SaskatchewanAdoption efforts by a non-profit dog rescue group are making it safer to walk, ride bikes and play outside on James Smith Cree Nation. Northern Pup Project encourages responsible ownership of dogsLisa Risom · CBC News · Posted: Oct 16, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: October 16Northern Pup Project director Chantel Evenson feeds dogs on James Smith Cree Nation. (Lisa Risom/CBC)Adoption efforts by a non-profit dog rescue group are making it safer to walk, ride bikes and play outside on James Smith Cree Nation.“It feels safer than last year because we always used to carry around a stick, or catch rides,” said James Smith resident Connie Moostoos. The Northern Pup Project, which encourages responsible ownership rather than community-owned dogs, has been working in the community, located about 200 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. The three bands that make up James Smith — Peter Chapman First Nation, Chakastaypasin First Nation and James Smith Cree Nation — donate money to the animal rescue group to help cover the group’s operational costs such as dog food, adoption, transportation and medical bills. “It’s one of the problems we have on reserve, sometimes, is overpopulated dogs. And then … they get aggressive and hungry and they start to hurt people,” said Peter Chapman First Nation Vice-Chief Adam Whitehead. “It’s the humane way to do things.”Since starting their work a year and half ago, Northern Pup volunteers estimate they’ve helped care for more than 300 dogs on the First Nation, including more than 200 that have been adopted or re-homed.A dog sits outside his home on James Smith Cree Nation, where the Northern Pup Project is helping to promote responsible pet ownership. (Lisa Risom/CBC)No dogs on the reserve have been destroyed since the project’s volunteers stepped up their efforts. Before that, chief and council would hire local community members to shoot aggressive dogs, Whitehead said.Volunteers post photos of dogs on the project’s Facebook page and work with a network of other dog rescue charities, including Running Wild, Pretty in Pink, Northern Transitional Dog Rescue and Fostering Hope in Alberta. They also helped re-home dogs during the wildfires this summer.“It’s a big community and network of people working together and those larger rescues have been really helpful for us to get going as a non-profit, teaching us what to and what not to do,” said Northern Pup Project director Chantel Evenson.Evenson said local people are now working with the project’s five volunteers. They often call if they have a dog in need of medical attention, and she said more people are asking to get their dogs spayed or neutered.“There’s a lot of stories. There’s a lot of people who have gone through a lot of trauma and rely on their pets for safety and comfort. And being able to support them through keeping their pets healthy, it makes a difference. And it makes us happy too,” Evenson said.WATCH | Volunteers help stray dogs find homes:Stray dogs were terrorizing people. Now, volunteers on northern reserves are finding them homesThe Northern Pup Project is a small group of volunteers working to make life safer in northern Saskatchewan communities by finding homes for stray dogs. Local veterinarians are providing reduced rates for services provided to the project. With help from the University of Saskatchewan veterinary college, the group has been able to get around 80 dogs from the reserve spayed or neutered.They also work on nearby Muskoday First Nation and have recently been asked to provide care to animals of Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation.Northern Pup Project volunteer Aryn Tadgell makes friends with a dog on James Smith Cree Nation. (Lisa Risom/CBC)The Northern Pup Project operates solely on donations. Even with help from the bands, the group has racked up more than $8,000 in debt from transportation costs and vet bills, Evenson said.Indigenous Services Canada and the province offer no funding for animal welfare services on reserve, Whitehead said.The group is hosting a gala fundraiser in Saskatoon on Dec. 11 where they hoped to raise enough funds to pay down the debt and stay operational through the winter. ABOUT THE AUTHORLisa Risom has two decades of multimedia journalism experience in northeast Saskatchewan. She joined CBC Prince Albert in 2025.
Animal rescue group improves safety on James Smith Cree Nation
