As flames tear through Manitoba’s northern communities, a heart-wrenching side effect has emerged from the chaos—hundreds of family pets left behind as residents fled with only moments to gather essentials.
“I had to make an impossible choice,” says Jennifer Lavallee, who evacuated from Lynn Lake last Thursday with her three children but couldn’t take their two cats. “The evacuation bus wouldn’t allow animals, and we had no vehicle. My kids are devastated.”
Similar stories echo across Manitoba’s north, where over 5,000 residents have been displaced by aggressive wildfires that have consumed more than 300,000 hectares of forest. The evacuations, many executed with little warning, have created an unexpected animal welfare crisis.
Manitoba’s Emergency Measures Organization confirmed yesterday that approximately 400 pets are believed stranded in evacuation zones. Local rescue groups are scrambling to coordinate emergency responses, but access remains severely restricted due to safety concerns.
“We’re receiving dozens of calls hourly from evacuees desperate to have someone check on their animals,” explains Darcy Whitford, coordinator with Northern Manitoba Animal Rescue Coalition. “Some people left expecting to return within a day or two. That was over a week ago.”
The provincial government has faced criticism for what some call inadequate evacuation planning. Chief Marcel Moody of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation points to longstanding requests for better emergency procedures that would include provisions for pets.
“Our community members shouldn’t have to choose between their safety and their animal family members,” Moody said during a press conference in Thompson. “This adds tremendous trauma to an already difficult situation.”
Official evacuation protocols prioritize human safety first, with limited resources for animal transportation. Manitoba’s Emergency Coordinator James Reimer defended the province’s approach while acknowledging the emotional toll.
“In rapidly evolving wildfire situations, our primary focus must be saving human lives,” Reimer stated. “That said, we recognize pets are family members and we’re now working with rescue organizations to safely retrieve animals where possible.”
The Canadian Red Cross has established temporary shelters in Winnipeg, Thompson and The Pas, but most facilities cannot accommodate pets. This has forced some evacuees to sleep in vehicles rather than abandon their animals a second time.
Emma Chartrand, a mother of two from Leaf Rapids, spent three nights in her car with her elderly dog before finding pet-friendly accommodation. “I couldn’t leave him behind again. The stress of wondering if he was alive was unbearable.”
Environment Canada meteorologist Paul Manaigre offers little hope for immediate relief. “We’re seeing abnormally dry conditions persist across northern Manitoba, with only minimal precipitation in the forecast. Lightning strikes continue to ignite new fires daily.”
The Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association has activated its emergency response network, with clinics in safe zones offering free medical care for pets that made it out. Dr. Sarah Thompson, who runs a clinic in Thompson, has treated over 40 evacuated animals.
“We’re seeing many pets with respiratory issues from smoke exposure, dehydration, and extreme stress,” Thompson explains. “The animals that remained behind face much worse conditions, including potential starvation and heat exposure.”
A coalition of animal welfare organizations including the Winnipeg Humane Society has launched “Operation Northern Paws,” collecting donations and mobilizing volunteers. Their command center in Thompson coordinates with emergency officials for authorized rescue missions.
“When we get clearance to enter an evacuation zone, our teams move quickly,” says volunteer coordinator Mike Sanderson. “We’ve successfully retrieved 87 animals in the past four days, but hundreds more wait. We document everything meticulously so owners can be reunited.”
Social media has become a lifeline for worried pet owners. Facebook groups like “Manitoba Wildfire Pet Rescue” have amassed thousands of members sharing information, coordinates for stranded animals, and helping match evacuees with temporary pet housing.
For evacuees staying with family or in hotels that don’t accept pets, community members in host communities have stepped up. Winnipeg resident Larissa Peters has taken in three dogs belonging to a family from Pukatawagan First Nation.
“These pets are traumatized, and so are their people,” Peters observes. “The least we can do is keep their animals safe until they can return home.”
Provincial officials estimate some evacuees may be displaced for weeks or even months, depending on fire damage and infrastructure assessments. This extended timeline compounds the pet crisis, with temporary solutions proving unsustainable for many families.
The situation highlights a gap in emergency planning that affects communities across Canada. Following the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, which saw similar pet abandonment issues, several provinces updated their emergency protocols to better account for animal welfare.
“Manitoba needs to learn from this experience,” argues Katherine Morrison, director of the Provincial Animal Welfare Coalition. “When we tell people to prepare emergency kits and evacuation plans, we must include practical solutions for pets too.”
As multiple agencies coordinate response efforts, evacuees like Jennifer Lavallee wait anxiously for news. “My daughter cries herself to sleep wondering if her cats are okay. No family should have to endure this additional layer of trauma during a disaster.”
