MOOSE JAW — After showing up at a nearby farmyard on April 8, two young dogs named Atlas and Ajax were surrendered to the Moose Jaw Humane Society and have since been searching for their forever home. They’ve also been at the shelter longer than any of its current canine or feline residents.
“They are super smart and well-mannered,” said Dana Haukaas, the shelter’s executive director. “The staff here work tirelessly with them throughout the day so they’re excellent walkers.
“They’re really good at sitting and waiting for the staff to open the kennel door,” she continued. “They’ll sit and wait for you to feed them their breakfast. They’re really nice boys.”
Haukaas hopes the pair can find a loving home and any potential candidates can arrange a meeting by calling the shelter.
“We’re still kind of hoping that we will find a family that’s willing (to take these boys), doesn’t have any other pets, (and that’s) willing to take them both together.”
Both Atlas and Ajax are Huskies with a possible Border Colie mixture. They’re around one and a half years old and are a bonded pair. Although the shelter will consider adopting Atlas or Ajax into separate homes, Haukaas said she hopes to see the pair adopted together.
“If you want two dogs, you don’t have to get one now, wait a year, and try to introduce another one,” she said. “These two boys already love each other.”
True to the breed — as Huskies are known to be great family pets but can also be independent and stubborn at times — both Atlas and Ajax can be a little energetic and shouldn’t be adopted into a home with cats or similar small animals.
“They aren’t good with cats,” Haukaas advised with the inclusion of squirrels and other small animals. They do walk well on a leash, but their future owners should keep some distance if they’re about to encounter a small critter such as gopher or squirrel.
“(Atlas and Ajax are) happy-go-lucky boys and they have great manners,” she said. “They can be a little bit excited at the beginning, but then they settle down and trot alongside you for the walk. They can sit and shake a paw (and are) great with kids and adults.”
To help spread the news of their quest for a home, Atlas and Ajax patiently allowed staff at the shelter to dress them up for Halloween.
“Nobody loves Halloween like the humane society staff… And the boys let us put dog goggles and bandanas on them and they just sat there and posed,” said Haukaas. “They are such easygoing dogs (and) they’re going to make great pets for some family.
“They do love each other, and there’s got to be a family out there who doesn’t have cats who is willing to add two dogs to their home.”
The Moose Jaw Humane Society currently has 68 cats, 19 dogs, and one rabbit available for adoption.
To adopt a pet, simply visit MJHS.ca and click the ‘adopt’ tab. An application can be filled out and submitted from the website and you’re free to include as many potential pets as you’re interested in meeting in person.
To celebrate Halloween, the humane society also has a line of Halloween-themed hoodies and crew necks available for purchase at the shelter.
The Moose Jaw Humane Society is located at 1755 Stadacona Street West and can be reached at 306-692-1517. For more information visit MJHS.ca or follow ‘Moose Jaw Humane Society’ on Facebook.
