Here, There & Everwhere in Canadian Animal Rescue: June 2015

UPDATE: AS OF JULY 24TH AVALNCHE IS BACK HOME IN NEWFOUNDLAND WITH HIS FAMILY!!!

I would like to personally thank everyone who has stood by Avalanche's family throughout the six months they searched for their boy. What a long road to successfully retrieve this gorgeous boy but it was well worth it. I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with Avalanche the day I returned him back to his family & I can tell you that he is one happy, affectionate boy. Having been around dogs my entire life, I can say definitively that this husky had never been abused given his sweet demeanour. The only abuse & cruelty suffered by this dog was at the hands of the suspect in this case & the lady who he was shipped to in Nova Scotia. I certainly hope all involved are charged by law enforcement with theft, animal cruelty and lying to the authorities at the very least.

This is a link to the video of Avalanche's homecoming where he was greeted by his loving owners Samantha Piercey and Tyler Parsons & their family & friends: https://www.facebook.com/Candizzy/videos/10153476666969244/?pnref=story

Here are a few of my favourite homecoming pictures:

Getting to know Samantha & Tyler has been nothing less than a privilege, they are beautiful people that will always remain in my heart & in my life as family.

UPDATE: As of July 5th-2015 the second home in Nova Scotia (Bedford-Halifax area) that Avalanche aka Nicco had resided in has been identified. This person has also admitted to accepting this husky (now known as Nicco) from Linda who initially received this dog from Newfoundland.

Samantha Piercey and Tyler Parsons have had to deal with false allegations of abuse and neglect in regards to their dog over the past few weeks. In light of that, they have been collecting proper documents and statements from neighbours and the city to refute all accusations which only seek to discredit them and offer the criminals in this matter unjust validation for their actions. This act, stealing a dog without authority, is a criminal matter. It is not just, it was not handled properly from the onset. If anyone actually had a valid concern for the well being of Avalanche, it should have been addressed. It can be logically concluded from the lack of due process that the actions in this matter were not justified and any allegations against the owners should be dismissed in regards to this dog.

Below is an updated picture of Avalanche aka Nicco during his brief stay in his second home in Nova Scotia with Darci. The owners have positively identified the husky in this picture as Avalanche but have yet to be afforded the opportunity to do so first hand. Whomever has Avalanche aka Nicco now should know that they are in possession of a stolen dog. The reward of $2,000.00 for anyone with information as to his whereabouts that leads to the successful retrieval and return of Avalanche will be paid.

The evening of January 22nd - 2015 in Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, a husky by the name of Avalanche broke off his tether in his yard and ran down the road with his owners running after him. Over five months later, Avalanche is still missing and his owners have done everything they possibly can to try to get him home where he belongs. Due to the uncooperative people involved in this open police investigation the family has decided it's time to release the evidence that has been accumulated to try to rally public support to get their boy home.

Where better to start this ongoing nightmare than at the beginning. I received a message on Facebook from a former friend in regards to a husky that I had posted to my social media pages. Below are the messages from my personal Facebook which commenced on January 26th - 2015:

After dealing with this message I knew without a doubt that someone had taken this dog, that he would not be found. I contacted Samantha Piercey and that is when I became completely involved and dedicated to trying to help her, Tyler Parsons and the rest of Avalanche's family find their husky. Having been through the trauma of having a lost dog in my family, I knew how they were feeling. Little did a few of us realize how incredibly corrupt a situation this would actually become.

In April 2015 a witness had come forward to provide the following information (witness is protected for her own safety):

On Jan 26, while volunteering at the Exploits Valley SPCA I noticed there was a Husky dog at the shelter.

On Feb 9, while volunteering the Husky dog was still there.

On Feb 23, while I was volunteering Husky dog was still there and that's when picture was taken. (see attached picture)

My next shift was March 9 and the Husky dog was gone.

I inquired where did the Husky go and why I never saw him posted on Exploits Valley SPCA website to be up for adoption. I was told that he was sent to Halifax to a Husky rescue group.

