When wildfires swept across northern Manitoba this summer, thousands of residents faced the devastating choice of leaving their homes behind. For many, that also meant saying a painful goodbye to their pets, unsure if they’d ever see them again.
As entire communities were evacuated under emergency orders, pets were often left with no place to go. That’s when the Manitoba Animal Alliance (MAA) stepped in, launching rescue missions to retrieve animals stranded by the fires and reunite them with their families.
“There’s nowhere in the registration process that records whether evacuees have their pets with them,” explained Debra Vandekerkhove, founder of MAA. “That creates a bottleneck – hundreds of animals are left behind with no support system.”
During the first major evacuation, MAA rescued 68 dogs, bringing the number of animals in their care to more than 140.
Heading North When Others Head South
While most people fled the flames, Vandekerkhove and her dog Ripley headed straight toward them – travelling north to deliver thousands of pounds of food and to check on stranded pets.
One of those rescues led to a powerful reunion. A senior black Labrador named Cookie, who had been separated from her family weeks earlier, was finally reunited with them in Cross Lake. “We’ve known Cookie for about eight years,” said Vandekerkhove. “Seeing her go home to the people who love her was incredibly emotional.”
A Long-Term Issue Made Worse
Vandekerkhove, who has worked in northern First Nation communities for years running spay and neuter programs, said this issue isn’t new – but the wildfire crisis has made it worse.
“We’re aware of animals being released at evacuation centres because they weren’t allowed inside,” she explained. “This has been going on for years, but it’s especially heartbreaking now when families are already under so much stress.”
She is calling on the province to ensure future emergency plans keep families and pets together during evacuations.
Hope For The Future
With more evacuations expected before the end of the fire season, MAA continues to seek foster homes and volunteers to help care for displaced pets. For Vandekerkhove, every reunion is a reminder of why their work matters.
“These animals are part of people’s families,” she said. “They deserve to come home, too.”
