Edmonton Humane Society travels to remote northern Alberta for rescue
The Edmonton Humane Society "em-barked" on a mission on Saturday to rescue a large number of animals from five remote First Nations communities in northern Alberta.
In partnership with the Pet Food Bank of Parkland County, a crew of 15 staff and volunteers travelled early Saturday morning to Atikameg, around 92 kilometres northeast of High Prairie.
Atikameg encompasses five First Nations communities: Whitefish Lake, Loon Lake, Peerless/Trout, Lubicon, and Woodland Cree.
The group rescued 51 animals, including around 20 cats. They will be taken back to EHS, where they will be assessed and treated before being put up for adoption.
The day was overwhelmingly successful, Pet Food Bank of Parkland County president Brenda Martin said.
"There's everything from moms and puppies, to kittens and mom cats, big dogs, little dogs," she said.
"It's very significant, we saved lives today. We gained a great new respect for a northern community that we wouldn't otherwise have had an opportunity to be in. It was very, very successful."
Martin said the rescue mission helped prevent strays from breeding, and alleviates the pressure on the community when it comes to providing medical care for these animals. Erica Jagodzinsky, who lives in Atikameg, said some of the animals end up in the community from people who drive in and abandon them.
The partnership and rescue mission is one EHS would like to expand alongside other agencies across the province to help more animals in remote areas, said Corey Mowles, Director of Operations at EHS.
"Down here ... we do have that veterinary facility, we have a full medical staff here, we have an operations team," he said. "[The animals] can be assessed, they can get whatever care they need, and then we can put them out to their forever home, which would be very beneficial to the animal."
