Meet the Saskatoon shelter owners who rescue animals from Sask. – and beyond
A local animal rescue is gearing up for their busy time as the weather gets colder - and they have their sights are set on fundraising for a bigger facility.
Hanna’s Haven rehabilitates animals and finds them homes.
Brian and Laura MacKay currently have 25 dogs in their shelter which also doubles as their home.
Because of that they don’t have much of a usable living room because the dogs are part of their family and take up most of the furniture and their dining room is home to about a dozen kennels full of dogs.
The Mackays have been rescuing and finding new homes for animals for 15 years.
The name Hana was the name of the first dog they rescued. They take in mostly dogs, but they get the odd deer or even horse.
Most of them have health issue like Callie who’s blind because of severe cataracts or Skylar who wears a cast after being hit by a car; that scenario not uncommon for them.
Somebody drove over three-year-old Shania with a car in Saskatoon, they say.
The owner couldn’t afford the vet bills so surrendered her to the MacKays with the hopes of eventually getting her back.
“She’s got massive pelvis injuries and crushed left femur and hip as well as severe lung damage so she’s on strict kennel rest,” MacKay says.
Getting the animals nursed back to health takes money as does basic procedures like spaying or neutering and deworming.
“A lot of times out of our own bank account it’s about $15,000 to $20,000 a year.”
A fraction comes from fundraising and local vets offering discounts. They have a GoFundMe page.
trying to raise money to move their shelter operation to a larger building.
They have big plans to expand what they do to include at-risk kids into the program.
“Every dog craves love; every child craves love. We would get trainers to teach them to train the dogs. What an experience for these kids to be able to do that,” Mackay said.
They have more dogs now, due to COVID-19. The MacKays say they get eight calls a day about owners wanting to surrender their pandemic pup. Cold weather is also a factor.
“Right now, we’re kind of in a panic to get animals out of there because it’s getting very cold and they freeze,” she says.
That’s because most of their rescues come from northern Saskatchewan. They partner with shelters there too.
Ten of the current 25 dogs that are staying at their home were shipped from Ghana. The Mackays say they were rescued from the meat trade.
Their laundry room is typically their puppy room but now they call it “the Ghana room.”
They’ve had inquiries coming in from Iraq and Qatar where rescue facilities there want to protect dogs in dire situations.
They’re becoming well known around the world and one of the popular rescue services when people check online.
Both the MacKays have day jobs and luckily 125 volunteers pitch in to help taking care of the animals.
The new building would ideally be on an acreage, but they are working with a realtor to find a warehouse with a lot of space that could be renovated to include a large bathing room and have enough room for the dogs to run and play.
Ultimately a new larger space would help them help more animals in need.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ukraine's army chief reports tactical retreat in the east, and warns of front-line pressure
Ukraine's troops have been forced to make a tactical retreat from three villages in the embattled east, the country's army chief said Sunday, warning of a worsening battlefield situation as Ukrainian forces wait for much-needed arms from a huge U.S. aid package to reach combat zones.
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Murder charge laid after man falls to death from Toronto apartment balcony
One person has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man who fell from a balcony following an altercation inside a Toronto apartment building.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Dozens in Italy give a fascist salute on the anniversary of Mussolini's execution
Dozens of people raised their arms in the fascist salute and shouted a fascist chant during ceremonies Sunday to honor Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary of his execution.
'Do not consume': Gift Chocolate recalled due to undeclared milk, soy
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for a specific chocolate brand sold in Ontario and Quebec.
Laurentian University to spend millions on recommendations in second budget post insolvency, but nothing new to reopen pool
Laurentian University's board of governors approved a budget of just over $201.7 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Zendaya tennis movie ‘Challengers’ scores at weekend box office
Zendaya and castmates Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor have been on a globetrotting press tour to get the word out about Italian director Luca Guadagnino's original film, which opened in 3,477 locations in the U.S. and Canada.