Whitehorse dog spared from death row needs a home

Months after a Yukon court spared Trevor the dog from euthanization at the city pound, the Humane Society Yukon is still unable to find a suitable home for the troubled canine.

That is because the court order that allowed the humane society to keep Trevor alive came with specific conditions, including one that says the Shepherd cross must be kept within Whitehorse city limits.

That condition has forced the society to turn down numerous offers from interested dog owners like Sylvain Montreuil, who lives in the bush up the Dempster Highway.

"My girlfriend and I, we really communicate good with animals. That's what we're the best at," Montreuil told CBC News.

The humane society, which cared for Trevor when he was rescued from abuse early this year, has been caring for the dog since the court granted a temporary injunction stopping city officials from destroying the dog in August.

City officials had deemed Trevor to be a dangerous dog after several people reported that he bit them.

An animal behaviour specialist has said Trevor will likely remain a dangerous and anti-social dog, but his behaviour could be managed with the right owner.

Montreuil said their current dog, a big old husky cross, has been a loyal guard dog since they rescued him from the Dawson City pound 10 years ago. He said he wanted to do the same with Trevor.

"It would be better for him you know, to die out there and to feed the wolves than to be here in Whitehorse in a cage," he said. "Either way, it's a win-win with him to come with us."

But humane society board director Rachel Westfall said the court order's conditions prevent them from taking up offers like Montreuil's.

"If it was up to us, we'd be very interested in knowing more about these opportunities," she said.

"Unfortunately, because we are bound by the court process to keep him within city limits in Whitehorse, we can't accept any of those offers."

Westfall said Trevor still needs about six months of rehabilitation before he can be handed over to new owners.

She said ideally, those new owners would be a dedicated patient couple with no children, living inside city limits.