After nearly two weeks in the care of Jasper Bylaw, Sunshine and Princess are moving to a ranch in Prince George.
The dogs, both skinny and skittish, were first seen hanging around Fifth Bridge near the Maligne River with their leashes still attached to their collars Feb. 28. They were captured the following day, after coaxing from concerned Jasperites.
Neither dog had a tattoo or chip and there have been no reports of missing dogs made to the Jasper RCMP, Parks Canada, bylaw or the Jasper Vet Clinic.
“No one’s reported them and they’ve been on the loose almost two weeks,” said Patti Urie, the Jasperite who has taken the lead in finding the dogs a home. “They really need the right home or the right homes, but that’s really hard to find in a small community where dogs aren’t allowed in most rentals.”
Urie was one of the first Jasperites to go out searching for the dogs, Feb. 28. Earlier in the day, she saw a post on Facebook, inquiring if anyone was missing their pets.
When Urie heard the dogs were still on the loose that night, she and Katrina Turcot hit the road to search for them.
“It just pulled on my heart strings seeing the dogs loose and scared,” said Urie who has two dogs of her own.
It didn’t take long before the women found the pups near the Fifth Bridge parking lot, but despite their best efforts, they couldn’t get ahold of them.
“We had them eating out of our hands, but we couldn’t catch them.
“We did everything to try and bring them close to us; we were lying on the ground getting snowed on.”
Urie said the dogs—who, according to their collars, are named Princess and Sunshine—were both hungry and food motivated, but anytime she or Turcot reached for them, they’d run off, circling a few feet away.
“They stayed within five feet of us. They were really hungry and they wanted to eat, but when you motioned to grab their collars they’d dart away.”
Eventually the ladies caught Sunshine—a pup with a golden coat—but she got away when Urie opened the hatch of her car, and they were unable to recapture her that night.
At 11:30 p.m., after three hours in the snow, the women called it a night—but not before setting up a little shelter in an outhouse, propping the door open and laying out towels and food for them.
“We were sad to leave them,” said Urie.
The following day, Parks Canada set up a trap in hopes of coaxing Princess and Sunshine inside, but that didn’t work either.
The pair were finally captured Feb. 29. Princess was caught by a dog walker; Sunshine was caught by Turcot, who once again lured her with food.
The dogs have been temporarily housed by the bylaw department, where they bonded with bylaw officer Neil Jones, and they were also taken to the Jasper Vet Clinic. On March 3 an anonymous donation was made to the clinic to help with the cost of spaying the pups, one of which was believed to have recently had a litter of puppies. Veterinarian Janet Jones spayed the dogs March 5, on her day off.
“There’s a lot of people that care about them,” said Urie, who admits she’d be the first to adopt them if she didn’t already have two dogs and three kids in the house.
“They’re such sweet dogs. They’re going to make great pets.”
On Facebook, Jasperites rallied behind Princess and Sunshine—sharing encouraging words and also raising questions about how they ended up running free with their leashes dangling from their collars.
“It’s a strange story,” said Urie, “but I think at this point it’s clear they’ve been abandoned. If someone appeared today and said ‘Those are my dogs,’ they’d have some explaining to do.
Urie said although the dogs are very timid and shy, they have become very loving and playful with the people they have come to know.
“They’re coming out of their shells.
“It’s such a rewarding feeling to have them run up to you and lick your face after what they’ve been through,” she said, admitting it took some effort to get them to that point.
On March 14, Turcot will bring Sunshine and Princess to Prince George where they will be rehabilitated at a rescue centre before they find their forever homes.
Urie said the centre came highly recommended.
“Now they’ve got a path,” she said.
“I think they’re ready to love and be loved. They have these gentle personalities and they’re going to make a great loyal best friend for someone.”
Nicole Veerman
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