fires were so bad, and then eventually made it through," she said from Prince Albert.
But hundreds more animals had to be left behind in La Ronge and the surrounding communities, she said.
Chelsie Breeze with Northern Animal Rescue in La Ronge is among the people taking care of animals that were moved south, as well as those left behind.
"We're working with local families as well who had to leave pets behind, having them message us to our Northern Animal Rescue Facebook account so that we can start to get to those animals [out] as well," Breeze said.
Breeze, Woodhouse McKenzie and others on their team are now on their way back to La Ronge to rescue more animals.
"It's such a small amount [of pets saved so far], and that's why we want to go back and try and get as many as we can, or at least feed them," said Woodhouse McKenzie.
"We have lots of donations of food … so we're going to go and feed as many animals as we can and leave out water."
Breeze said it's been busy making sure the animals have food and water, and also freeing any that are tied up so they can run from fire if needed.
On top of that is "having to make some really quick, hard decisions about which animals to take and which to leave behind," Breeze said.
A transport truck has been made available to Northern Animal Rescue, which hopes to get many more animals to safety.
"I'm not worried about material things," Breeze said. "I just pray and hope that everybody has insurance and things like that. But the living, breathing animals are my number 1 priority."
Pet help
In Saskatoon, Furbaby Pet Care is offering free services to animals that have escaped the wildfires.
"Your pets are most likely just as stressed as [the owners]," said Furbaby owner Jocelyn Davey-Hawreluik.
"We're here to help your pets get some exercise, to make sure that they get some rest. "
The Hague Lake Pet Resort in Hague, just north of Saskatoon, posted on Facebook that it has space for dogs that have been affected by the wildfires.
Breeze said people can help in a number of ways, including monetary donations through the Northern Animal Rescue website or offering shelter, "whether it be permanent or just temporary until we can relink animals with their family."
"We are feeding a large number of dogs in northern Saskatchewan," so food donations or kennels are also needed, she said.
Up-to-date info on active fires, smoke and related topics is available at these sources:
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