Canada bans import of dogs from 100 countries
Eight-month-old Nike is a new arrival to Canada from the country of Oman.
“We were able to bring him to Canada along with two other little wadis,” said Anne Hoekema, a volunteer with Extraordinary Galgos and Podencos.
Nike has already found a new life and forever home with a family in Esquimalt. He and his sisters are lucky, because life in Oman can be hard for dogs.
“What happens to these little wadi is quite horrendous,” said Hoekema. “They are shot, they are beaten, they are left abandoned and many of them starve to death.”
As of Wednesday, the government of Canada has banned the import of dogs from 100 countries, including Oman. The reason? Those countries have a track record of canine rabies. Canine rabies was eradicated in this country decades ago through a successful vaccination program.
“Rabies is almost 99-per-cent fatal if you don’t catch it before clinical symptoms,” said Dr. Adrian Walton, owner and lead veterinarian at Dewdney Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge.
Walton agrees with the ban. He says a lot of dogs are entering the country that aren’t properly vaccinated for canine rabies.
“Some of the vaccines that they are using are not licensed for use in rabies for here in Canada,” said Walton.
He cites an example from a dog owner who recently came to him. That dog owner allowed him to share their information with CTV News.
The dog was vaccinated, but with a long-expired vaccine.
Penny Stone, the executive director of the Victoria Humane Society, says every dog deserves a good life, no matter where they are from. She believes the positive side of the ban is that more domestic dogs could find a forever home.
The humane society currently has more than 100 dogs up for adoption. On Wednesday, workers there were showing off a new batch of puppies to a group of provincial government employees.
“Unfortunately, with COVID, animals didn’t get spayed and neutered like they should have in remote communities we work in,” said Stone. “There’s a lot of babies having babies.”
Stone estimates there are hundreds of thousands of dogs that need homes in Canada.
Back in Esquimalt, Nike managed to get out of Oman at the 11th hour. As of Wednesday, no more dogs will be allowed into Canada from that country.
As for the Extraordinary Galgos and Podencos group, it says Spain is one of only a handful of countries where the ban does not apply. The group says it will continue to bring dogs from that country into Canada.
Extraordinary Galgos and Podencos has been bringing Spanish greyhounds to Canada since 2016.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
One dead after potential wrong way crash on Highway 401 in Milton: OPP
One person is dead and another is in life-threatening condition after a driver was travelling in the wrong direction on Highway 401 in Milton Sunday, according to police.
Hamas says latest ceasefire talks have ended. Israel vows military operation in 'very near future'
The latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks ended in Cairo after "in-depth and serious discussions,"{ the Hamas militant group said Sunday, reiterating key demands that Israel again rejected.
B.C. man wants homes for thousands of books he soon won't be able to read
In the 10 years since John William started to lose his vision, he's been finding new ways to enjoy his vast personal library.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc insists
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
'The Fall Guy' gives Hollywood a muted summer kickoff with a US$28.5M opening
"The Fall Guy," the Ryan Gosling-led, action-comedy ode to stunt performers, opened below expectations with US$28.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday, providing a lukewarm start to a summer movie season that's very much to be determined for Hollywood.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
William Shatner says he would consider 'Star Trek' return: 'Here comes Captain Kirk!'
The Montreal-born actor, famed for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," says he is open to reprising the iconic role in the sci-fi franchise as long as the storytelling is stellar.