James Caughill wants homeless people with pets to have a place to go, and he’s walking across Canada with his sled-dog Muckwah to tell the world about it.
Caughill was in Garden River on Monday and will be walking to Sault Ste. Marie Tuesday where he will stay for a few days before heading north.
Keep an eye out for him — you’ll see him pushing his five-foot tall, 400 lb cart that carries everything he owns.
His lovable dog Muckwah — an Alaskan Malamute — is never far from his side.
Caughill said he and Muckwah became homeless last year when a deal to get an apartment went bad.
He tried to get into a homeless shelter but he was told they don't allow pets. Since giving up his loving animal was not an option, Caughill's homeless life began.
Caughill and Muckwah spent the summer of 2016 sleeping on the streets of inner St. Catharines and later on moved to the nearby shores of Lake Ontario.
Caughill said he never panhandled or asked for money but — and he still does this — he would just sit on the ground with a sign that read: "Homeless."
Booksmart, the bookstore that James Caughill sat outside of in St. Catharines. GoogleWithout asking for a dime, people would approach him and often times support he and his dog.
During the month of September 2016, Caughill and Muckhwah were permitted to sit outside the Booksmart bookstore in St. Catharine’s with his sign.
On the morning of Sept. 24, the bookstore owner gave Caughill a copy of Adventures with Bruce, a story about one man’s walking journey along the Bruce Trail.
Caughill says he read the book that morning and was so inspired by it that he immediately came up with a plan to raise awareness about homelessness. By 2 p.m., he had already started walking.
The first night he made almost to Brock University. The next night, Short Hills Provincial Park. He continued making his way to Toronto and then further north.
This winter, Caughill and Muckwah took a three-month walking break in Parry Sound and Orillia before starting back up again, heading through Sudbury and further west.
So far he’s travelled 1,200 km, he said.
After leaving the Sault in the coming days, Caughill will continue westward until he hits Manitoba where he plans to spend the winter.
By 2019, he should be able to make it to Vancouver, he said.
“People tell me three years is too long to get to Vancouver. Yeah… if you’re in a hurry, but if you’re having the time of your life, it ain’t long enough," said Caughill.
He said after Vancouver he will walk back the other way, and on to the east coast.
Caughill said in the near future he will have a book out about he and Muckwah’s travels, and he plans at some point to make an official challenge for Justin Trudeau to walk a symbolic mile or two on his path with him.
With all the funds he raises from his book and journey he wants to start three homeless shelters that will allow pets, he said.
