Warriors welcome four-legged recruits for a ‘pawsome’ practice

MOOSE JAW — It was a ‘ruff’ day at the rink for the Moose Jaw Warriors Hockey Club — but in the best way possible. Running Wild Rescue stopped by to crash a practice match recently with an all-star lineup of six four-legged recruits ahead of an upcoming match.

“The Warriors have a game coming up on March 1, and the theme is a family night. Their jersey is going to feature the Paw Patrol characters, so in order to tie in with that, we’ve partnered up with them and did some videos today of the players with puppies,” said Samantha Fontaine, Running Wild’s fundraising and events co-ordinator.

Fontaine said this was the first major collaboration between Running Wild and the Moose Jaw Warriors, and she’s hopeful that this will continue to develop going forward. “This is our first time (collaborating with the team beyond a few small promotions), and hopefully not our last,” she said.

“It was a really fun time. The players got to hang around on the ice with puppies and got to meet them and socialize with them. (They had) a fun break and a good relaxing time after their practice,” she added. “You know, animal therapy is a real thing, and nothing is better than a hug from a puppy, right?”

Running Wild Rescue was founded in Moose Jaw by Jasmin Wenarchuk and has since grown into a network of people with the same mission. The shelter provides care for dogs, cats, and any other small animals in need.

The shelter doesn’t have a permanent location but relies on a network of around 500 registered foster homes.

In an effort to encourage more adoptions and fostering, Running Wild has announced a temporary reduction in adoption fees to make it more accessible for individuals and families to welcome a new pet into their home.

“So, until the end of February, we’re reducing our adoption fee on any dogs over six months old that have been in care over two weeks,” she said. The reason for the two-week minimum is so each dog can complete its quarantine observation and undergo all necessary veterinary checks.

The adoption fee is normally between $350 and $500, depending on what veterinary services they’ve received and whether or not they were microchipped, and this has now been reduced to $150 until Friday, Feb. 28.

According to Fontaine, the reason is to encourage more residents to adopt a pet so the shelter can clear up space to help more animals. Currently, around 68 dogs are in the care of Running Wild and staff want to ensure dogs found outside in the cold can be accommodated as well.

The organization relies heavily on donations to cover veterinary bills and other essential costs. One way you can support Running Wild is by donating items such as pet food, collars, leashes, kennels, and blankets.

The rescue’s next big event will take place on Saturday, March 1 at Modern Mattress in Moose Jaw. There, guests can buy bowls of chili to support the cause with door prizes available to be won. This event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 27B McKenzie Lane.

“If anybody is ever interested in having adoptable animals come visit their workplace or group, let us know,” Fontaine shared. Running Wild currently visits Central Collegiate during finals and Aspira West Park Crossing on a regular basis, and your organization could be involved with a single call.

You can reach out to the shelter by calling 306-313-1558.

For more information on adopting, fostering, or supporting Running Wild Rescue, visit ‘Running Wild Rescue’ on Facebook or email [email protected].