‘These dogs were in cages to die’
Bingo playfully scampered across the parking lot of the Husky Travel Centre, greeting everyone she met with a wagging tail.
The bone-shaped tag she wore on her collar was the only indication that the happy mixed-breed pup had survived a hurricane.
The words “Harvey Refugee” were stamped into the metal tag, identifying the storm that flooded the Texas shelter that the puppy once called home.
Bingo was soon joined by about 20 more dogs, loaded aboard two vans by volunteers from Niagara Dog Rescue on Saturday, rendezvousing at the Husky parking lot in Niagara-onthe-Lake to deliver the dogs to families eager to adopt them, as well as to volunteers willing to take the dogs into foster care until permanent homes can be found for them.
“These dogs from Texas were in a shelter when the hurricane hit,” said Niagara Dog Rescue volunteer Jody Yurchuk, who arrived with two large black and white dogs in the backseat of her car — siblings named Bart and Lisa.
Other arriving dogs were from Georgia.
Although Bart chewed a hole in part of Yurchuk’s seat cover during the trip, it was a small price to pay in exchange for knowing she helped save a life.
She said the dogs were trapped in cages as flood water poured into the shelter during the hurricane.
“These dogs were in cages to die, until they were saved and brought up here,” Yurchuk said.
Niagara Dog Rescue plans to find homes for about 80 dogs, displaced by recent hurricanes.
“It’s a lot of dogs, but we made a commitment as much as we could. And people are being really generous. I send out all the thank you cards, so I know that people are being generous.”
There are, however, far more dogs in need of help.
Yurchuk said about 700 dogs rescued after the hurricanes are currently in a shelter in San Antonio. So far, only 100 have been adopted or placed in foster homes, and the rest need to be relocated before Oct. 15.
She said thinking about them brought tears to her eyes.
While people facing adversity can speak for themselves, “these dogs can’t,” she said.
“They can’t tell you, ‘I would have died if this lady didn’t bring me over.’”
Bingo arrived early, brought across the border by Niagara Dog Rescue volunteers and Grimsby residents Tim and Heidi Shaw. They already had a home for Bingo. Heidi’s brother David Ade was planning to adopt the cute inquisitive puppy.
Another puppy named Stella, rescued from an animal shelter in Georgia that was hit by hurricane Irma, was heading home with Pat Millard from Acton.
“I’m fostering her, but I’m probably going to ask if I can adopt her,” Millard said as she cuddled the timid puppy.
Meanwhile, Sue Gaudet and her daughter Alivia patiently waited in the parking lot for the arrival of the foster dog they were bringing home.
It’s the second time they’ve volunteered to provide a foster home for Niagara Dog Rescue. The first time they ended up adopting the dog they were supposed to be temporarily caring for, a mixed-breed known as a potcake rescued from St. Lucia about a month ago.
“She didn’t know what a house was like, or anything. Everything was a big change for her,” Gaudet said.
But it didn’t take long for the dog to find a comfortable place in the family’s Thorold home as well as in their hearts.
“It’s not easy to give them up,” Gaudet said. “She fit in right away, so we couldn’t part with her.”
This time, however, “we’re going to do this right,” she said.
More information about Niagara Dog Rescue is available online atwww.niagaradogrescue.org.