A group of 11 abandoned puppies that were found on McGibbon Street in North Bay last August will be reuniting this weekend back in North Bay.
Without a nursing mum, the pups were in need of emergency intervention to survive.
The North Bay Humane Society was inundated with calls and messages to help due to media and social media coverage of the discovery.
Many people offered to foster and volunteer, dozens donated money and one was able to provide a lactating mother to help feed the young pups.
See related: Humane Society taking care of 11 abandoned puppies
See related: Abandoned puppies reunite
In total, more than 150,000 people saw the call for help. The 11 dogs in care at the Humane Society were called “Miracle Puppies.”
Darlene Sacher, who operates Best Care Kennels in North Bay, heard that the North Bay and District Humane Society had taken in 11 puppies abandoned beside a local dumpster, she knew she had to help.
Little did she know that in a year, after adopting one of what she calls “the miracle puppies,” she would be organizing their first birthday party.
“At first, I just wanted to help in any way I could. I reached out to Janet at the Humane Society about fostering a puppy for a few weeks," Sacher said in a release.
Sacher says Sully, a Mastiff-Lab mix now weighing 116 lb, had an uncertain start to life.
"But once Sully came home, I knew he’d be staying with me forever.”
This Saturday, she is organizing a birthday party to celebrate the resiliency of the 11 “Miracle Puppies.”
For the first time since they left the Humane Society, Sully will reunite with his siblings and meet their humans. Members of the public are invited to take part in the event but must practice social distancing and wear masks or face coverings.
Best Care Kennels is accepting monetary and in-kind donations on behalf of the North Bay Humane Society so they can assist more abandoned and unwanted animals.
The event will take place at the Community Dog Park on Champlain Park Road on Saturday, August 29 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Organizers say that the Community Dog Park will be closed to the general public for the duration of the event, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. inclusive.
