A lucky little canine is safe after surviving on its own in the forest in Prince Albert National Park, thanks to a group effort from concerned residents and volunteers who refused to give up. The ordeal began after a cyclist spotted the dog wandering near the Narrows intersection, about four kilometres southwest of the Waskesiu townsite. Word quickly spread through social media, prompting a community-wide effort to bring the pup to safety. Kelly Patrick came across the cyclist stopped in a ditch along the forested roadway. “I stopped and I said, ‘Are you okay?’” Patrick said. “And he said, ‘Yeah, I’m okay.’ Then I said, ‘Well, what are you doing?’ He goes, ‘Well, there’s a dog that I just saw that ran into the trees.’ And I said, ‘Well, did you call the park?’” While park officials were notified, Patrick also turned to Facebook to inform others about the missing dog. “We were all concerned because the bugs are very bad. There are a lot of foxes and coyotes.” Video of the dog roaming through the woods quickly circulated online, drawing widespread attention. Social media users expressed concern about the dangers the animal faced in an area known to be home to predators. It’s unclear how long the dog had been wandering through the wilderness, but it spent at least one night on its own. The dog remained elusive as more people joined the search. Despite attempts to lure it with treats and friendly calls it kept its distance. David Magnussen, a dog behaviourist, said that reaction wasn’t unusual. “Seeing the dog, seeing his pupils and energy, that’s a dog that was actually wanting to not be held captive anymore, wherever he was,” Magnussen said. He says while dogs are descendants of wolves and still possess natural survival instincts that can help them endure for a short time in the wild, a small domestic dog faces significant risks alone. “He doesn’t have all the skills. He’s a smaller creature. Even a bigger dog in the wild is going to be hunted by a pack of coyotes or a pack of wolves.” It took some quick thinking from a rescuer armed with a net to safely capture the dog. After an adventure that captured the attention of many across the region, the pup is now recovering in foster care in Humboldt. Magnussen says the rescue also serves as a reminder that while dogs retain some natural instincts, proper training, care and responsible ownership are essential to keep them safe and thrive.
