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Toonie, year-and-a-half old hound and shar-pei mix, was found on the Xstrata mine property several miles in the bush walking down Moose Lake Road. She was dragging her pink leash behind her, according to Ontario SPCA communications officer Brad Dewar.
A couple interested in adopting the dog was walking Toonie when they slipped on ice and the dog ran off, Dewar said.
“It's an unfortunate incident,” he said.
Two Xstrata workers saw the dog and called security. Security officers were eventually able to grab Toonie and bring her back to the gatehouse, according to the SPCA.
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Sudbury SPCA animal care attendant Alisha Baldwin gives Toonie a good scratching on May 3, a day after the dog returned from a 12-day excursion in the bush. Photo by Arron Pickard.
It is believed that Toonie was in the bush the entire time.
“We attended and picked her up,” Rob Kaelas, branch manager, Sudbury and Manitoulin District OSPCA, said. “She was in perfect condition and her lead was shredded. It was absolutely amazing that she did not get snagged on something, never to be found. Toonie was still friendly and jumped into the awaiting crate and was brought home to the shelter.”
Sometimes there are good endings, he added. Toonie was “at large” in the bush in or near the Town of Onaping Falls for 12 days dragging her lead behind her.
“We're all very glad to have her back.”
Toonie has received the royal treatment since her return to the OSPCA. She has been in the possession of Sudbury SPCA for several months, Alisha Baldwin, an animal care attendant, said.
Toonie is one of four dogs transferred to Sudbury from southern Ontario. Two of those dogs have already been adopted. The dog's name comes from the fact staff at the Sudbury SPCA named one of the dogs Penny and wanted to maintain the money theme in the names.
Toonie's return is a good news story, given the events that have taken place around animal cruelty in Sudbury as of late, Dewar said.
May 4-6 marks National Adoption Weekend for the Ontario SPCA. The three-day event is held at all PetSmart stores in North America, including here in Sudbury, with the goal of helping the thousands of pets find a lifelong home.
Anyone adopting a new pet will receive a coupon for a free 2.7-kg or 3.63-kg bag of Purina Pro Plan dog food or a 1.59-kg bag of Purina Pro
Plan cat food. As well, cat adopters get a free seven-kg pail of MAXX Scoop litter.
Contact or visit PetSmart at 1399 Marcus Dr. Phone 705-566-5720.
Posted by Arron Pickard 
