Scotlund Haisley of HSUS and his team of fellow angels have been hard at work again, this time deep in the woods of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Québec.
The Team standing amongst 100 poles and chains ending over a decade of suffering. Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec Sled Dog Rescue 11.17.09
In his own words, here is Scotlund’s account of the rescue:
Yesterday we rescued approximately 100 husky mixes who had spent their lives hauling tourists through the snow as part of a commercial sled dog business. After the dogs had been used for everything they had the business went belly-up and they were left to deteriorate on the ends of chains in the cold Canadian woods. Luckily, thanks to our team and our friends at the SPCA Laurentides-Labelle, these dogs’ story would not end here.
Happy to see Scotlund
When we arrived at the scene yesterday morning we were prepared to experience some distrust or skittishness from these animals but as we approached they strained excitedly against their bindings to reach us and receive the love they so desperately desired. It is an amazing reward for an animal rescuer to be licked by grateful dogs who have been confined in a cage or, in this case, on a chain their entire existence.
These dogs stuck to us like Velcro as we made our way through the wooded clearing releasing them from their heavy shackles. These abandoned souls were the ultimate victims of man’s incredible capacity for greed – forced to work themselves to exhaustion for the monetary gain of their captor all while being forced to live in neglectful confinement. These hard-working dogs received no reward for their labor but yesterday they finally got the reward they deserved. They are on their way to living the life every dog should have – a member of a loving family who goes for walks and sleeps on a bed.
After a long, cold day trudging through the mud, our team let out a collective sigh of relief when the last dog was finally safe on our transport vehicle. It was then that we were able to uproot the heavy metal posts and chains, which had enslaved these dogs in six foot circles, from the ground and remove them from the property so they may never cause suffering again.
The day ended on a somber note as the field team stood around the pit in which deceased dogs had been thoughtlessly discarded. We had a moment of silence for those we were too late to save and spoke words of remorse for the potential for joy and fulfillment that was stolen from these amazing animals. We almost did not want to leave the property, as we had become connected to the ghosts of hundreds of dogs who perished before they could taste freedom and experience love.
The ugly truth of neglect
Approximately 100 deserving dogs are now receiving medical care and attention from dedicated staff and volunteers from United Animal Nations, Humane Society International, the SPCA Laurentides-Labelle and HSUS at our emergency shelter. Later this week the team will set forth on another transport, which will take these former sled dogs further along their journey home.
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Rebecca Aldworth, Director of Humane Society International/Canada also shares her account of the rescue:
Imagine being left in a forest, chained to a tree, without regular access to proper food, clean water or adequate shelter. Imagine growing more and more desperate as the days and weeks go by, your cries unanswered.
For approximately 100 neglected sled dogs in Quebec, this was reality until their owner surrendered them, and Humane Society International and the SPCA Laurentide-Labelle arrived to rescue them.
As we walked onto the property, my heart broke. The huskies had been chained to plywood structures over barren stretches of frozen mud. Hungry and dehydrated, they were unable to move more than the two-meter radius their chains permitted.
I am always amazed by the power of dogs to forgive. It was as if they realized we were there to help them, and slowly the miserable, emaciated huskies began to wag their tails as we approached. The dogs began to bark in excitement, but one remained quiet, waiting as his friends were rescued. I went to him and, as I grew closer, I realized he was blind because of cataracts–another casualty of the neglect these dogs endured. Carefully, we walked him to freedom, and the promise of a better life.
We arrived just in time. Winter is coming, and many of these dogs may not have survived without our intervention. With extreme cold temperatures approaching, these dogs–including a number of puppies–could have faced a horrific death.
Thankfully, our rescue operation was a complete success. One by one, we led or carried the dogs into our Emergency Services vehicle, and transported them to our emergency shelter an hour away–space generously donated by a local businessperson. There, dedicated volunteers from United Animal Nations will provide round-the-clock care, while SPCA LL veterinarians will treat and vaccinate the dogs. Once healthy, these deserving dogs will be adopted out to loving homes in Canada and the United States.
While these lucky dogs are now safe in their warm, temporary enclosures, so many more less fortunate animals across Canada still face neglect and abuse. With your help, we can ensure sled dogs and other animals do not have to face this kind of misery again.
Together, we can make animal suffering a thing of the past.
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Someone posted this on facebook. I’m just so thankful that these dogs were saved from starving and freezing to death! I hope every single one finds a loving home and the life they so deserve. No telling how many more are out there that we don’t know about. Bless this group for their rescue efforts and dedication to the lives of helpless animals!
Are the “people” responsible for leaving these dogs going to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law?
CC – Bless them indeed! They are tireless in the work they do for abused and neglected animals. It’s frustrating not being able to save them all but for every one they do save, there is so much gratitude and appreciation.
According to Scotlund, all of the huskies have now been placed in shelters or foster homes across North America and are awaiting the loving forever homes they deserve.
Lynda
Hello James,
The owner of these dogs voluntarily surrendered them to the SPCA Laurentides-Labelle in exchange for no charges being laid. On the side of justice, of course, that leaves many of us feeling that it wasn’t served, and that he basically got away with animal abuse and neglect, but in the end I think the most important thing is that these dogs were rescued and now at least have the chance for a better life. :)
Thanks for stopping by!
Lynda
As you say, it is a trade off between rescuing the dogs while most are still alive or charging the person who allowed them to suffer. The heartening thing is that dogs respond so immediately to kindness – it is plain to see their relief in the photos (which I found on Facebook). A husky will work hard, all it wants in return is adequate food and shelter, plus the respect it deserves.
The rescuers did a fantastic job, it must have been heart rending for them to see the state of the place.
I hope they publish some ‘after’ pix as thousands of animal lovers would love to see them.
hi i think that is sick those dods deserve more to life than being negleted and starved
What these guys did was amazing, and I’m so happy they were there for them. My dog, now a year, was a puppy born from one of these dogs. I have contact with the man who has her mom and she has recovered amazingly and is a good loving home. My dog never has to live like that, and it’s amazing that anyone could make any animal live such conditions. Some people are just too sick.
Just like Nikki I am a proud owner of one of these dogs. He unfortunately lived his first 11 months of his life in those conditions and was one of the poor dogs chained up. That is actually him in the background of the first picture with dogs in this article (where the dog is kissing the man in the green).
He is happy as can be now, and loves his new home. It has definitely taken work but his trust in myself and the rest of the family grows stronger by the day.
Now he just needs to listen when we call him to come to us lol!!!!!