B.C. floods nearly derails animal rescue's plans to bring dogs from China to Calgary
A two month long project to bring 16 rescue dogs from China to Calgary almost veered off track thanks to highway closures caused by widespread flooding and mudslides in B.C.
"It's been a tremendously challenging project," said Clarissa von Stetten of Calgary-based Rescue Friends Animal Foundation, "There's been a lot of collaboration between different groups and agencies, and a lot of hiccups along the way."
Rescue Friends Animal Foundation had been waiting for the dogs' arrival in Vancouver from China, and a team of Calgary volunteers were supposed to drive them back to the city.
When news of the road closures hit, the dogs were already preparing to leave China and time was ticking to find a solution. That's when Wings of Rescue came to the rescue.
Rescue Friends Animal Foundation had been waiting for the dogs' arrival in Vancouver from China, and a team of Calgary volunteers were supposed to drive them back to the city.
"We were very fortunate that Wings of Rescue offered to fly the dogs coming into Vancouver from China, to Calgary," said von Stetten, "We wouldn't have been able to complete this mission without them."
The U.S.-based charity helps transport at-risk animals from overcrowded, high-kill shelters to ones that have more space. The organization anticipates it will fly its 60,000th animal to safety this week.
All 16 rescue dogs are now safe with their respective foster families in Calgary.
"Some of these dogs have been rescued from the streets and puppy mills, but by in large, it's the meat trade that a lot of the rescues in Asia focus on," said von Stetten.
The dogs are set to quarantine for at least two weeks before they are put up for adoption.
For more information on how to adopt one of these rescues, visit the Rescue Friends Animal Foundation website, here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.