Hurricane Harvey rescue dogs arrive at Newmarket's OSPCA centre

Dogs will be ready for adoption in 7 to 10 days

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 11, 2017
By Lisa Queen

Of the 39 dogs rescued from Hurricane Harvey and dropped off at the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals York Region headquarters the morning of Sept. 11, Aurora native Nicole Simone has developed a soft spot for Blitz.

The blue heeler, an Australian cattle dog, has puncture wounds on his face from fending for himself and was found living on a property in Houston.

"He's special," Simone said as she bent to cuddle Blitz at the OSPCA headquarters, just east of Newmarket.

Simone, founder of Toronto-based Redemption Dogs and director of Redemption Paws, led a team of rescuers to Texas to retrieve the dogs, which had been in shelters and foster homes before the hurricane hit or had been surrendered by owners unable to care for them after their homes were devastated.

"The transport was very emotional when they were loading the dogs (in Houston)," said Simone, who now lives in Toronto but ran a dog rescue organization when she lived in Aurora.

"People were saying goodbye. They may as well have been sending their dogs to the moon. Toronto is nowhere near Houston. A spectacular team of people came together so quickly and the community donated so we could financially make the transport happen."

Holding on to Great Dane "best friends" Lady and Charlie, Hamilton's Shawn Witzell, with Redemption Paws, made the trek to Houston, which began Sept. 7 and ended when three vans and an SUV rolled into the OSPCA the morning of Sept. 11.

"It was long travels," he said. "We were obviously trying to get there very fast to get the animals out that were in need."

"They are obviously helpless animals at a time of need. If we can't do it, then who else will? I think all the dogs have had a rough couple of weeks, let's just say that. It was pretty upsetting seeing some of the owners who were releasing their animals because they couldn't care for them due to the hurricane, but this is why this organization is here and this is why we do it."

Tanya Firmage, chief of humane programs and community outreach with the OSPCA, said the organization is pleased to give the dogs a second chance at having happy homes after they have endured so much.

"We're really happy to help in this way with resources," she said.

"It's very sad (for the people who gave up the dogs), but it's one of the most kind things to do knowing these trucks were leaving the disaster."

In addition to the OSPCA, Redemption Paws partnered with other organizations to rescue and adopt the dogs, including Collingwood-based Georgian Triangle Humane Society and the Welland and District SPCA.

The dogs, some of which have special needs, will be available for adoption in a week to 10 days. For more information, visit www.redemptionpaws.org.

More dogs will be coming next month, Simone said.

They are animals found following the hurricane. Owners are being given a chance to claim them before they are adopted, she said.