Pit bulls saved in Saskatchewan, finding forever home

Tyson has made a new home in Regina after escaping a deadly fate in Ontario.

He's a Labrador-Rottweiler cross who was living in a pound and was going to be put down.

Prairie Sky Dog Rescue has been working with One Last Chance Animal Rescue Team (OLCAR) north of Montreal to help find new homes across the country for dogs like Tyson.

"He was a stray dog who looked like a pitbull," said Sheena Riggle, intake coordinator for Prairie Sky Dog Rescue.

"So he was going to be put down just because he had a round headpretty much."

Pitbull bans

There has been a ban in place against pitbulls in Ontario since 2005. Recently, Quebec has also passed new breed bans.

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OLCARis just on the Quebec-Ontario border. They act as a bridge between pounds and rescue services in the area.

Carolynn Williamswith OLCARsaid that the ban is problematic because pitbulls are not an actual breed, but a combination of physical characteristics.

"Anything that has the characteristics of a pitbull can't enter Ontario, so rescues here in Quebec are already overflowing," said Williams.

A new home

Tyson has been happily living in a foster home in Regina with JonClaggett. He was flown into Regina on OCLAR's dime. He already has a family interested in giving him a forever home.

"Tyson has been great, he's had no issues since coming into our care," said Riggle. "He's been great with dogs and kids, and everyone his foster family has introduced him to."

Molly will be the second pitbull finding a new home in Saskatchewan through Prairie Sky Dog Rescue.

"She did have a family who loved her, trained her and gave her a good home," said Riggle.

"Because of the recent breed bans, they were no longer able to get home insurance because they had a pitbull in the house."

Riggle herself is taking in Molly as a foster pup. Molly will be arriving in Regina by plane tonight.

Prairie Sky Dog Rescue is one of two dog rescues working to help bring pitbulls to the province.

Riggle hopesher dog rescue can help save more pups without homes, and sees that more rescues in Saskatchewan may be rallying together to help out as well.