When evacuees from Fort McMurray reached safety in Edmonton and Camrose last month, they were greeted by Ringo, the Chinook Arch Victims Services companion dog.
Victims Services program manager Rhonda Kearns, who can often be seen with Ringo tagging along, said a request came in from Leduc Victims Services to bring dogs to the Edmonton International Airport.
Kearns said they brought Ringo, another dog named Lucy and two others. They spent May 6-7 at the airport, where many Fort McMurray residents arrived.
She saw that the airport was providing them with food and a place to store luggage. Many were sleeping in the hallways.
The dogs were split up and mingled among the people.
"As soon as they saw the dogs there were huge smiles. Some of them just started crying," Kearns said.
"People were amazed to know what the dogs did, what their roles were."
Victims Services fundraises to pay the costs of the dogs, which typically comfort children who need to testify in court and cannot be accompanied by parents.
In this case, adults and kids alike benefitted from their calming presence.
"Some of them were sitting there for hours, trying to comprehend what the heck just happened to them,” Kearns said about the road-weary travelers.
On May 8, the Sunday, the dogs were sent to an evacuation centre in Camrose before returning home.
"I think it just gave them the opportunity to see dogs that let them know they were in a safe environment. They had a long road ahead of them, for sure, but in that moment they were in a safe place and could make some decisions going forward," Kearns said.
"I think it just gave them the opportunity to see dogs that let them know they were in a safe environment. They had a long road ahead of them, for sure, but in that moment they were in a safe place and could make some decisions going forward." RHONDA KEARNS, Chinook Arch Victims Services program manager
