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Animal rescuer killed by stray dogs in northern Manitoba
🇨🇦 Canada /Disasters & Emergencies

Animal rescuer killed by stray dogs in northern Manitoba

From Global News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • An animal rescuer died in northern Manitoba while volunteering to manage stray dogs.
  • The 37-year-old was found dead with stray dogs around her; circumstances are not believed suspicious, but aggressive dogs were noted in the area.
  • The incident highlights the challenges and lack of funding for managing dog overpopulation in northern Indigenous communities.

A Winnipeg-based animal rescuer, Amanda Nobiss, 37, died while volunteering in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation in northern Manitoba. Her body was discovered by a local worker around 6 a.m. last Friday, with stray dogs nearby. Nobiss was working with K9 Advocacy Manitoba, a non-profit focused on helping reservations manage dog overpopulation.

The circumstances surrounding the death are not believed to be suspicious at this time. Several aggressive dogs had been observed in the area.

— Manitoba First Nations Police ServiceDescribing the initial findings of the investigation into Nobiss's death.

Manitoba First Nations Police Service stated that the circumstances surrounding her death are not considered suspicious, though aggressive dogs had been seen in the area. It is believed she was killed by strays while attempting to retrieve them. An autopsy is pending.

Based on the information currently available to the First Nation, it is our understanding that the canine advocate entered the community after regular business hours and attempted to retrieve dogs.

— Sandy Bay Ojibway First NationProviding their understanding of Nobiss's actions prior to her death.

Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation acknowledged the dog overpopulation issue and stated they are working to address it. The nation noted that the advocate entered the community after hours and attempted to retrieve dogs. Global News sought comment from the Chief and MFNPS but received no response by publication. K9 Advocacy declined an interview out of respect for the family.

It was very, very difficult and shocking for everyone, and trying to come to terms with the safety issue of people and the calling that all rescue groups have been doing for so long to help nations with health and safety of people and pets.

— Debra VandekerkhoveExpressing the impact of Nobiss's death on the rescue community and the broader issue of animal welfare and safety.

Debra Vandekerkhove, managing director of Manitoba Animal Alliance, called Nobiss's death a "tough loss" for the rescue community. She emphasized the difficulty in addressing dog overpopulation in northern communities due to a lack of specific funding or national strategies. Vandekerkhove stressed the need to focus on people's safety and the well-being of volunteers, stating that spaying and neutering alone cannot solve the problem.

There’s no specific funding or any sort of national or provincial strategy across Canada to help animals in Indigenous nations.

— Debra VandekerkhoveHighlighting the systemic lack of support for animal welfare initiatives in Indigenous communities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Global News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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