I was told that the dog was from Grand Falls and was neglected and was taken by neighbours of the owners and brought to the SPCA, and that's why he was not posted up for adoption.

Approx. 3 or 4 weeks ago I saw the facebook page about the missing dog Avalanche. I again inquired if the Husky that was at the shelter was the missing Husky Avalanche from CBS, I was told no the dog was from Grand Falls and not to discuss any further.

Along with this witness statement we received the following picture taken with the Expolits Valley SPCA in Newfoundland:

Not long after this revelation, information in regards to Avalanche was starting to filter in from Nova Scotia contacts. I was messaged with the name of a woman who in fact had received a husky from Newfoundland on March 2nd - 2015 from the suspect in this case. I knew of the woman who had received this dog. Since the arrival of Avalanche aka Nicco on March the 2nd he is now in his 3rd home located in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Below are my conversations with the lady who initially homed this boy, now called Nicco, in Nova Scotia:

In the middle of April 2013 multiple posts were discovered on Facebook in regards to Nicco. One was posted to the Wolfville, NS Animal Hospital who had posted a found husky seeking owner. Another post was on the Nova Scotia Lost Dog Network seeking owner. These posts are below:

Two days after this huskies picture was on Facebook he was re-homed.

The below screen shot was a courtesy post and did not place Nicco, the prior owner had, the rescue simply posted upon request to draw interest. They had not known he was stolen:

Perhaps the most damning evidence is what will be posted below. After you read the following texts re-read the screen shots above between myself and the lady who initially homed this husky in Nova Scotia. Please note the date these messages were sent on the top of the first screen shot to the witness who will remain unnamed:

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary I have been told does have other evidence, there are witnesses that have yet to be questioned. With the limited evidence I have, I'm not really sure why this dog has not yet been retrieved and returned home.

What I do know is while hundreds of people were out searching for a husky named Avalanche on foot, with drones and in cars, chasing down what could very well be fake sightings to keep the masses occupied, multiple people had knowledge of this dog and said nothing. I think that is what angers me a great deal. How could someone know this stolen dog was in their possession and say nothing?

Another thing that bothers me, as an animal welfare activist is the amount of suffering this dog has endured in five months. He was taken, hidden, harboured, homed, re-homed & then homed again. From the pictures I have seen, this dog was not emaciated, he was clumping out. What right does someone think they have to knowingly commit a crime and laugh at the public while they are thinking they are getting away with it? Five locations in five months and why? Why was this dog actually taken? Because someone knew they could take him and not have to face the consequences of their actions because they can intimidate the people around them.

The person who has done this to this dog has committed a far greater abuse to this husky in my personal opinion. I asked for proof of neglect and abuse, no one offered any. I asked for people to do what was right, they have failed to do so. I, along with others have notified the Justice Departments in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland asking for help for this family. People may not like the animal welfare laws as they are at this moment in time but the laws are not in place to protect the animals alone. The laws in animal welfare are balanced to protect the owners and the animals. True animal activists know that the people are just as important as the animals. There must be a balance. Balance is thrown off when people take it upon themselves to set their own standards and act on them without consequence. If you or I have a dog on a tether they are in jeopardy, it doesn't matter if you don't have a fence. If your dog or mine is not plump, are they neglected? If you see clumps of fur on my husky is it neglected? The minute we allow people to get away with acts such as the one that has happened to Avalanche we needn't bother with the law, it becomes null and void.

In closing, whomever has this boy, Avalanche aka Nicco, please reach out to his family. They are good people. All the rumours, all the lies were created to make this act acceptable and that is absolutely wrong. I have listened to Samantha cry on the phone in frustration and hopelessness because the police in Newfoundland can not or will not do their due diligence in this case. There is absolutely no excuse for what has happened to this husky and his family. Absolutely none.

Avalanche's family would like you to meet their sweet boy, here are a few of their pictures: