Homeless Husky finally caught

Two months after she first appeared in a North End park with her litter of puppies, a stray Husky cross was finally caught more than three kilometres away.

Little Miss Hobo, as she was called by the residents around Sinclair Park who were feeding her throughout July, resurfaced about two weeks ago in the Margaret Park area.

Area residents Kerry and Karen, who asked that their last names not be printed, befriended the dog, which had settled near the railway tracks behind their home. Karen had seen people throw rocks at the dog, and began feeding it, giving it water and talking to it.

After about a week of interaction, the dog finally became comfortable enough with Karen to come into her backyard. When The Times first reported on the dog in July, it wouldn’t allow any person to come within 10 feet.

“She’s a great dog,” said Kerry. “She wouldn’t come to me, but my wife came to the back gate and the dog came immediately.”

The couple, who have 12- and 18-year-old sons, would have been happy to keep the stray as a pet, but were afraid it would have wreaked havoc with their own five-year-old shih tzu that is used to being the centre of attention.

“Sometimes I think the pecking order in the house is the kids, Goddard (the pet) and then me a distant fourth,” said Kerry.

After discovering that the Winnipeg Humane Society was not accepting strays, Karen and Kerry decided they would need to contact the city’s animal services agency.

“We believed it would be in the best interest of the dog for her to be caught and get the opportunity to go to a good home,” Kerry said.

On Saturday morning, when the dog again came into the backyard, Kerry phoned the animal services agency. After what Kerry called a “stressful” 20 minutes, the dog was finally captured.

“Our 12-year-old was pretty sad when we explained that the dog was going to animal services,” he said. “But we think this is a good dog that someone can enjoy. It’s been a pet for a number of years I’m sure of.”

Tim Dack, chief operating officer for Animal Services, said at press time that the agency had been unable to determine if the dog has any type of identification because it was still quite skittish.

“The animal is doing well, and generally looks to be in good health,” said Dack. “But it is definitely afraid of people.”

Dack said Animal Services would take two weeks to attempt to socialize the dog in order to place it in its adoption program.

If the agency is unable to socialize the dog, it would try to place it at a rescue shelter.

“This dog is certainly going to need someone that is going to spend a lot of time with it,” said Dack. “If we release it, it could bolt right away.”

Kerry said his family’s main concern is that the dog won’t be put down because of their decision to have it caught.

“I know that a number of people are concerned about her fate since reading about her,” said Kerry. “We thought we were doing something good.

To enquire with animal services about adopting a pet, call 982-2155 or drop in to 1057 Logan Ave.