Man Rescues Pets Left Behind During Wildfire Evacuation

Quick Smiles:

• Jason Card, a resident of Yellowknife, Canada, responded to wildfire evacuation orders by heading towards the fires to rescue pets left behind in the town of Behchokǫ, in the Northwest Territories province. Card, his teenage child, and his 80-year-old stepfather managed to rescue a full truckload of pets.
• Despite the darkness and further logistical challenges, the team continued their rescue efforts, even when the highway was temporarily closed. Their dedication led to the rescue of more than 30 dogs and several cats.
• Dr. Michelle Tuma from Vets Without Borders Canada, upon learning about Card’s mission, assisted by arranging for temporary housing for the rescued pets in Yellowknife. She praised Card’s efforts as heartwarming and reflective of the strong community spirit in the North.

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In response to wildfire evacuation orders in several Canadian towns, a man named Jason Card from Yellowknife decided to drive towards the fires with the intent of rescuing pets left behind.

The town of Behchokǫ, located in the Northwest Territories province and directly in the path of the fires, had just issued an evacuation order when Card headed for the local SPCA, loaded up his truck with dog crates, and drove into the fire zone.

Joining him on this mission were his teenage child and 80-year-old stepfather.

They traveled 63 miles from Yellowknife to Behchokǫ and arrived to find residents in the midst of evacuation.

By 8:00 PM, their truck was filled with pets. As Card shared with national news, as soon as they reached the town and people discovered their mission, they were approached by numerous individuals requesting assistance with their pets.

They filled every available kennel.

Despite the late hour, they unloaded the mostly canine passengers, turned around, and drove back to Behchokǫ, arriving back in Yellowknife at 5:00 AM.

Upon hearing of Card’s efforts, Dr. Michelle Tuma from Vets Without Borders Canada in Yellowknife reached out to help find temporary housing for the animals in Yellowknife while their owners safely evacuated.

After only a few hours of sleep, the rescuers returned to the road, only to find the highway closed.

While considering alternate transportation options, such as fitting as many dogs as possible on a plane, they were informed that the highway had reopened.

They resumed their previous rescue operations, ultimately saving more than 30 dogs and several cats.

Dr. Tuma commended Card’s efforts, describing them as “insanely heartwarming” and reflective of the strong sense of community present in the North.

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