A wandering spirit comes home
This is a story about Lola the Husky and how three Rescue Organizations came together to help bring her home. On September 29, 2014, Lola flew from the Northwest Territories SPCA (NWTSPCA) via Animal Rescue Transfer System (ARTS) for Sundance CRS to take over her care.
Lola was terrified in the truck as we drove to her foster home and she didn’t like her leash too much either, but she bonded with Rebecca, her new foster Mom. After dropping Lola off with Rebecca they continued to bond and Lola was kept on a leash while outside for the rest of that evening. The next morning, Lola was let outside to do her thing and in a blink of an eye she was gone.
The search began. Rebecca was the lead searcher and was joined by Carolyn Maciejko form ARTS and Liz Panhurst from GEARS to continue the search. Lola led them to the Millcreek Ravine, filled with a long path, dense forest areas, and coyotes. She would let people see her, but when approached she would bolt. Lola’s “brother” Tundra had been surrendered with her and the search team thought they would bring Tundra down from NWTSPCA to assist in the search for Lola. Tundra arrived two weeks after Lola disappeared, and was also placed with Rebecca as a foster.
After weeks of searching turned into months and the sightings were less and less, these three ladies and Tundra continued to search for Lola. On March 27, 2015, a school bus driver spotted her and two other dogs playing in the rural properties off 17 Street and Ellerslie Road.
Liz from GEARS notified Carolyn from ARTS that she had sighted our girl running with a buddy down 17 Street near 34 Avenue. Carolyn called Rebecca and the two of them were again on the hunt for Lola. They decided to meet and, Rebecca being directionally challenged, turned right instead of left. Good luck was following Rebecca that day as she spotted Lola and her buddy running in front of her. She jumped out of her vehicle trying to coax the dogs toward her. Just then, a one-ton vehicle drove by and spooked the dogs.
Rebecca took dog food from the vehicle and started throwing it as far as she could, throwing the food closer and closer until Lola was taking food from Rebecca’s hand. Animal Control showed up to assist in the search and took Lola’s little buddy Tundra into custody, but kept him close to Lola. Four attempts later with a snap-leash and Lola was caught. Rebecca put her into the car, and then the celebrating began!
Tundra and Lola have now been adopted by Rebecca and are doing well.